Understanding why we gain weight in the winter

Gaining weight through the cold winter months is a very common complaint for so many of us. Every year following Thanksgiving and Christmas we add on a few pounds, yet we never seem to lose all that we gained. A few pounds always stay behind which makes us heavier year by year. Why should we continue to gain when we diet so rigidly every spring?

Just like the animal kingdom it is perfectly natural for the body to store extra layers of fat for survival in the cold weather of winter. The only problem with this realisation is that what obviously worked for our ancestors is not a necessity in our modern world. In the past food would have been in ample supply following the harvest time and harder to find as winter continued on.

Even today as the daylight hours are shorter the chemicals in our brain can affect our desires for certain ‘comfort’ foods. For those of us who suffer from depression during these darker colder months it is so easy to succumb to cravings for food that is high in carbohydrates. Chips, chocolate, cookies: anything that can give us a sugar ‘buzz’ temporary makes us feel better. The winter season can be long and overeating for this period, especially when the diet contains so many foods with very high levels of fat, leads to an unwelcome gain in weight.

Once we begin to understand how and why we gain more weight during the winter months we can apply this knowledge to our daily dieting plans. It is possible to satisfy our natural craving for carbohydrates but we must look for foods that are low in fat but high in fiber. Look to potatoes, wholegrain bread and rice; always include plenty of fresh fruit available every day.

To help keep any weight gain away during the winter it is so important to take regular exercise. Once the colder weather has arrived people take the safe, warm, comfort zone and stay wrapped up in their homes. Exercise does not have to be taken outside in sub-zero temperatures, nor do you have to sign up for expensive gym membership. Just dancing to the radio is a start; by keeping those pounds in check during the winter will make all the difference when summer comes.