Winter Season and Weight Gain Reasons: Finding a Solution!

Winter encourages us to put on some extra clothes to keep us warm but putting on some extra weight has also been a winter affair. Come summer this extra winter weight is still keeping us warm. This could go year after year and before we know it, the extra weight is there to stay.

And one wonders, why this gain occurs and what can we do to fight this winter weight gain?

First, inheritance to store fat as winter approaches was seen as one probable factor in winter weight. Compare human bodies with that of several animals who storing fat during winter keeps their survival vital. The more fat there is, the more our body can be protected of the dreaded winter breeze. Excess in fats also help fuel the body in late winter and early spring wherein supplies of food can deplete. And even before winter, we tend to consume food that has abundant fat content.

Second, our desires and appetites are controlled by certain hormones and other chemicals that dictate the way we consume food. Neurotransmitters of the brain also have a contribution that adds to this winter weight dilemma. It was found that people having a hard time to lose weight has low levels of these neurotransmitters. As a result, depression and sleep deprivation sinks in as well as excessive eating that certainly leads to adding up some unwanted weight.

Winter does not only bring additional weight but it can also trigger the Seasonally Affected Disorder (S.A.D), popularly called as winter depression, as daylight shortens during late fall and winter time.

To combat S.A.D, we sometimes over indulge ourselves with foods that have significantly high levels of carbohydrates to give us a boost, the "sugar rush". This can range from candies to cereals or to any high sugar content food that people tend to consume more of during winter. The carbohydrate rich food will of course cause weight gain that lead to content about depression, and triggers more craving to eat.Thus, creating a path that seems to flow in a circular motion. Bipolar or clinical depression should not be seen as S.A.D.

There are countless reasons why we tend to eat foods that are high in carbohydrates during winter. Carbohydrate rich food like cookies, pies, and chocolates, can also contain high levels of fats.

We can always substitute bad carbohydrates with good ones. Carbohydrates that is rich in fiber and fat free, the likes of cereals, rice, and fresh fruits.

Obviously winter limits our physical activities. Hence, it is strongly recommended that we take extra effort in trying to find ways to exercise in the comfort of our home. It may be cold but with the presence of heaters in our home can be readily addressed. For the more serious types, gyms are always present in every area.

Even in winter we still need to burn those unwanted carbs showing on our waistline, or better yet transform those carbs into useful body energy.

That way, winter weight does not have to stick around any longer.