Don’t Let The Winter Blues = Winter Buldge

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By Matt Titus
September 27, 2007 @ 01:12 pm

How can I avoid gaining weight as I go into the holidays? An extra 10 pounds slips on every year!

You worked hard over the summer getting your body in shape, but now that the cold winter is quickly creeping up, it’s time to pay attention to what you are doing day in and day out. It’s easy for any of us to gain those extra pounds when all we want to do is hybernate during the cold winter weather. This year, instead of having 10 pounds to lose for the New Year, make sure you never gain them to begin with. Here are five quick ways to ensure that you treat your body right, but don’t deprive yourself in the meantime.

1. GO SHOPPING

I’m not talking about a trip to Bloomies, I’m talking about a trip down the aisles of your friendly neighborhood grocery store. Sorry about the fakeout. You can’t start a healthy diet without stocking up your fridge. Spend time in the fresh produce department (skip the spuds and load up on greens.) Buy plenty of water (soda is a no-no, you’d be surprised how many of your daily calories come from soda, even diet soda.) Pack plenty of protein into your cart (chicken, fish, beans and low-fat cheese).

2. POST IT

It may sound crazy, but grab a stack of Post it notes to motivate you until you get into a routine. Put them all over your apartment, in your calendar, even on your bathroom mirror. Make sure you can’t miss them. They should say things like: "Get Moving," "Go To The Gym," "Eat Right." It really works!

3. LACE UP

The best thing you can do to make sure you feel good this summer in a sleek, little two-piece is to make sure you get moving. It doesn’t matter if you walk or run. Lace up your sneakers and get moving. It’s even better if you sign on a friend, that way if you’re less motivated, she can serve as your conscience!

4. DON’T CLEAN YOUR PLATE

Or, make sure if you do, your plate wasn’t overflowing with food. Make sure you have plenty of protein at every meal, lots of greens and limit the you carbs.

5. TREAT YOURSELF

That’s right, it’s okay to have a treat everyday, but you must limit yourself. Don’t eat an entire candy bar, instead opt for one mini Hershey bar (and YES, you must stop at one!) If chocolate is not your thing, have a few marshmellows to satisfy that sweet tooth. The thing about sweets is the more you eat, the more you crave; once you start curbing your cravings, they’ll disappear.