Winter Weight Gain - Causes, Solutions

Gaining weight in the winter is something many individuals experience. So if this applies to you, don't feel as if you are left out in the cold ... pun intended. Weight gain in the winter is usually just a few pounds and the reasons vary. Those stubborn pounds seem to linger on into summer and even then, are really hard to lose. Figuring out why it happens and how to prevent it has become very big business for the weight loss industry, but here are some ideas that may help you without spending hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars on remedies that sometimes work, but most often do not.

Activity rates slow down in the winter because let's face it; most of us do not like the cold and we stay inside. We park closer to stores so we don't have to walk as far; our usual outside activities are curtailed because of the cold or other bad weather. The remedy to this is to find activities indoors that will keep you moving and burning those calories. When was the last time you took the kids skating and you put on a pair of roller skates, got out on the floor with all those crazy kids and just had fun? If this is not your "thing", how about bowling? The calories that are burned in a ten frame set equal to about one box of chocolate turtles or a Thanksgiving dinner. You see, when you think about the calories that you need to burn, think about what put those calories there and what it will take to burn them. Exercise in the amount it takes to burn those extra calories keeps those extra pounds from piling up.

Science tells us that we have genetic reasons that added weight piles on in the winter. Extra fat (what an ugly word for those of us who have too much!) helps to protect the body from the cold and was intended to be used for fuel in our bodies when food stores were in short supply. Genetically, our bodies store up extra fuel in the fall when harvests were plentiful to help us survive the long cold winter. It is believed that unconsciously, we pick foods that are higher in calorie content during the fall. The change in the amount of light triggers little sensors in our brain and tells us to get ready for winter, sort of like a bear getting ready to hibernate. Weight gain is not just the individual's fault, it is in our genes. Preventing it from piling on the pounds is within our control though. If you look at your activity level as events that are fun and give you pleasure instead of the dreaded exercise routine, keeping the weight off or losing those extra pounds becomes something to look forward to rather than dread.

High carbohydrate foods that pile on the pounds include potatoes, rice, bread, and high sugar treats such as candies. Avoiding those foods whenever possible is a good way to avert adding pounds that are hard to get off. Eating fresh fruits, whole grain rice, bread without butter, and whole grain cereals are good, healthy alternatives to eating "pound-filled" foods.

As an individual that gained weight after pregnancy, personal experience was a good teacher. An excellent dietitian helped me with weight loss and an exercise program to help me tone up and lose even more. Before going on any diet, check with your doctor or nurse practitioner. Expert advice is always worth the extra time for the appointment and extra expense. Your body is the only one you are ever going to get; you have to live in it for a long time, so take care of it. If you are one of those people who always seem to put yourself last, look at it like this, if you are not able to help yourself, you will not be able to help anyone else either. Take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of those you love and care about. Losing that extra weight is a mindset more than anything else. Eat to live, not live to eat and enjoy a healthy life.