Does Winter Make You Fat?

Does the Winter Season Make You Fat?

Winter is officially here!  For many, this means weight gain.

 Many people start going into hibernation mode come dropping temps.  They eat heavier foods. They gain (more) weight. They cozy up and hunker down.

Over the last month there have been numerous holiday parties that we all have been attending:  work parties, family parties, drinks with your girlfriends, neighborhood potlucks, Yankee swaps.  The list goes on. And just when you think it will slow down, we have New Year’s Eve next week,  topping it off with Valentines Day.

Holy more weight gain!  Continuous months of indulging and mindless eating and drinking.

So, how are you going to handle the winter?

Fear not. Winter is a great time to detox, leading into the lightness of spring.

Don’t forget to get your vitamin D.  The days get their shortest come winter.  Researchers at Aberdeen University found that obese people had 10% less vitamin D than people of average weight. The study also found that excess body fat absorbed vitamin D so the body couldn’t use it. Scientists now believe that there is a direct correlation between obesity and low levels of vitamin D. With that, get out there, even in the cold, and get your sunshine, if only for 10 minutes per day.

Move your booty and continue exercising regularly. It can be as simple as taking a walk out in the snowy terrain.

Sometimes you may not feel like it due to the cold weather, but hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Enjoy winter foods. Move toward the more warming winter foods and also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger and peppercorns.

Here is a list of the seasonal foods of winter:

Avocado, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Mandarin Oranges, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Potatoes, Radicchio, Rutabaga, Satsumas, Shallots, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Winter Squash*

Enjoy them all.  Try new things.  Just remember, don’t let the couch lure you into curling up with the unhealthy comfort foods like creamy soups or mac and cheese.

Enjoy your winter!

Karen 🙂

I’m Thankful

Today is Thanksgiving Eve and I’m feeling more thankful than EVER this year! To testify to the world just how thankful I’m feeling, I’m sharing it with everyone. Hopefully my thankfulness will encourage others to take a minute and think about what their thankful for tomorrow.

MY SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING FAMILY: 

MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS:

MY HEALTHY BODY:

HAVING THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW MY PASSION & PURPOSE:

TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY OF AMERICA, AND ALL THE FREEDOM WE HAVE:

What are you THANKFUL FOR?

Wishing you a beautiful Thanksgiving!

Karen

Staying Active This Winter

Winter is fast approaching, but that is NO EXCUSE to put working out on the back-burner.  In fact, being outdoors in the winter is a sure way to create a happy and healthier you!

Here are our favorite outdoor activities – what are yours?

Downhill Skiing: Burns about 410 calories per hour

Snow Shoeing: Burns about 500 calories per hour

Cross Country Skiing: Burns about 500 calories per hour

Winter Hiking: Burns about 445 calories if your backpack is below 10 lbs

Running: Burns about 550 calories per hour

Snowboarding: Burns about 480 calories per hour

Ice Skating: Burns about 500 calories per hour

Shoveling: Burns about 500 calories per hour

Have a great day!

Karen – Life of “I”