How to Maintain Your Weight in Winter

Summer is full of outdoor fun that keeps us on the go. We get plenty of exercise just doing everyday activities. When it's warm we like to eat light. Fruit, veggies, salads are a major part of our diet. When winter comes on, it's cold, windy and disagreeable outside, so we stay indoors getting much less exercise, and we crave comfort foods. You know the ones, macaroni and cheese, potato soup with lots of cheese in it. In other words loads of carbs. It's no wonder we gain weight in the winter.

Putting on a little extra fat is a built in survival mechanism. The extra layer of fat protected our ancestors from the cold, but we have nice warm houses to live in now and nice warm cars to drive and aren't exposed to the cold like our ancestors were so it may take some strategy to override that mechanism.

Here are a few tips to maintain optimum weight in the winter.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Get exercise even if it means just going to the mall and walking. You can also do exercises in your living room, just anything to keep your metabolism functioning.

2. Get outside at least once a day for 15 minutes even if the weather is disagreeable. (Unless, of course, there's a blizzard or the wind threatens to blow you away). Fresh air keeps our lungs functioning properly and increases the oxygen in our blood. It also helps to keep your spirits up. Being shut up inside for days on end can lead to boredom and boredom leads to eating, and what we want to eat will be carbs.

3. Eat plenty of vegetables. Choose the ones that are in season in your area. They will be the ones needed to keep your body supplied with the nutrients necessary during the cold winter months. Root vegetables such as carrots, turnips and beets and crucifers such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflour are the main ones that are in season in most regions.

4. THINK! Old habits are hard to break. Devise and implement a plan that will remind you to think of a better choice every time you reach for that comfort food.

5. In summary, to avoid winter weight gain, eat right and get plenty of exercise. You knew it all along didn't you?

Resources

• Enhance your Health
• Winter Recipes