Trim Mom

Winter Weight Gain: Exposing A Hidden Culprit

While there are obvious reasons for gaining weight during the winter (like the abundance of food and treats as well as lack of exercise) there is also one big hidden reason:  depression.

It’s not unusual to suffer seasonal depression during the winter.  Not only will depression cause you to reach for more fattening foods, it can also leave you lethargic and unwilling to get exercise.  This combination will obviously result in packing on the pounds which often times furthers depression.

To stop from falling into this nasty cycle, take steps to keep your mood elevated as you go into winter and then keep it up through the season.  One of the biggest causes of seasonal depression is lack of sunlight.

Be sure to keep your home and office well lit when you’re indoors.  If this isn’t enough, take a few 20 minute periods every day to sit in from of a high watt bulb.  This will help boost your mood in a natural way.

While bad diet and lack of exercise are often a result of depression, they can also be part of the cause of the depression.  If you start feeling depressed, focus on maintaining your healthy habits.  They will help boost your mood and keep you from falling into a bad cycle of depression, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, and weight gain.

Technorati Tags: weight gain, weightloss, winter

If You’re Not Exercising…

You are not alone!

Did you know that 30 percent of people don’t get any exercise at all during the winter?

I don’t know about you, but right now I’m part of that statistic.  In addition to those who aren’t exercising, those that do often get less than they would during the warmer months of the year.  Winter is often cold and bitter outside which discourages us from getting out and about.  I know if I lived in a really cold place, I’d probably just want to curl up under a warm blanket with a good book all winter long.  Winter can also be dark and dreary which can easily hamper motivation to do anything, much less get up and work out.  The on top of all of that, it’s generally a hectic time of year with it being that holiday season and all.  Shopping, holiday gatherings, company parties, and everything else that goes along with the holidays makes it a challenge to find time for exercise.  I have to admit that I’m more likely to want to fill my extra time with a fun holiday activity than a workout.  All this adds up to the unhealthy habit or not getting enough physical activity during the winter.  With that in mind, here are

3 Tips for Getting Exercise During the Winter

Join a gym: Gyms offer expert staffs, a warm and safe place to exercise, a chance to get out of the house, and chance to socialize with new people.

Utilize the Mall: The mall is not only good for shopping.  A walk at the mall, may be more interesting than walking at the park.  Plus some have some great stairs you can climb for an added challenge.  Some malls even have walking clubs you can join.

Exercise Tapes or DVDs: Ah yes, it’s time to break out those exercise videos!  They allow you to stay in the comfort of your own home and have more privacy while you exercise.

Other ideas include:

• Running in place
• Getting a rebounder
• Playing with the kids
• Playing sports with family and friends
• Participating in indoor winter sports programs

A word of warning: Quick temperature changes can be a dangerous shock to your body.  When going outside, take time to give your body a proper warm up and cool down.  Also, when coming in from the cold, wait a few minutes to remove your coat and other layers.

When you venture outside in the winter, it’s important to take extra precautions to stay warm and safe.  Always be sure to bundle up and wear layers.  You want enough to keep you warm, but not so much that you’re sweating.  While sweating during your summer workout is great, during the winter sweat makes you wet and can make you cold in freezing temperatures.

Exercising during the winter may take a bit more planning and effort, but you’ll be rewarded by staying healthy, looking good, and maybe even having some fun.

Technorati Tags: exercise tips, fitness, health, Holiday WeightLoss Tips, weightloss, winter exercise

Increase Metabolic Rate, Lose Weight

7 wise moves to increase metabolism

Most times diet alone will not help you reach and maintain your weightloss goals. Most diets are only fads which, instead of giving you the results you hope and work for, leave you frustrated and hopeless.  But don’t worry, help is here!.

Here are 7 effective moves towards a healthier, sexier you!!!

Sleep well, live well
I know this is easier said than done for many moms, but just be aware of the effect sleep, or lack thereof, has on, not only your overall health, but your weightloss as well. According to studies, people who just have 4 hours of sleep at night have slower metabolism than those who have 8-hour sleep. Moreover, the former resort to overeating since they feel like eating would cover up the lack of sleep. You must have enough sleep for you to feel revived after every “wake up”.

Sweat out a little in the evenings
Recent research that tells us that our metabolism tends to slow down during late in the afternoon or at the end of the day.  So, in order for you to burn more calories, it is wise to do some evening walks and other exercise forms that would allow you to sweat it out and burn calories.

Do not be a slow drag- move more
As you move more, you burn more calories. Instead of taking a ride to a near place, walking is a better choice. You must gradually make minor lifestyle changes. These can be very small changes that are easy to implement. For example, it could be as simple as taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator, or doing gardening instead of watching TV.

Eat more proteins
Diet studies show that protein intake stabilizes the amount of insulin in the bloodstream which is highly-beneficial for you.

Skipping meals is skipping life
Drastic changes for your body are not good. Never dwell on or believe the idea that missing a meal would make your waistline look trim and sexy.  Whenever you suddenly stop eating, your body reacts and adjusts by slowing down metabolic rate.

Sweat out a bit for some exercise
Exercise does not directly result in a better metabolism because not all forms of exercise cause an increase in metabolism.  However, they can lead to better sleeping habits and, better sleep increases metabolism.

Most of all build lean muscles
Having more lean muscle expedites metabolism. A few push-ups and squats daily are a big help. Just bear in mind that it is not all about working out in and of itself, but about how the workout effects your body’s metabolic rate.

Seven simple ways to move toward your trim mom goals.  Never let go of the hope that you will a live a healthier, sexier, better life!!!

Technorati Tags: exercise, metabolism, weightloss

Does Thanksgiving = Weight Gain?

Now that November is here, the holidays are right around the corner!  I just LOVE this time of year.  However, this is also probably the toughest time of year to keep extra pounds off.   So I’m just here to let you know that

Thanksgiving Does Not Mean You Have to Gain Weight

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for you to relax and spend time with family and friends.  You also know it is a great way to pack on the pounds.  While Thanksgiving has become associated with stuffing yourself to the brim, there are ways to help curb your eating and give yourself a positive start to the holiday season.  Here are some tips for cutting back this turkey day.

Not eating too much on Thanksgiving actually starts before the big day.  Stress of making travel arrangements, buying supplies, and coordinating get-togethers can cause you to start eating more before turkey day even arrives.  Remember to take time to de-stress, relax, and take some time for yourself during the month of November.  This is also a good philosophy to keep through the rest of the holiday season as well.

One simple way to keep from gaining weight at Thanksgiving is to make small meal changes and substitutions while cooking.  This doesn’t mean you need to go buy a tofurkey; just substitute certain ingredients for more healthy ones.  Try adding extra spices to your meals so you don’t have to add much butter or gravy.  You can also substitute evaporated skim milk to deserts and chicken broth to gravy and mashed potatoes to add flavor without all the fat.  You can also try alternate cooking methods like letting the fat drip off the turkey or steaming veggies to make the meal healthier.

Never skip lunch on Thanksgiving, even if you’re eating early.  If you’re really hungry when you go to eat, you’ll end up eating a lot more, even factoring in the extra lunch calories.  Just remember to eat a sensible lunch and not pig out before the big meal.  You can also cut your portions on fatty foods by adding a healthy option to the beginning of the meal, like a salad.

Many of us do pretty well when it comes to keeping our portions small at Thanksgiving, but depending on how many options there are at your meal, all those small choices can add up to a lot of calories. Instead of taking a little of everything, pick the things you want the most to eat and take a sensible portion of each of them.  You’ll eat fewer calories, but you’ll probably feel more satisfied because you got to eat all of your favorite foods.

In addition to eating less during the big event, why not go for a walk or do another physical activity after the meal.  This will help get your digestive system revved up to digest the extra calories and burn them off faster.  Instead of a walk, try an active game like charades so the whole family can join in and bond at the same time.

With a little planning and effort, you can keep your waistline slim and trim this Thanksgiving holiday.

How to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving

Of course, WeightLoss quests during the holiday season can be TOUGH! The holiday season is notorious for packing on the pounds, but eating a good Thanksgiving meal doesn’t mean you have to eat fattening foods. By the same token, eating a healthy meal doesn’t mean you have to forego your Thanksgiving favorites. With Thanksgiving coming up, I just wanted to give you a few ideas on Healthy Cooking For Thanksgiving.

Here are some easy ways to tweak the classics to be a bit healthier for you and your family.

Spices
As long as you use tasting and add them in small increments, adding extra spices to your foods is a great way to cut back on calories. If the food is well seasoned, you won’t need to add butter or gravy to make it taste good. Plus, if food is hot or spicy, you tend to eat less of it!

Evaporated milk
Evaporated milk is great for adding to recipes like pies or gravy. It adds flavor without all the calories of cream. Just remember to use a product made from skim milk.

Ditch the fat
When it comes to turkey, it’s pretty easy to cut back on the greasy fat. Cook the turkey in a drip pan instead of one that collects the fat at the bottom. Before you eat the turkey, be sure to remove the skin because this is where hidden fat and extra calories can be found.

Don’t stuff your turkey
Stuffing absorbs most of the fat and calories you’d rather keep out. Don’t worry, I’m not saying you can’t have stuffing. I love stuffing too and don’t think I could eliminate it from my Thanksgiving celebration. However, you can have more healthy stuffing by cooking it in a separate pan instead of inside your turkey. If you use the drippings to make gravy, skim the fat off first. You can add broth to these dishes to keep the moisture without adding the bad stuff.

Lose the butter
Butter is a big offender on Thanksgiving. You can put it on almost anything and it adds lots of fat and calories. Instead, try using chicken broth and evaporated milk to add flavor to dishes like mashed potatoes without all the fat.

Watch the drinks
You may not realize it, but Thanksgiving calories can come from what you drink as well as what you eat. Try having water or juice with your meal rather than high-calorie drinks like eggnog, soda, shakes, or alcoholic beverages.

Salad for side dishes
A lot of what we eat on Thanksgiving comes in the form of side dishes rather than the main course. Why not skip the stuffing or the rolls and start with a salad instead? This is a healthy option to help fill you up before the meal so you eat less of the fatty offenders with your turkey. Just remember that salads can be bad for you too, depending what you put in them. Personally, I tend to drown salad in dressing which is not the best idea for trying to get or stay trim.

Even Carrots Can Make You Fat
Just one last thought…Remember that no matter how good something is for you, if you eat thousands of calories, you’re probably going to gain weight. Even healthy food should be enjoyed in moderation, so watch your portions as well as the kind of food you’re eating.

Use these tips for a healthier, trimmer Thanksgiving celebration. Enjoy your holiday!

Technorati Tags: diet, holiday cooking, holiday diet, holiday food, thanksgiving, thanksgiving meal, WeightLoss Tips