10 quick tips to avoid winter weight gain

surviving winter

Cold nights and mornings seem to trigger the desire to eat heartier, stodgier meals which can wreak havoc with your waistline.

Winter means less salads, fruit choices are limited, plus meals such as casseroles and stews are often made using cheaper, fattier cuts of meat. Add to this the likelihood of being house-bound on cold, rainy days and this can be a recipe for disaster for anyone on a weight loss plan. So, what’s the secret to surviving winter without weight gain? Well, it’s the old Boy Scout motto – Be prepared!

Why not set some new goals for winter so you have strategies to keep you on track, and don’t end up lost in baggy winter clothes that cover a multitude of sins.

healthy shakes to avoid winter weight gain

My 10 quick tips to avoid winter weight gain:

  1. Watch your portionsMeasure portions to ensure you aren’t over-serving. I’ve got you covered in my 6-Week Winter Weight Loss Challenge as you receive weekly menu plans that includes all meals and snacks all portioned perfectly for your level. Plus you get all the recipes to complete the plan.
  2. Address boredom – If you’re stuck at home, eating the wrong foods out of boredom can be tempting. Instead of overeating, phone a friend, catch up on chores, do a crossword or work on a hobby. The key is to keep yourself busy so you don’t think about food.
  3. Amp up your veggie intake – A vegetable soup is perfect if you are feeling hungry as it has very few kilojoules, almost no fat and the fibre will keep you feeling full for longer. I love making my Minestrone Soup from book 1. Perfect for lunch or a healthy snack.
  4. Choose sensible snacks – Some safe snacks to have in the pantry or fridge include raisin toast, pop corn, or my low fat cakes or muffins. What about hot chocolate made on skim milk, a cup-a-soup, or a bowl of hot porridge or high fibre cereal with warm milk to warm you up.
  5. Warm up your fruit – The fibre in fruit helps to fill you up. For a warm option stew your fruit in a little water. Apples stewed with cinnamon make a great addition to your morning porridge.
  6. Switch to a warm lunch – Sandwiches and salads can be unappealing in cooler weather, instead make jaffles or an open grill sandwich topped with reduced fat tasty cheese.
  7. Think lean – When making casseroles or curries cut off all visible fat from meat. Buy only the leanest of meats and remove the skin from chicken or buy skinless chicken breast.
  8. Rethink your drink – The calories in milk-based drinks add up quickly, use skim milk and limit to one a day. Switch to herbal teas that have no calories or hot water with fresh lemon is another refreshing option.
  9. Stay hydrated – It’s important to get your 8 glasses of water each day, even in winter. Thirst can often be mistaken for hunger, so drink up. And remember that herbal teas such as peppermint, lemongrass or chamomile count as water.
  10. Move your body – Even if it is cold outside our body needs to exercise all year round. If it’s raining then play music and do a workout at home or check out YouTube. If it’s too cold to be outdoors in winter where you live why not hire a walking machine, or if you want to exercise with friends, join a gym or find a heated pool for water aerobics.

Find out about my weight loss mentoring program HERE


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