Winter
weight gain is a common complaint of many people. It seems that every winter we
add a few pounds, and come summer we don't lose them all again either. A few of
them always stick around, making us a little heavier every year. They seem to
be very hard to lose extra pounds! Why does this happen and what can we do?
There are
many contributing factors. First, it seems likely that we have a genetic
disposition to store more fat as winter approaches. Many animals do this and it
was probably vital to survival for our ancestors. Extra layers of fat on the
body protect us against the cold and then can be used as fuel in the late
winter and early spring when food stocks would historically be very low. We
probably have a tendency to eat more in the fall, when food is plentiful after
harvest time, to help this process along. We may also unconsciously choose
foods that are higher in fat content at this time.
Hormone
levels can also influence our weight gain. The interaction of hormones and
other chemicals in the brain can bring about variations in appetite and
cravings. Some neurotransmitters can also influence the way we eat. People who
are overweight often have low levels of these neurotransmitters and the results
can include excessive appetite, depression and sleep disorders. At the same
time, the lack of daylight caused by the shortening days during late fall and
winter can bring on seasonally affected disorder or winter depression. One of
the quickest ways to give a boost to the energy levels and emotions is to eat
high carbohydrate foods including sugar treats, chips and cereals that give us
a fast blood sugar 'fix'. So people who feel low in the winter will tend to
overeat or eat the wrong foods, leading to weight gain, more depression and a
vicious cycle that is hard to break.
So
altogether there are many reasons why we eat more high carbohydrate foods such
as cookies, pies and chocolate in the winter, and of course most of these foods
also contain high levels of fats. The best way to handle this is generally to
substitute other foods that are also high in carbohydrate so that we get what
our body craves, but which have low fat content and plenty of fiber. This means
potatoes, wholegrain bread without butter, wholegrain rice, cereals, and fresh
whole fruit.
It is also
important to take more exercise. Often our physical activity levels drop in the
winter and we have a tendency to want to stay home and rest. This is natural
when it is cold outside. But we are not cavemen! We have heating in our homes
and can be sure that there will still be plenty of food in the stores come February.
We do not need to stow fat the way that they did. Sign up with a gym or get a
stationary bicycle for the den. Transform those carbs into energy now instead
of keeping it on the waistline until spring. Winter weight gain is
easily avoidable this way.
