There are lots of things to love about winter. The cold weather allows us to enjoy more time in bed. The holidays give us an opportunity to bond with our friends and relatives. The festive ambiance is nostalgic for all of us. Of course, there are also the winter sports to look forward too.
But along with these so called benefits, also come a few downsides. For one, we experience various winter health problems like cough and cold. There is also that one winter problem that many people struggle with but will not talk about—the inevitable weight gain. But even though weight gain is expected during winter, there are lots of ways on how you can work your way around it. Here are some of them:
1. Take Advantage Of Sweet Potatoes.
During summer, you may not pay too much attention to sweet potatoes, but during winter, it is one of the best and healthiest comfort snacks that you can ever get your hands on. During winter, we have an increased craving for comfort food because of the effect that the cold weather has on our hormones. But if you are going to give in to your comfort food cravings, sweet potatoes are the best comfort foods to try. Other healthy comfort foods that you can try are winter squashes, beets, onions, and carrots.
2. Give Your Metabolism a Boost With Spices.
Spices do more than just add flavor to your dishes. These can also give your metabolism a boost which can cause your body to burn more calories. Because of this, you can avoid overeating and ultimately, winter weight gain. Some of the best spices that you can take advantage of are red pepper, garlic, clove, ginger, and cinnamon. These are a lot healthier options in making your dishes taste more flavorful than those marinades that are packed with unwanted calories.
3. Know That There Is More To Winter Than Delicious Foods.
Many people think that the best way to enjoy the holidays is to eat delicious foods—lots of it! One great way to avoid winter weight gain is to change your perspective about parties. You should look at a party more than just a food event. Instead, take it as an opportunity to reconnect and have a fun time with friends. When you see parties for what they really are—an opportunity to socialize– it will be easy for you to take your mind off food and avoid overeating.
4. Practice Indoor Fitness.
We know that exercising outdoors during winter can be quite difficult to the point of being impossible. After all, who would have the motivation to exercise when it is cold and dark outside, right? But instead of just giving it up and living a sedentary life, we suggest that you find a way to get physically active indoors. You may think that it will be impossible for you to do that but there are actually lots of things that you can do inside your home. These activities include doing yoga, running up and down the stairs, abs exercises and even, cleaning your home!
5. Have Back-Up Snacks.
Do you love to eat snacks? We are sure you do! But do you make wise choices when it comes to snacking? We are pretty sure you don’t! Why is this so? That’s because you do not have a plan or any back-up snacks. When we get hungry, we tend just to grab anything that is accessible to us, and oftentimes, these are unhealthy treats and fast food meals which cause us to gain extra weight and to pile on the calories. To avoid that and to help you practice mindful snacking, it is recommended that you stock up on healthy snack options. Some of these are almonds, fruit slices, beef jerky, vegetable salads and many more. You can also cook soups in advance and place them in the freezer so you can easily heat them when you need them. You can store all of these healthy meals in your car, your office drawer and refrigerator so you can just easily get them whenever hunger strikes.
Avoiding gain weight during the winter season is difficult, but it is not at all impossible. You can avoid weight gain, but it is all up to you. Keep in mind that this challenging endeavor can only be done if you have the determination, motivation, and self-discipline to do so. Without these components, you will fall victim to the weight gain trap, and that is one thing you would want to avoid.