As soon as the dark evenings and the cold breeze of winter sweeps in, it becomes increasingly difficult for many of us to keep up with physical activity and healthy eating. We soon find ourselves finding comfort in all of the worst foods (for our health) and snuggling up on the sofa becomes an after-work ritual. So, what factors play a big part in this winter weight gain take-over, and how can we overcome it?
Less light makes us feel more tired – this seems to be a big issue for most of us once the winter months roll in and explains why people are less active during this period. As daylight fades quickly throughout the winter days, it’s apparent that early morning light is the best time to get the rays in – it’s also the most potent energy booster…In addition to this, sunshine increases levels of brain chemical serotonin, which may aid in calming food cravings.
Read more about why morning light is so important for your health in our blog post; ‘Healthy morning habits to kick-start your day.’
It’s apparent that the physiological aspects of cold weather can take a toll on our bodies; the human body seems to go into survival mode when greeted by the cold weather – which makes us eat more. For most people, curling up in the warmth is a lot more appealing than getting physical outdoors during the colder weather… Running clubs and active routines seem to take a back seat throughout the winter holidays, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
Put off by the cold? Take a trip to the gym, call a friend to go for a walk or get a dog; which essentially forces you to keep active when out and about on walks – it’d be your new responsibility.
We all know that Christmas and holiday festivities mean food... and a lot of it. Of course, it’s great to pig out once in a while and the first few holiday gatherings are overly enjoyable with the amount of food on offer, but it soon dawns on us that this all you can eat winter buffet is around to stay – for quite a while… It’s at this point we can choose to over-indulge; to start-up a fitness fresh in the New Year, or – to get a handle on it now and be a little careful in terms of what we’re picking at…
Top Tip: Instead of concentrating on the food at your next seasonal gathering, focus on connecting with people as appose to being fixated by the food. If you really want to dig in, just remember the one golden rule of the holidays: "all things in moderation."
It’s fair to say that the holidays are a hectically busy time for the majority of us – with this being said, it doesn’t mean we have to put our exercise routines on the back-burner. Not having the time is the most overused excuse, no one’s saying to run a marathon – sometimes just a 10 minute HIT session can be most beneficial.
Try changing your overall mind set and attitude towards getting active – stop saying ‘I have to exercise’ and change this to ‘I get to exercise’… finding this time gap in your day that you can spend on bettering your mind and body should be treated as a godsend – happy holidays!
Knowing what causes winter weight gain and learning how to prevent it is great for your overall health, but you aren’t to know what’s around the corner in terms of illnesses that are out of your control. Acquiring health insurance cover is a great way to ensure you’re going to receive the best care, if anything negatively affects your health.
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