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Put the Freeze on Winter Weight Gain

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By Megan Diaz

Here's the perfect recipe for winter weight gain:

2 months or more of high calorie holiday food
Fewer hours of daylight
More time sitting indoors

Combined, these ingredients lead to an average of one pound of weight gain during the winter holiday season, with most of the weight gained between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.*

Don’t let your waist get wider as the days get shorter this winter! While a pound or two may not seem like much, studies show that many people have trouble shedding that extra pound.* Letting extra weight add up through the years may contribute to obesity later in life. The best advice is to avoid gaining that pesky pound in the first place. It’s unrealistic to try and lose weight during the holidays, so aim to at least maintain your current weight.

Since we know the recipe for winter weight gain, let’s plan a strategy to outsmart the forces working against us!

*Use common sense when choosing holiday foods and keep them to small, sensible portions. Read some of the previous posts about healthier holiday eating strategies.

*Shorter days mean less sunlight. The amount of sunlight we get affects the amount of a mood-boosting chemical in the brain called serotonin. High serotonin levels help limit cravings and overeating. Try to get at least an hour of sunlight each day. Sit near a window or take a brisk walk on your lunch break. You will be happier and healthier!

*Exercise, exercise, exercise. We tend to move less when the temperatures outside are colder. Make it a point to move more, even if it means being active indoors. Exercise also boosts your mood and your immune system.

*The mere act of logging your food and beverage intake can help you lose or maintain weight. Keeping tabs on everything you eat and drink and your exercise regimen is an easy way to stay on track.

*Get enough sleep. When you’re doing everything right as far as diet and exercise, but still aren’t seeing results, lack of sleep can be the culprit! Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Like exercise, the benefits of sleep reach far beyond weight loss.

* National Institutes of Health: “Holiday Weight Gain Slight, But May Last a Lifetime” http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/holidayweightgain.cfm

Important Walmart Disclaimer: All content, including but not limited to, recipe and health information provided in Healthy Living, is for educational purposes only. Such content is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. Such content does not cover all possible side effects of any new or different health program. Consult your medical professional for guidance before changing or undertaking a new diet or exercise program. Advance consultation with your physician is particularly important if you are under eighteen (18) years old, pregnant, nursing, or have health problems.

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