Skip to main content

Winter Weight Gain: How to Avoid It

Winter can be a harsh time of year for you and your waistline. With shorter days, extended darkness, and frigid temperatures that keep us inside and generally less active, it’s only natural that we seek out comfort in food. Research from the American Society for Nutrition shows that a major percentage of American adult’s weight gain comes during the winter months. Although the New England Journal of Medicine puts the average winter weight gain at just one pound, studies have proven that we can’t seem to shed this added weight post-winter, which can lead to a gradual yet substantial build-up over the years.

So if the winter diet doldrums are upon you, just remember that winter and weight gain don’t have to be synonymous. Follow these easy tips to avoid packing on the dreaded winter weight gain:

Stay Active.
 Dear couch potato: Get up! Fight the urge to melt in to your couch when you get home from work. Instead, create an exercise routine, plan it into your day and stick to it. Persistence and regular exercise are key to fighting off the bulge and maintaining a positive and healthy outlook. Or you could simply just go outside, get fresh air and absorb some much needed vitamin D from the sun. You will instantly feel better.

5 Breakfast Habits That Melt Pounds

Read More

Try on your summer clothes.
 Chunky sweaters, baggy sweats and layers upon layers can lull us in to thinking we haven’t gained any weight. Use a summer outfit or a bathing suite to compare where you are weight-wise with where you were just a few short months ago. This reality check can give you added motivation and the reassurance that warmer weather lies ahead. Plus, knowing you’ll be holding yourself accountable is a great strategy to ward off any potential winter weight gain.

Keep a food journal.
 For those of us still trying to recover from the holiday indulgences that derailed our healthy eating habits, get back on track with a food journal. It not only keeps you accountable but encourages you to prepare healthy meals and pinpoint the culprits behind unhealthy habits. Try NuMi, Nutrisystem’s FREE online tracking tool, which makes logging food, activity, weight and more simple!

Maximize Your Results with All NEW NuMi Features

Read More

Avoid empty calories.
 It’s cold and you want something hot and comforting to soften the bite of that winter chill. Luckily, that doesn’t have to equate to winter weight gain. Indulge in hearty winter foods like chili and soup instead of calorie-dense, cheese-laden or cream-filled dishes that tend to zap energy and send you straight into a food coma.

The post Winter Weight Gain: How to Avoid It appeared first on The Leaf.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Make Your Own (Delicious!) Salsa

Olé! Today we’re celebrating salsa—because there’s no better way to incorporate some of summer’s best flavors, and enjoy a guilt-free, flavor-packed snack—a cup of the homemade versions (like the one below) will count as one Vegetable on your Nutrisystem plan. So let’s get this salsa party started! NUTRITION SPOTLIGHT: TOMATOES One of our favorite stars of summer produce is the humble tomato. In addition to being downright delicious, these ruby red beauties pack a nutritional punch, dishing out heart-healthy potassium and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. How to Slice A Handful of Cherry Tomatoes in Seconds Read More RECIPE: FRESH TOMATO SALSA Here’s our go-to recipe for basic fresh tomato salsa. Prep takes less than 10 minutes and you can enjoy it right away or let it chill in the fridge for an hour to allow the flavors to combine. Count one cup (about a quarter of the recipe) as one Vegetable. Ingredients: 4 vine-ripened tomatoes, rough chopped 1/4 red onion, rough chopped 1/4...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Save 600 Calories a Day

By now you know: Losing weight boils down to using up more calories than you consume. It seems simple enough. The hard part is actually making it happen. But cutting calories and dieting doesn’t have to mean cutting out all your favorite foods. Don’t believe us? Check out these four simple swaps guaranteed to save you over 600 calories a day without putting the kibosh on your favorite flavors: Drink fat-free milk instead of whole Replace your whole milk habit with a fat-free fix, and for every 16 ounces you trade, you’ll save over 130 calories. Feeling adventurous? Opt for unsweetened almond milk instead of your whole milk, and you’ll save even more—over 230 calories per 16 ounces. 6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Snacking Swap regular soda for seltzer water One 20 ounce regular Pepsi clocks in at 250 calories*. Substitute just one regular soft drink a day with a seltzer or sparkling water, and you won’t just save yourself 250 calories, you’ll also spare your...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monday Motivation: 10 Workday Habits of Healthy People

Spending a good chunk of your day inside an office, plopped and stressed in front of a computer, can take a toll on your health, frame of mind and diet. You’re likely not moving your body enough and perhaps sticking your hand in the communal candy bowl a little too much. Making a few small changes to your workday routine or office space can help you stick to your diet plan, shed unwanted pounds and even sneak in a little exercise and added weight loss motivation! 9 Sneaky Fat Traps at the Office You Need to Avoid Read More Here are 10 simple strategies to help you stay healthy at work: 1. Fill up before work. Eating a nutritious breakfast not only helps provide the fuel you need to begin your workday but can also help you lose weight and keep it off. A survey from The National Weight Control Registry showed that the majority of people who maintained a 30-pound weight loss for one year or more ate a breakfast. Plus, according to Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, studies ...
Post a Comment
Read more