It’s normal to find a nice thick blanket, cozy up to a pillow and snack away on something warm to quell those hunger pangs that don’t seem to end during winter. This is often complemented with sudden weight gain and you’re left wondering where that excess weight came from. Well, there are several reasons for feeling hungrier during winter and we’re about to explore them.
Reasons for Feeling Hungrier During Winter
- High metabolism: During winter, our metabolism is quite high as the body tries to keep itself warm due to those teeth sputtering chill. The body produces more heat in order to combat the chill outside which is known as thermogenesis. To carry out this function, it requires extra calories which get burnt during the process, hence need extra food.
- Food Produces Heat: In cold weather, our body needs more calories to keep itself warm with the help of some involuntary activities like shivering. Hence, the body craves more food. When these extra calories start burning, it makes the body warm. Here, we need to remember not to satisfy the cravings with high sugar or high-fat foods as they raise blood sugar levels causing weight gain.
- Winter Comes With Multiple Choices: It’s the best time of the year for multiple reasons. One of those being food! Vegetables and fruits flood the markets. Plus, a lot of winter recipes are prepared with rich ingredients which induce weight gain. One can’t help but indulge in sweets this season brings. Not feeling hungry is definitely not an option
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): As the days are shorter, we generally prefer staying indoors which can lead to Vitamin D deficiency and also lower levels of serotonin (happy hormone which generates because of exposure to daylight). These deficiencies typically causes Seasonal Emotional Disturbance or Seasonal Affective Disorder – SAD : a sort of depression related to the shorter days of winter, which affects many of us. It is seen that individuals stricken from SAD crave more carbohydrates, as these facilitate the body’s use of tryptophan (amino acid) which can be converted into serotonin to spike up lower levels in the blood.
- Lazy Mornings: It becomes really difficult to get out of your cozy bed during winter mornings to go out for a walk, workout or even work. People prefer lying comfortably in bed, watching a TV show while binging on snacks endlessly. This increase in snacking and lack of physical activity make us gain extra kilos.
Tips to Avoid Eating More
- Whenever you crave for food, try choosing some healthy options like salads, soups, sautéed veggies combined with proteins as these are high in fibre and gives a feeling of fullness.
- Go out during the day to expose your body to the sun for some vitamin D and to boost your serotonin levels.
- Perform your regular exercises as it helps in boosting your mood and avoids indulgence in unnecessary snacking.
- Go out with friends or play with a pet if you are stressed. Don’t look at food as an alternative coping mechanism.
The bottom line is – eat mindfully and enjoy winters! We hope this article helps you make healthier choices. For more winter tips, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr
As Health is among the top priority in our life, being healthy, immune to all types of infections, diseases and getting fit are the avenues for the same now. If you’re thinking about getting fit, and as we are drawing closer to the new year, don’t just take up a gym membership but work on consistency and have a plan
Day 1: Cardio exercises
The routine of week 1 can be repeated on week 2 as well. People who are training for running can increase the duration of running to 3 mins of running and 1 min of walk.
Repeat the same routine for week 3 while increasing the duration, speed, and intensity of the workout this week. Small changes can be made with your workout to keep it interesting. For strength training, 2 sets can be done with 12 repetitions. If you feel this routine is easy one can also try other workouts like HIIT, kettlebell, resistance band workout, and weight training depending on their energy level and comfortability. This can include exercises that involve different muscle groups of the body like shoulder, arms, chest, abdomen, back, hips, glutes, thigh, and legs. 
The Dragon Fruit is probably one of the most visually stunning fruits. Its skin looks like that of a mythical pink dragon. Did you know that it is actually harvested from a night-blooming cactus? A plant with a flower like an explosion of flame produces a beautiful fruit which is short-lived with the appearance of a brilliant pink rosebud. The phyto-nutrient dense fruit also known as “Pitaya” is grown in the tropical regions of Thailand, Vietnam, and South America. Its succulent stem provides the uniquely delicious fruit with moisture in the arid climates where it grows.
