The Outlook

Friday, 18 May 2012

Winter is Your Enemy ^Featured

WRITTEN_BY Pat Frock
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 09:56
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Winter is your enemy. Freezing temperatures force you inside, where you shovel heaps of high-fat comfort foods down your gullet. Before you know it, you’ve gained 10 pounds l. Winter weight gain isn’t just a myth; it’s driven by biology and fueled by mood. In fact, most of us gain between three and four pounds during the winter months, despite our best efforts. But you can combat winter weight gain and remain slim and trim for spring.

There are lots of culprits, but cold is the No.1 suspect. When temperatures drop, we stay inside. Our metabolisms slow to a crawl and we pack on the pounds. But the conspiracy runs deeper than that. During the winter, we forgo low-calorie snacks for prepackaged, high-fat delights like chips, nuts and crackers. We also get less sunlight, which makes us feel down in the dumps. To combat those feelings, we gobble up carbohydrates, fats and sugars, which make us feel better.

Some doctors believe that we’re genetically programmed to gain weight when it gets chilly. "Your body may be working against you to hang on to it so you stay warm,” said Lawrence Cheskin, MD, founder of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore, in an interview with Prevention magazine.

Fat is a great insulator and it really does a great job of keeping you warm. Before the days of forced air heating and good insulation, a few extra pounds could mean the difference between life and death. For most of us, however, freezing to death isn’t really a problem. We want to look and feel good.

Exercise is your best weapon against winter weight gain. And strength training will do a lot to keep your metabolism revving. So hit the gym at least three times a week and devise a workout routine that will tax your biggest muscles. Focus on your legs; they burn more calories than any other part of your body. Add a little cardio to the routine -- about 15 minutes per workout -- and you’ll do a lot to avoid packing on pounds.

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