It’s that time of year-when the cold sets in and all you want to do is cozy up on the couch and not budge until Spring. I know it all too well. Once the comfy clothes are on, you forget your gym membership exists and that jeans don’t have quite the same give as sweatpants. If you’re home with little ones, you’re likely spending more time indoors, which means fewer calories burned for mom or dad (minus chasing your toddler around the hallway with her toothbrush).
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent the weight gain that’s known to result from colder weather and holiday festivities.
1. MOVE – A body in motion tends to stays in motion, so even a walk around the block will help motivate you to stay active through the fall and winter. Make it a point to bundle up and get outside even on a cold day. Your kids likely don’t mind the weather nearly as much as you do and everyone can get out a little pent up energy.
2. BUY – This is the time of year when you need motivation and nothing motivates like a new hip-hugging pair of yoga pants that just make you want to get the job done. It’s not Christmas yet, but it’s okay to indulge in something that’s going to be a big help to your health all season long.
3. MAKE – I always want to cook, bake, etc., this time of year and my daughter is getting to the age where she loves to help in the kitchen. The good news is, you can still do a ton of cooking – just make sure you are fixing things that won’t tip the scale. Healthy recipes are just as fun to make, smell just as good and satisfy hungry tummies as much as unhealthy ones. Sometimes swapping just a few ingredients can turn a calorie-disaster into a super healthy family dinner. When baking, always opt for whole wheat flour. Likewise, throwing vegetables into dishes like pasta, casseroles, or crock-pot meals give you lot more of the good stuff to fill up on.
4. WATCH – Yeah, but, not like that. Turn OFF the sit-com and turn on the exercise channel. If you’re staying inside, make use of modern day technology and try an OnDemand workout or exercise DVD. You’ll find that no matter the season, there are plenty of high-quality workouts at your finger-tips.
5. SLEEP – Cold weather makes us sleepy, so get to bed early! If you’ve gotten enough sleep you’re less likely to hit the snooze button and skip the morning workout. So when the time is right, get snuggly and dream away. A rested body is an active one.
Sarah Bregel is a mother, a writer and a women’s personal trainer. She loves yoga, food and wine and believes everything in moderation is the best advice in the world. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Marshall and their daughter, Piper. She writes about health and wellness at BHealthyBmore.com and her parenting journey at MyPipeDreams.com.
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