Most of Us Gain Weight During the Winter, Find Out How Not to Gain that Weight

Most of us manage to pack on a few extra pounds during the winter. This is a well known phenomenon amongst us humans. Gone are the days of living in a cave or having to put on our winter coat of fat and blubber. Maybe putting on extra weight in the winter is just a throwback to those caveman days when we didn't have fire to keep us warm on those long cold winter nights. I don't really believe that hypothesis to be true anyway. I have more than a few extra pounds on me and I still freeze during the winter time.

Much of the weight gain we experience in the wintertime is due to the holidays and the overall decrease in physical activity due to the inclement weather. The shopping craze does not count as exercise either. Although fighting over the last Elmo Live with the other mom in the aisle was a work out, it does not count towards your workout regimen.

There is a possibility, other than the inactivity one, that our reasons for gaining weight during the winter months are due in part to the level of our hormones. The chemicals and hormones in our brains could be sending out a signal to our body to not metabolize at the same rate as during the other months of the year. Some of our neurotransmitter may be signaling us to eat a certain way during the winter months. This could explain why we crave pumpkin pie in the winter and not so much during the summer. Or, maybe not.

No matter what the scientists say, in my opinion, the opinion of a stay at home mom, the reason we gain weight in the winter time is because it is just so easy to do it. We aren't outside chasing our children across the park or beach like we do in the warmer months, we aren't doing as much or any yard work, bikini season is over so we don't have weight loss on the brain nearly as much as we do in the summer time, and we are just surrounded by fattening foods from late November until January.

Gaining weight in the winter time is so common that many of us expect it to happen. This is one of the many reasons why 'losing weight' is one of the highest, if not the highest, ranked New Year's Resolution every year.

Some tips to keep the weight gain down to a shout are:

Be aware that you may gain some weight.

If you prepare yourself that the possibility of gaining extra weight is there, you may subconsciously eat less and be more active. This can backfire on you if you aren't careful. If you are aware that you can gain weight, you may very well let yourself go and accept the fact that some pounds are going to be added to your hips. If you will use this information for good and recognize the risk is there, you may be able to avoid gaining weight.

Eat Grandma's Secret Pecan Pie Recipe

Eat Grandma's secret Pecan Pie recipe, but, don't eat the whole pie. Try to limit yourself to a nibble of a few desserts instead of eating a whole piece from each desert selection. We all overeat during the holidays. If you are going to fill up on a holiday recipe, try to fill up on the low carb/high protein delights. Having an extra slice of turkey instead of an extra slice of pie will be better for your waistline.

Play in the Snow

The manufacturers made coats, gloves, and toboggans for a reason. Get out in the snow or cold weather and play with your kids or your dog. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean it is off-limits. It is an old wives' tale that being in cold weather makes you sick. It just isn't true. Germs and bacteria make you sick, not the temperature. Just make sure you and your little ones are bundled up before you go out. This includes making sure your little one is wearing ear muffs. Cold wind in the ear can be painful or even injure the inner ear.

Running in the snow can also be a great work out. The resistance is great for burning calories and toning muscles. Snow fights are great ways to exercise as well. The bending down and throwing actions can burn calories and tone muscles as well too. You can play, lose weight, and get toned just by playing with your kids in the winter time.

Don't be a Scrooge

Depression has a nasty way of sneaking up on some of us during the winter months. Some suffer from seasonal affect disorder during the cold winter months. If you are prone to this type of depression you should speak to your doctor before it gets out of control. Not just for your weight issues, but, also for your mental health. Depression causes many to overeat or to become inactive. Don't let the winter blues get you down. Talk to your medical professional about your feelings of depression. Winter is a time to be a jolly. Some of us need medical interventions to help us get through the often stressful times during the winter months and holidays. Get the help you need to help you get through this time of year.

Winter Weight Gain

If you do gain weight this winter, just remember, you have those warm months of the spring and summer to get you back into shape. We are usually wearing bulky clothes in the wintertime anyway, so, no one usually will notice you but on some extra weight. Who cares if they do, right? If you put on an excessive amount of weight during the winter you may need to speak with your doctor. You may have bigger issues than just eating too many slices of Granny's famous pie. You may have an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Winter time, for some, is not the best time for dieting. Dieting during the winter is up to you. Remember, unless you need to lose weight for a medical condition, you should only try to lose weight for yourself. Don't feel pressured to be the perfect body size. We are all different and there are reasons why we all have different body types, body frames, and body weights. Find the best weight for you. Above all else, enjoy yourself this winter season so long as you are being healthy. Just because it is the holiday season does not mean you should eat a whole pie. However, skipping out on eating a slice of pie because you fear you will gain a pound is not fair to you. Remember, you can burn off those calories by doing some simple exercises. Enjoy this winter season and try not to stress too much about gaining weight. Just know that your risks of gaining weight are higher and you should take a few precautions to help reduce the amount of weight you will gain.