Stopping Winter Weight Gain

Gaining weight in the winter is a very common complaint. Most people pack on a few pounds every winter and come summer despite their best efforts, they don’t lose them all again. A few pounds stay on, making us heavier every year.   Then one day you realize you have packed on 30 pounds. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review

There are lots of compounding factors. It is important to note that  that we have a genetic disposition to store more weight as winter comes. Animals in cold climates store fat in the winter and our ancestors probably needed to store fat to survive the elements. Body fat saved humans from the cold and then could be used as fuel in the late winter and early spring when food stocks were very low.

People eat more in the fall when food is plentiful after the harvest to help the fat storage process. People may subconsciously choose food that is higher in fat content at this time.To compound the problem, holiday celebration foods are notoriously high in calories.

Hormone levels can also cause people to gain fat. The complex interaction of hormones and other brain chemicals can cause appetite changes and increased cravings. Neurotransmitters like serotonin also influence the way we eat. Overweight people often have reduced levels of these neurotransmitters and the results can include excessive appetite, depression and sleep disorders.

In addition, the reduced daylight caused by the shortening days during late fall and winter can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression. Unfortunately, one of the fastest ways to boost your energy levels is to eat high carbohydrate foods including sugary foods, chips and junk that give you a fast blood sugar rush. Feeling depressed in the winter can lead one to overeat or eat the wrong foods, leading to weight gain, more depression and a disheartening vicious spiral.

There are many reasons why we eat more high carbohydrate foods such as chocolate, cookies and pies in the winter. Unfortunately these treats are high in calories and high in sugar. One of the best ways to handle this problem is to switch out other foods that are also high in carbohydrate so that we get what our body wants, but which have much less sugar, lower fat and plenty of fiber. It helps to substitute whole grains like wholegrain bread, also fresh fruit.

Cravings are reduced a great deal by eating a wide range of different foods that contain a lot of antioxidants. Frozen vegetables and fruits are a great way to economize if you live in a cold climate where there isn’t as much fresh produce available in the winter.

It is also essential to get more exercise. Often people’s physical activity levels drop in the winter and they have a tendency to want to stay home and sleep. This is normal when it is cold, but not helpful for the waistline. Need to lose pregnancy weight?  Click here!

We obviously do not need to store fat the way that cavemen the did in prehistoric times.It is not surprising that people worshipped fat goddesses back then, they lived longer.

Renew your gym membership or cruise craigslist and get home exercise equipment. Transform those calories into energy now instead of storing them on your waistline. Winter weight gain is definitely avoidable with lots of exercise effort and a healthy diet. Want to burn fat?  Click here to find out how