How to Survive Winter Without Adding on the Pounds!

Keeping your scale close to where you eat  in the kitchen helps your thinking about what goes into your mouth.dd caption

I don’t know about you, but winter is always the time of year when those pounds can creep up.  Overeating or indulging in higher calorie dishes and treats during the holidays doesn’t help to start this fattening cycle. Later, you tell yourself that you simply need to eat more to keep warm–-at least this has always been my excuse.  Nonetheless, with the dieting strategies that I’m about to share, you’ll be better equipped to keep your eating more in control.


Regardless if you’re a breakfast eater or not, you got to make an effort to start the day with a balanced breakfast.  You need to keep your blood sugar regulated and energy up with a healthy meal.  Otherwise, you’ll only be tempted to snack on high calorie foods such as grabbing a doughnut or two from that box at the office or visiting the vending machine for chips, cookies and candy bars to get you through the morning.  

Breakfast can save your dieting from failing.

Another dieting defense is stocking up on some important nutrients such as vitamin D and the mineral, zinc. You can benefit from vitamin D from sunlight.  However, winter there is less of it for your body to absorb because of the change in time and lack of the same outdoor activity.  The reason you don’t want to short yourself of this particular vitamin is because without enough, your bones may suffer and weaken. Furthermore, some studies have shown that a vitamin D deficiency can cause the body to store excess fat, which piles on weight so not to help your figure.  600 I.U. is the current recommended daily allowance of vitamin D, but you want to increase that amount to up to 2,000 I.U.  Do check with your physician first before self-prescribing to find the dosage right for you that won’t interfere with your current medications.

Zinc, on the other hand,  has been shown to help curb the appetite. It also helps give you more energy while doing its part to ward off infections.  Eight mg is the recommended daily allowance for women, but you may need more or less depending on your body, current medications, etc.  Before doing so, check with your doctor about the possibility of adding a supplement.  You may also want to increase your intake of zinc from foods like eating yogurt, chicken, nuts, and legumes.

Strangely enough, the lightening that you dine by can even makes a difference in how much you eat.  During winter, it gets darker outside sooner.  Resist the urge to brighten up your kitchen or dining room during dinner and try eating by softer light.  Studies have also shown limiting sound distractions can help relax as well so that you prolong the meal.

These are just some ways that can help keep your eating on track so that you can avoid struggling in the weeks ahead to drop that winter weight.  Just remember that warm weather will be here soon!