Keep Your Weight in Check This Winter

By Donna Stark

There's a reason why so many people wear layers of baggy clothes during the winter and it's not because it is cold outside. It's because those clothes make it a lot easier to hide those extra pounds they have gained during the holiday season. You see, unlike summer, when we are constantly watching what we eat, winter is like an open buffet, and that extra pound or two doesn't seem to be a big deal. But it is certainly not the direction you want to keep taking. So stop covering your body under all those layers and start being more mindful of those extra pounds you are trying to hide.

Ways to Keep Your Weight in Check This Winter

Holiday parties, family dinners, and happy hours typically have lots of delicious food and drinks, and when you combine that with winter vacations and little exercise, this time of year can quickly become your ticket to the land of weight gain. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy things you can do to stay on top of it all. Take a look.

• Stay hydrated - Many people only associate dehydration with hot summer days, but drinking the recommended amount of water every day can also help you avoid unnecessary weight gain. Did you know that the number one trigger for overeating is dehydration? When you deplete your body of the fluids it needs, it can cause your body to go into starvation mode. And you know what happens next? You eat and eat and eat. So the number one rule during the holiday season is to drink your water!
• Exercise every day - Sure, I get it. Your car is cold and it takes too long to heat up. But I bet once springtime comes around and it takes you weeks to heat your body back up for exercise, you are going to look back and regret being bothered by the cold. So go dress warmly, keep exercising, and do it every day if you can.
• Stop the grazing - Winter parties and dinners are always filled with table upon table of fabulous trays of food, and obviously, you want it all. But if you want to enjoy the appetizers and treats without gaining weight, stop grazing! Fix yourself only one plate of food and sit down to eat that instead.

Ready for Spring

Following the suggestions above and being mindful of what you consume during the winter is the best way to prepare your body for those springtime workouts and your summertime bathing suit! So put the triple-layer sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants back in the closet. You are not going to be needing them this year.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Raleigh, N.C.