When you’re trying to lose weight, winter can be a tricky time of year to stay on track. With the cold weather peer pressuring us to spend more time indoors, eat more, and move less, it’s no surprise that this time of year is famous for tipping the scale in the wrong direction.
Just last year, researchers
from Cornell University found that our
weight starts to climb in October, and peaks roughly 10 days after Christmas.
It’s not so much the amount
of weight gained that’s the problem (on average, a 1.3-pound increase during
the season), but how long it can take to lose, say the study's researchers.
While half of the weight gained by study participants came off soon after the
holidays were over, the other half took more than five months to lose.
But don’t go shopping for
elastic waistbands quite yet. Just because winter weight gain can happen, it
doesn’t mean it has to happen to you. By making a few savvy seasonal adjustments,
you can keep your weight-loss goals on track without depriving
yourself of your favorite wintry treats.
Here, seven expert-backed
strategies to help you fend off cold-weather weight gain like a champ.
Related: 6 Tips To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Related: 6 Tips To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
USE THE FRIGID TEMPS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
When the temperature
drops, so does our motivation to exercise. Sure, snow squalls have a way
of adding drama to even the simplest of errands, but they can also do your body
good—activities like shoveling snow, scraping ice off your windshield,
power-walking down a poorly-plowed street, or having a snowball fight with your
friends or significant other can burn major calories, not to mention rev up
your metabolism and promote insulin sensitivity (which can help quash sugar
cravings), says Florida-based registered dietitian Alyssa Cohen, R.D.
