Putting on weight in the winter seems to be a given for most people. Colder weather and shorter days will make anyone want to curl up on the couch with some comfort food. Throw in a slew of holiday parties into the mix, and you're indulging multiple times a week throughout the season. Weight gain is bound to happen, right?While that may be true, there are measures you can take to minimize the amount of pounds you pack on, or even avoid it altogether. Here are some tips on what you can do to keep your weight in check during the winter.
- Keep Exercising. Although it's tempting to stay in bed when the temperature dips, cold weather is not an excuse to cease physical activity. If you're struggling to make it to the gym, try downloading a fitness app on your phone to do workouts from home. Aim for 30 minutes of interval training 3-4 times per week.
- Eat Protein. Protein slows down the rate at which the stomach processes food and delays the passage carbohydrates with it. When you add protein to a carb, you can help balance your sugar levels and stay full longer. Incorporate foods like eggs, chicken, peanut butter, tofu and Greek yogurt into your meals.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause a change in your hormones that regulate appetite and hunger levels, so you're likely to eat more on less sleep. Aim to get your eight hours in by putting your phone away for at least 60 minutes before you go to bed so you can fall asleep easily.
- Don't eat solely for comfort. It doesn't hurt to have a comforting bowl of soup or chili on a cold day, but you can lighten up the recipe by adding vegetables and beans or swapping out heavy cream bases for low or fat-free milk.
- Avoid eating on the run. In the midst of gift shopping and crammed meetings at work, it can be easy to just scarf down some fast food and then keep going. But when you eat quickly, your digestive system is less efficient. Make a point of sitting down and enjoying your meals.
- Don't deny yourself the good stuff. Pies, Christmas cookies, puddings, custards...they're all seasonal desserts and won't be around once it gets warm out, so it's OK to enjoy them, but don't go nuts. Everything in moderation.