“There’s no scientific evidence to prove that we’re biologically predisposed to weight gain in the colder months. Unless you’re a bear, that is. We do know that in [hibernating] animals there will be seasonal changes in hunger hormones, but there really is nothing to suggest that that’s true in people.”
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff (medical director of the Bariatric Institute in Ottawa and winner of the 2011 Best Health Blog Awards for his blog.)
“The winter months can be brutal for some people’s fitness routines and it gets a lot easier to get out and exercise when the winter months are warmer.”
Bradley Cardinal, PhD, an exercise physiologist at Oregon State University.
Walking
Bike Riding
Although winter comes as no surprise to us; we should look at methods that would create a plan of wellness during the season and here are some suggestions that might work for you.
1. Bring out the crock pot! Emphasis slow cooked, warm, moist meals this season. Soups are a perfect match for the cold, dry days.
2. We gravitate toward richer foods in the winter for good reason — we need to stay warm, lubricated and healthy. Allow yourself to indulge in high quality dairy, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, organic meats, and healthy fats — you can feel satisfied without jumping on the sugar train.
3. With the increase in heavier foods, be sure to increase spices and foods that help keep digestion lively. Many of these foods and spices have the added benefit of boosting your immune system because they are antibacterial. Try adding dark leafy greens, berries, garlic, onions, ginger, cumin, oregano, and cinnamon to your recipes whenever you can.
4. Pay attention if your skin feels tighter these days; you may need to switch to a hardier your days more special and when you need a little extra pampering.
5.) Create work out fun for yourself by doing the work out with your friends, significant other or even just yourself with distractions to avoid thinking about the cold by listening to music or listening to tapes for studying or just for furthering your knowledge. Listen to the internet or tunes while you exercise. As your work out goes on you won’t feel so cold and have distracted yourself from the thought of feeling like you want to stay inside the house and do nothing. Those who say I couldn’t do that than do work out inside your home with just sit ups to even doing exercise programs on the TV that you buy on DVD’s or those TV shows for work out that are even free. For those you can go out but not able to work outside in the cold weather an good exercise in just walking in a mall is better than nothing (good cardiac exercise). Than there is the other option that is more expensive like buying exercise equipment for in the home. Types of examples would be a tread mill where you do walking right in place or riding on a stationary bike or buying a stationary exercise machine that fits you. Some of these machines can run easily under 100 dollars (even 50) but go up to over one thousand dollars it all depends on what you want to loose, how fast you want to lose it and how you want to go about it financially. Another aspect is considering is it to lose your weight or just maintain the weight you are and this you can figure out after a little investigating.
Happy Holidays all my readers but be careful this week with the weather in the 40’s-50’s this past Saturday and Sunday and then winter temps freezing coming back throughout the night and early morning and now 40’s down to 30’s…so don’t get sick; dress appropriately!!
Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions, and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see.
Bernard Baruch (August 19, 1870 – June 20, 1965 was an American financier , stock investor , philanthropist)
“No matter what your brain status or age, there is much we can do to significantly improve brain functions and slow brain aging.”
Dr. Larry McCleary (Former Acting Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Denver Children’s Hospital Author of The Brain Trust Program)
“Although seasonal weight gain varies from person to person, there have been surveys that show an average of a five to seven pound gain in weight in winter.”
Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center
“Severe weather includes strong winds, freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and heavy rain and/or sleet. These conditions can also result in the lost of heat, power, and communications services. These disruptions can last for many days, so it’s important to be prepared for winter storm conditions ahead of time.”
EMERGENCYKITS.COM
Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us are not ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall.
Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months.
Get your car ready for cold weather use before winter arrives.
When planning travel, be aware of current and forecast weather conditions.
Above all, be prepared to check on family and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards: young children, older adults, and the chronically ill. If you have pets, bring them inside. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate, warm shelter and unfrozen water to drink.
No one can stop the onset of winter. However, if you follow these suggestions, you will be ready for it when it comes.
Also regarding health lets look at what most people do in the WINTER as opposed to the SUMMER (hot weather):
Winter weight gain isn’t just an urban myth. Research has shown that most of us could gain around a pound (half a kilo) during the winter months. That may not sound like much, but over the course of a decade, it can add up.
“There’s good evidence that people put on weight over the winter,” says dietitian Sian Porter. “The more overweight you are, the more you tend to put on. And the most worrying aspect of this seasonal weight gain is that the pounds tend to stay on. People don’t seem to lose the extra weight.”
The three main reasons that people put on weight in the winter are lack of physical activity, comfort eating and over-indulging at Christmas.
Cold weather and shorter days make it harder to exercise outdoors, so it’s easy not to do any exercise over winter. If you’re not outside as much, there’s more time and temptation to reach into the kitchen cupboard for high-calorie sweet snacks, such as biscuits and cakes.
Then of course there are the festivities that surround Christmas. What used to be a couple of days of parties and over-eating now seems, for some, to be six weeks of over-doing it. .
So what’s the solution? Learn tomorrow four simple ways to avoid winter weight gain.
“With the close link between hearing health and overall wellness, we must raise awareness about how to effectively prevent, diagnose and treat hearing loss,”says David Smriga, M.A., president of AuDNet, Inc.
David Smriga, M.A., president of AuDNet, Inc.