Women become obsessed with losing weight in preparation for swimsuit season, but after the summer heat wanes away, preparations begin for the winter season and its many festivities.
One of the most effective ways to maintain and lose weight is to exercise on a daily basis, regardless of weather conditions.
“There is no guaranteed way to keep the extra fat away better than cardio and aerobics for at least 30 minutes, three times or more a week. Cold weather is not an excuse for you to not go out for a run,” said dietitian Riham Abdulmajeed “If weather conditions are unsuitable, you can select a video on YouTube and exercise in your room. You can also exercise by climbing up and down a flight of stairs, or by doing squats, jumping on a rope or perform any kind of movement. You don’t have to go outdoors to exercise,” she added.
During winter, people are especially prone to eating comfort food and warm, fatty dishes, which ultimately leads to weight gain.
“In cold weather people tend to crave hot meals composed of fatty ingredients as well as food filled with sugar. A warm, cheesy plate of pasta or a cup of hot cocoa sounds amazing on a cold winter night, however wait five minutes before you start preparing it,” said Abdulmajeed.
“Wait a short while to distract yourself from the idea of eating comfort food, as it is usually these types of food items which contain significant amounts of sugar, or are deep-fried, and are rich in trans fat and carbohydrates,” she cautioned.
The University of Illinois Food and Brand Lab have coined a definition for the term comfort food. They describe it as: “A specific food consumed under a specific situation to obtain psychological comfort.”
In 2004, the university’s survey on trends in gender choices revealed that women on the whole sought out comfort food as a means to relieve stress. The study found that women tend to prefer dessert and sugary food. Men, on the other hand, according to the study, seek comfort food generally to get into a good frame of mind and were found to prefer warm, hearty dishes such as meatloaf and steak.
“Comfort food will add to your weight without providing nutritional value to your body, even though it will supply you with a sense of fullness and pleasure long after you have consumed the food. These dishes are typically high in carbohydrates or fat and are emotionally satisfying, which is ultimately why you chose to eat them,” said Abdulmajeed. “You must learn how to control the risk of temptation,” she added.
Winter seasons is always accompanied with indoor dining and parties. Try to control what you consume in one party, explained Abdulmajeed.
“Never go to a party hungry. Try to snack on a fruit or a healthy bite before you leave the house because the body wants to eat what the eyes see, but when you are feeling half full you will spare yourself from eating too much,” she advised.
“Try to start with a big salad or anything green before you go around the buffet and no need for a dessert because you already had a fruit before you left the house remember?” she added.
Damage control is a necessity during every season, she recommended.
“If you indulge in a piece of cookie, don’t fall off the wagon. Try to make up for it by cutting calories and exercising more throughout the day,” said Abdulmajeed. “Add more low fat, low calories, low sugar in your diet and try to make up for anything you ate,” she concluded.
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