7 Tips To Keep Your Weight Loss On Track This Winter.

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

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.

Times When Your Bloating Has Nothing To Do With Weight Gain

Bloating—that uncomfortable tummy sensation where your abdomen inflates, making you look five months pregnant within five minutes—is generally thought of as The Worst. And while we've written plenty of articles telling you how to beat, banish, or otherwise subdue bloat, the thing is, not all bloating is bad. Sometimes it can be a side effect of healthy changes and sign you're doing things right.

We're not saying that bloating is ever comfortable or enjoyable, but it also doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong. Sometimes bloat is just what our bodies do when digesting stuff and that's cool. So if you've been experiencing some bloating, put on your stretchy pants and read on.

(Note: If you've got a lot of bloat, or bloating that is painful, never goes away, or comes with other symptoms like constipation or diarrhea, then it's worth a chat with your doctor.)

6 Things To Do When Trying To Lose Weight Over 40

With age comes many things: greater wisdom; deeper empathy; a greater sense of knowing who you are; and less happily, the very real possibility of a bigger pants size.

Starting in your 40s, it's easier than ever for the pounds to creep on—and tougher to take them off. Thanks to a slowing metabolism you could be burning 300 fewer calories per day than you did in your early 20s, according to the American Council on Exercise. 

What's more, falling estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause (which begin in your early 40s) can cause insulin sensitivity, which makes it harder for your body to control the amount of sugar in your blood, says Caroline Cederquist, MD, board-certified bariatric surgeon and founder of the meal delivery service BistroMD. This can make your blood sugar levels more prone to spiking and crashing, which can increase your urge to snack—especially on high-carb, sugary junk, Cederquist says.

Put it together, and it's no wonder so many women over 40 end up hitting a weight loss wall. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a few smart moves, you can outsmart your slowing metabolism and get lean—for good.

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