How to Avoid the Cold-Weather 10
By Lexi Petronis
So here we are, smack at the beginning of December. On the plus side, that means comfy coats, roaring fires, binge-watching Netflix, and snuggling. On the minus—well, there are fewer daylight hours during which we can work out, comfort foods galore, and bulky sweaters that are quite convenient for hiding any additional…bulk.
The truth is, even though research shows that we may burn more calories during the colder months, lots of us fall victim to the “winter 10.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.
1: Don’t party hungry. Holiday parties are filled with tasty (and hard-to-resist) treats, so make sure to load up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains beforehand. Salads loaded with fiber-filled ingredients—such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, beans—will keep you feeling full, which helps when you’re presented with a cheese platter and the cake table.
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2: Keep to your regular exercise schedule (as much as you can). It’s cold, it’s dark, you’re bundled up. But if you keep your usual Pilates class permanently at the top of your to-do list, it’s a lot harder to blow it off.
3: De-draft your house. Weird but true: Research from Maastrich University has suggested that eating in warmer temperatures may actually help keep cravings at bay. In the study, women who snacked at 81 degrees reported feeling 20 percent fewer cravings.
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4: Don’t turn to alcohol. Wine, beer, and cocktails are super high in sugar content and calories (without offering any nutritional benefits). Sure, once in a while is always OK—but, seeing as just one 5-ounce glass of wine averages 123 calories, just remember it all adds up.
5: Keep healthy snacks handy. It’s always a nice idea to have good-for-you snacks on hand (you never know when you might get hungry—and if there’s a healthy snack in your purse, you’ll be a lot less likely to stop at the drive-through). The principle applies to winter months too. Think about stocking up on things that are rich in protein and fiber, and low in sugar—jerky, almonds, rice cakes with bananas and nut butter, low-fat chocolate milk, protein bars.
How do your workout and exercise routines change during the winter?
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photo: Roland Bello
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