It’s a well-known side effect of winter: weight gain. And winter weight gain can easily sneak up on us. So, how can we keep those pesky extra kilos off during the colder months?
Let’s start with the common winter downfalls:
We eat to keep warm.
Cue heavy foods that make us feel toasty and cosy (nevermind their calorie content!).
We become less active as the temperature drops.
Heading outside for a run, or even to make the trip to the gym, just seems like too much hard work.
We start to socialise more indoors.
When it gets nippy it’s more likely we’ll head in for a warming meal or cheeky few drinks as opposed to an outdoor-based and active pastime.
This doesn’t have to be you! We have three tips to share with you today. They might be simple but they’re the key to maintaining a healthy weight throughout the chilly Melbourne winter.
1. Keep your blood sugar levels balanced
Maintaining a balanced blood sugar level has a few key benefits:
- Stabilises mood
- Increases energy
- Aids in weight loss
- Controls sugar cravings
- Helps balance hormones
- Increases lean muscle mass
Sounds pretty amazing right? To keep your blood sugar levels in check you’ll want to avoid things like sugar and processed foods. These foods send your blood sugar soaring which inevitably ends in a blood sugar crash.
Sugar and processed foods (think: white bread and pasta, lollies, alcohol and sugary drinks) are high on the glycemic index (GI). Instead, look for foods that are low GI, including fresh vegetables, legumes, beef, chicken, fish, nuts and many fruits.
As Chef Good works in consultation with trained nutritionists, our meals are designed to keep your blood sugar levels balanced.
2. Stay active
Yes, it’s cold outside. Yes, getting out from under the blankets seems like the worst idea ever. Yes, we know it’s hard! But, keeping active during the cold months is key to keeping in shape and staying healthy.
How to stay motivated though? Some ideas for you:
- Hire a PT – Hiring a personal trainer means you’ve invested cold hard cash, you’re much less likely to skip out when you’ve already paid.
- Make a pact with a friend – Accountability is the best way to stay motivated. If you’ve made a plan with a friend, you’ll have to show up.
- Set a goal – Commit to running a 5K or participating in some sort of charity fitness event. You’ll need to train for it.
- Treat yo self – Worked out every day for a week? Reward yourself with a massage (you’ll probably need it by then!). Other healthy rewards could those new kicks you’ve been eyeing off, a new yoga mat or a week’s worth of Chef Good meals!
While motivation might be a little harder to come by in winter, don’t let your excuses dictate your life. Find a type of exercise you enjoy and make it work for you. Aim to create lasting lifestyle changes that won’t fall by the wayside with a change in season.
3. Start the day right
Skip a healthy and balanced breakfast for weight loss. Said no one ever.
We all know how important breakfast is for us, so why are you still skipping it for a long black or an oily croissant on the run (we know you regret it almost immediately)?
Set your day up right with a balanced, nutritious and delicious breakfast. As the name suggests, breakfast is the meal which breaks our long overnight fast, it kick starts our metabolism, tops up our glucose levels to keep us energised through the day and provides us with many essential vitamins and minerals.
Aside from this, a healthy breakfast also sets the tone for our day. You’re less likely to visit the doughnut shop if it’s going to undo all your good work!
Some of our chef prepared breakfasts include:
- Scrambled eggs, mushroom, grilled tomato & basil, six-grain sourdough toast with butter
- Spinach & mushroom breakfast frittata
- Toasted vanilla & raw nut muesli, organic yoghurt and fruit compote
- Zucchini & haloumi fritters, tomato & roasted red pepper relish
Is avoiding winter weight gain just another thing on your to-do list? Let us tick it off for you. We’ve got your winter menu sorted: choose from our 1200, 1500 or 1800 calorie packages to suit your weight loss (or weight maintenance) goals. Check out this week’s menu here.
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