by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: March 18, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2010

It is easy to use winter as an excuse to put on weight because nobody wants to leave the house when it is snowing and at sub-zero temperature, plus there are so many delicious and stodgy hot meals to feast upon, particularly when it comes to Christmas, that it is very easy to consume more calories than are required. However, there are still ways to stay active and to eat healthily during the winter months; it just takes a little bit more determination and focus.

Winter can be a depressing time of year, as the nights get longer and the days shorter, as the temperatures plummet and the old winter coat is taken out of storage. It can therefore be extremely tempting to turn towards comfort food, particularly for those who have had to trudge through the grotty streets in the freezing cold to get home. It is all too easy to reach for a comforting bar of chocolate and to slouch on the sofa watching television, when what really is needed is to get active in order to feel re-energised. Exercise is a great way for people to improve their sense of well-being, as it gets the heart pumping and clears the mind. It is a much more effective way for people to feel better about themselves than eating junk food, and has the added bonus of helping to improve fitness levels.

This can be easier said than done, though, when the streets are dark and the last thing anybody wants to do is go for a run or cycle, but it is important to get into the right mindset so that the focus is on the end result rather than the inconvenience of being cold, particularly when strenuous exercise is such good way to produce some sweat. Physical activity does not necessarily involve going outside anyway, as there are plenty of exercise DVDs available, as well as exercise machines. The gym and local swimming pool also offer potential places in which to exercise in a nice, warm environment. The main thing is to create a routine and stick to it; otherwise it becomes far too tempting to just laze around the house eating junk food.

It is therefore important for people to monitor what they eat over the winter period so that they do not put on a substantial amount of weight which then has to be lost during springtime. For those whose exercise regime hardly changes through the winter months it may be a good idea to eat a little more because the body uses more calories trying to keep itself warm, but for those who find themselves doing less physical activity it is a good idea to restrict the amount of calories consumed, particularly those from refined sugars and fats.

When it comes to winter the most important thing is for individuals not to just let their fitness routine completely slide, as it makes it harder to pick up again when spring comes around. A little bit of weight gain is perhaps to be expected, but it is much easier to need to lose a couple of pounds, rather than avoiding the scales until spring comes only to find out that they have to lose considerably more. Some people may prefer to relax their routine a little bit during the winter months, wanting to snuggle up in the warmth. It is obviously the individual's choice how they approach diet and exercise during winter, but they cannot then complain if they do nothing and gain weight.

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