Come winters and you crave fatty food. But, have you ever thought of the winter season as the perfect opportunity to cut your belly fat and to get fit?
It is easier than it sounds. All you need is to know how to enjoy winters without gaining weight!
Here are some quick tips that will help you keep your weight in check during the winters:
1. Drink plenty of water. Water is necessary for detoxifying your body and maintaining a healthy weight. Drinking more water helps you burn calories at a faster rate.
Besides water, include some warm vegetable soups or fruit juices in your daily diet instead of opting for aerated or sugary drinks.
2. Have small, frequent meals. Having small frequent meals throughout the day will help improve your metabolism and thus can help prevent weight gain.
Large and heavy meals slow down your digestion and add to your calories.
3. Eat more fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables are high in fibre, low in fat, and help aid in digestion. They can compensate for your vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant requirements.
Eat vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, red peppers; and citrus fruits such as oranges and limes as these help boost your immunity and contribute to your overall health.
4. Choose foods smartly. Go for complex carbs like whole grains, oats, and brown rice instead of simple carbs.
Have lean proteins like lean chicken, fish, sprouts, nuts, low-fat yoghurt, and skimmed milk, and foods with healthy fats such as walnuts, olive oil, fish, and flax seeds.
5. Add some spices. Add spices such as garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, etc., in your meals while preparing food.
It will make your food extremely palatable and help you improve your immune system. Spices improve your gut function and metabolism.
6. Snack wisely. It is normal that you feel hungry in between your meal timings and tend to binge on unhealthy or fried snacks. This can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Curb those cravings with healthy snacks such as fruits, unsalted nuts, vegetables, and seeds. These snacks help satisfy your hunger and are healthy at the same time.
7. Prefer home-cooked food. Choose homemade food over ready-made or packaged food. The preferred cooking methods should be steaming, boiling, baking, and grilling.
These methods do not use oil for cooking and are considered healthy. Avoid having processed, fried, and sugary food to keep your calorie intake under control.
8. Stay active. Exercising regularly and staying active is important for your overall health and it also helps keep your body weight under check.
Doing mild to moderate exercise daily for 30 to 45 minutes will help you feel more energetic and healthy.
9. Limit your salt intake. Make sure that your salt intake is in check. Excess salt intake can lead to multiple health problems including variations in blood pressure and heart diseases.
High salt intake increases your risk of weight gain and obesity.
10. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is loaded with calories and it is common to indulge in alcoholic beverages during winter.
However, it is better to have alcohol in moderation to avoid those extra calories.
Lastly, try to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes in the sun every day. Lack of sunlight can decrease the production of serotonin in your body. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that is responsible for boosting your mood and suppressing food cravings.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.