A health and fitness blog: With an occasional food item

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Winter weight gain



How to avoid gaining too much weight in the winter? Not that we are really having one where I live, but nonetheless here are some tips from Michele Stanten, Prevention magazine's Fitness Director:
1) Grab some travel brochures and plan an active spring vacation. There's nothing like a hike in the Tetons on my calendar to get me off the couch and away from the mac 'n' cheese this time of the year. For you, a goal might be taking a ski trip or beach vacation, fitting into a favorite spring outfit, or signing up for a half marathon. Here are more motivation boosters to help you stay the course (also see "Why Now's the Hardest Time to Diet" ).
2) Soak up some sun.
Less daylight affects the production of hormones that make you feel tired, which may explain why most people's activity levels dip by 20% in winter. Studies show that early morning light is the most potent energy booster, so leave your bedroom curtains open or head out for a morning stroll.
3) Compete with others.
Challenge friends and family to an "exercise-off." Whoever works out the most in a week or a month wins a massage, facial, or manicure.
4) Try this mineral. Research last year found that chromium helps prevent weight gain. Now, an 8-week Cornell University study shows it curbed appetite and cravings by 50% in people with depression who took a daily 600 mcg chromium picolinate supplement.
5) Embrace the season.
Forget staying home by the hearth. If you really want to feel toasty, go snowshoeing. It's as easy as walking and blasts 544 calories an hour (based on a 150-pound person). [we can't do that in south Georgia, but we can try other things, like bundling up for a walk.]
Any thoughts on any of the above?
To explain the photo: I found this picture of a cat on the Internet; and I imagine that our cat Bisquick will look like this after the exorcism.

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