Winter weight gain is a common complaint of many people. It seems that every winter we add a few pounds, and when summer comes we don’t lose them all again either. A few pounds always stick around, making us a little heavier every year. Why does this happen and what can we do?
There are many contributing factors. First, it’s possible we have a genetic disposition to store more fat as winter approaches. Many animals do this. Extra layers of fat on the body protect against the cold.
Hormone levels can also influence our weight gain. The interaction of hormones and other chemicals in the brain can bring about variations in appetite and cravings. Some neurotransmitters can also influence the way we eat. People who are overweight often have low levels of these neurotransmitters and the results can include excessive appetite, depression and sleep disorders. At the same time, the lack of daylight caused by the shortening days during late fall and winter can bring on seasonally affected disorder or winter depression. One of the quickest ways to give a boost to your energy levels and emotions is to eat high carbohydrate foods including sugar treats, chips and cereals that give us a fast blood sugar ‘fix’. So when you feel low in the winter the tenancy is to overeat or eat the wrong foods, some in the comfort food category, leading to weight gain, more depression and a vicious cycle that is hard to break.
Altogether there are many reasons why we eat more high carbohydrate foods such as cookies, pies and chocolate in the winter (holidays being a major contributor), and of course most of these foods also contain high levels of fats. The best way to handle this is generally to substitute other foods that are also high in carbohydrate so that we get what our body craves, but which have low fat content and plenty of fiber. This means potatoes, wholegrain bread without butter, wholegrain rice, cereals, and fresh whole fruit.
It is also important to exercise. Often our physical activity levels drop in the winter and we have a tendency to want to stay indoors. This is natural when it is cold outside. The best way to fend off the winter pounds and lose even more weight is to get on a weight loss system and include exercise in our daily routines. Possibly brisk walking in the snow. Starting on a weight loss program before the holidays will prevent the disappointment of higher numbers when you get on the scale as spring approaches.
