Winter Weight Gain
Stopping Winter Weight Gain
Gaining weight in the winter is a extremely common complaint. It seems that every winter we add a few pounds, and during summer despite our best efforts, we don’t lose them. A few pounds stay on, making us heavier every year. Then one day you look in the mirror and notice you’ve gained 30 pounds. What can you do to avoid winter weight gain? Read on.
Lots of factors contribute to winter weight gain. It is important to note that that we have a tendency to store more weight as winter comes. Animals in cold climates store fat in the winter and our ancestors likely needed to do it to survive the elements. Body fat protected humans from the freezing temperatures and then could be used as fuel in the late winter and early spring when food stocks were very low.
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Humans have a tendency to eat more in the fall when food is plentiful after harvest to help the fat storage process along. People may unconsciously choose food that is higher in fat content at this time.Unfortunately, holiday celebration foods are really high in calories.
Hormone levels can also cause people to gain fat. Hormones and other brain chemicals can cause increased appetite and cravings. Neurotransmitters like serotonin also influence the way we eat. People who are overweight often have lower levels of these neurotransmitters and the results can include increased appetite, sleep disorders and depression.
In addition, the reduced daylight caused by the shortening days during late fall and winter can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression. Unfortunately, one of the quickest ways to increase your energy levels is to eat high carbohydrate foods including sugary treats, chips and cereals that give you a fast blood sugar ‘fix’. Feeling down during the winter can lead people to overeat or eat the wrong food, leading to depression, weight gain and a disheartening vicious spiral.
There are many reasons why people eat more high carbohydrate foods such as chocolate, cookies and pies in the winter. Unfortunately most of these foods are full of sugar and high in calories. The best way to handle this is to substitute healthy foods that are also high in carbohydrates so that we get what our body craves, but which have less sugar, lower fat content and more fiber. Foods like potatoes, wholegrain rice, fresh wholegrain bread, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Cravings are reduced a great deal by eating a wide range of different foods that contain a lot of antioxidants. Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to economize if you live in a cold climate where there isn’t much fresh produce available in the winter.
It is also important to get more exercise. Often our physical activity levels fall during the winter and we have a tendency to want to stay home and hibernate. This is normal when it is cold, but not good for the waistline.
We obviously do not need to store fat the way that prehistoric cavemen did.It is not surprising that people worshiped fat goddesses back then, they lived longest.
Renew your gym membership or search craigslist and get home workout equipment. Transform those calories into energy now instead of storing them on your waistline. Winter weight gain is definitely avoidable with lots of exercise effort and a healthy diet.
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Tags: gain weight in the winter, prevent winter weight gain, stop winter weight gain, Winter Weight Gain