Seasonal Weight Gain and
What You Can Do?
As we come into
the cold weather, the fear of seasonal weight gain looms. I know
that in the winter I tend to carry about five pounds or so more on
average than I do in the summer. Although this can be frustrating,
I've come to realize that it is natural to some extent and that it
is a cycle that I need to accept.
Chances are, I'm not alone. Many people gain weight when daylight
hours diminish and cold weather sets in. Some doctors even believe
that we have little control over this phenomenon, and that humans
are programmed to gain weight when it gets cold. In an interview
with Prevention magazine, Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, founder of the Johns
Hopkins Weight Management Center, stated "Your body may be working
against you to hang on to it so you stay warm." So why is this so
and what can you do about it?
1. Reduced Activity Level: When it is cold outside, we do
everything possible to stay inside. Further, activities like staying
in bed, buried under the covers or on the couch snuggled up in a
blanket is a lot more appealing than running on the treadmill or for
that matter, outside.
What you can do: Try finding new activities that are
winter appropriate. Whether it be cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
or ice skating, work with the season, not against it. Also, your spa
may offer some new classes for the winter…like hot yoga…to get your
blood pumping!
2. Food Choices: During the winter, we tend to eat more
'comfort' foods that are higher in fat and contain less than healthy
ingredients. Foods like french fries, ribs and chili tend to feel
more comforting than salad, fresh fruit and grilled fish.
What you can do: Look for recipes that use fruits and
vegetables that are in season during winter months: kale, squash,
onions, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and citrus. Also
incorporate soups that are either broth or vegetable based instead
of those with creams to warm you up. Lastly, aim to stay away from
fried foods and try baking options (potatoes for instance).
3. Lack of Sunlight: Decreased exposure to sunlight can have
a tremendous affect on our mood, and as a result, we eat foods that
tend to be rich in carbs, fats and sugars, which make us feel
better.
What you can do: Expose yourself to sunlight
regularly. Although the cold might be a deterrent, bundling up and
getting outside into the sun will do your mood wonders.
4. Results on Your Metabolism: Although there isn't
significant evidence that temperature has a great affect on our
metabolism, our activity level does. Specifically, when our activity
level is reduced, our metabolism slows.
What you can do: Strength training, in particular, is
very important to keeping your metabolism high, as the more muscle
mass you have the more calories you burn. Aim to do strength
training two to three times a week to keep your metabolism revved.
Also, consider getting more massage during the winter, as massage
helps to increase your circulation, and may have positive effects on
your metabolism as well.
5. Less Skin Exposure: Piling on layers of warm clothes
during the winter allows us to hide extra weight more easily. Unlike
summer months, where we are dawning bathing suits on a regular
basis, we don't have to worry about what we look like with 3 or 4
extra layers.
What you can do: As silly as this may sound, try on
bathing suits, sleeveless shirts and summer dresses every couple of
weeks. Visualizing yourself in summer gear can help keep you on
track. Going to the spa may also provide you with more chances to
‘reveal a little skin.’ Hop into the steam room or sauna to get some
extra warmth, while remembering how good it feels to be bare.
Do you experience
seasonal weight gain? What have you done to help combat it?.
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The
3 D’s to Healthy Living – Destress, Detoxify and Defend!
Relaxation can be hard to come by, especially if our body is
dependent on caffeine or nicotine to keep us on our toes all day.
Many of these internal and external toxins can disrupt our natural
equilibrium flow, which potentially alter the key to maintaining
good health. Toxins present an added burden on the body that deplete
our energy and disrupt the normal functioning of the body. By simply
adding a detoxification program, exercising and treating yourself to
a spa treatment, you can keep healthy, energized and feeling
younger.
Detoxification through proper digestive function plays a key role in
our ability to live healthier. Research has shown that keeping a
healthy, clean colon is an effective tool. Remember, our blood has
direct contact with our colon. If your colon is packed with toxins
(waste), then that waste is releasing toxins into your blood, which
ultimately travels throughout your entire body. Colon health is
directly related to proper digestion and a healthy diet. It is
difficult to keep a detoxified body in the world we live in today.
Our food is packed with preservatives and sugar, while being treated
and controlled with pesticides and genetic alterations.
Additionally, we are trained to take prescriptions or over the
counter drugs to mask effects of almost any condition. Now more than
ever is the time for all of us to take a proactive approach to
detoxify. With proper detoxification we can have a more optimal
digestive system, immune system, and circulatory system.
With stress relief
and proper detoxification, our bodies will spend less time trying to
clean and release stress and more time helping us protect against
infection and disease. Remember, our body is a living machine,
always repairing and defending. If we can help it by having it focus
on building a stronger immune system, then we can live a longer,
cleaner, and a more stress free life.
Spa treatments especially great for detox include: massage, body
wraps and hydrotherapy. A Colon Therapy session is also an excellent
cleansing option. For more info on Colon Therapy contact our
therapist: Nancy at: 904-993-5735. Colon Therapy along with a Detox
Aquatherapy and Aqua Chi foot bath will have you feeling brand new
again! Make sure you find out what spa treatments are right for you
and get your regular detox treatment in to stay healthy and well! |
