With a little planning, you can avoid that winter weight gain and keep “lose weight” off of your New Years resolution lists. For so many people winter is the hardest time to stay at your healthy weight. When the weather turns cold we tend to reach for warm and filling comfort food which also happens to be packed with calories. There is also Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas which are holidays that go hand in hand with baked good, candy, chocolate, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other foods that can be detrimental to your waist. Not only do we overeat during the holiday season, but people also tend to have less time and more stress which frequently equals less exercising.
By making a plan of attack, you can keep the pounds from creeping on. First, you need to set strict boundaries for yourself. If you bake Christmas cookies every year, don&undefined;t stop the tradition just to keep yourself from eating them, just make rules. For example it may not be plausable to not have one cookie after a fresh batch is made-so let yourself. Just don&undefined;t keep reaching for the cookie pot day after day, which is what most of us tend to do. If you set limits for your calories each day and stay on track you will be able to maintain your weight. If you need to, use a calorie counter. They are available online or you can keep a log book of your own sighting how much and of what you eat each day. Becoming accountable for your own eating is the first step in recognizing what you need to change. It is also a good idea to substitute the normal winter treats for healthy snacks. Make a fruit platter instead of a cheese and cracker platter or make some hummus to enjoy with veggies. You&undefined;ll find that once you get in the habit of having healthy food around, your cravings for junk food will eventually go away. During these colder times it is also smart to stock your house with low calories alternatives both to eat and to use while cooking. Cutting calories where you can makes all the difference.
Although you don&undefined;t need to deprive yourself during the winter, if you want to stay at healthy weight you do need to do a little planning. It is no fun to greet the new year with a few extra pounds only to vow that we will work it off before the summer. Instead, maintain your weight through the winter and add something fun to your New Years resolution list such as saving for a vacation or spending more time with the family.
