How to Stay Slim in Winter

I just discovered that my post read most by far is: “How to Stay Slim” from 31^st October 2011.

Well, here are some further news: 

a) Alexandra Stoddard points out in her book “Feeling at Home” (William Morrow, NY , 1999) that there is a link between weight gain and NOT ENOUGH LIGHT in winter months. 

Her information convinces me, though I don’t know if it is scientifically evaluated:

“Do you tend to gain weight in the winter months? How much, on average? Most people gain approximately five pounds in the winter, but people who suffer from SAD or light depression tend to gain twice as much weight. “

That’s interesting. I know that in winter I “gain” about 1 kilogram and, as this is not very much, I always thought: ‘Must be the sweets and more delicious food on Christmas.” When it is getting cold I feel a light craving for a bit more fat (that I dislike otherwise) – and think: “Well, the body knows what it is doing: this might be a sort of protection against cold; and also the body might need it in case of a flu. “

But if you gain more and ‘don’t know where it comes from’, then Mrs. Stoddard’s light-theory might be worth trying. Light the lights! 

And you can even improve this, she says, by :

-         -  Placing a mirror opposite a window

-          - Keep all wood tones light

-          - Paint the room brilliant white (well, I prefer a very light sunny yellow)

-         -  Always have clean windows 

b) Then I found an interesting article on the hormone Ghrelin.

If you see pictures of delicious food, you become hungry although you might be not hungry at all, having eaten your breakfast just an hour ago.

This is the gist of the scientific research they did in Munich: the optic stimulation releases a strong amount of the hormone Ghrelin into your blood – and that does not only control your eating-behaviour but also the way your body utilises nourishment. Your brain starts to “digest” the optical stimulus and without control of your will the bodily processes get started.

Now: everywhere you see pictures of delicious food: on TV, in your women’s magazines (following the newest nutritional regiment), you see it in cook-shows and books, on  advertisement boards and in shop windows.

I would advise anybody with a weight problem to keep away from such pictures!

In my post about “How to Stay Slim” I went a step further – I formulated my own advice without the help of Munich scientists:

I don’t buy sweets for my home (except Easter or Christmas) or for my office – I know that at four o’clock in the afternoon I would become weak. But if nothing is there – I cannot eat it. And it is highly unlikely that I will go to my colleagues and beg for sweets. In front of the TV I put a plate with carrots, apple slices etc on the table: you will munch it away if some series is really suspenseful. 

c    c) And now my third advice – I also follow it myself:

A week ago I bought a Pedometer.

I am a person who likes to walk.

I am often astonished when Husband takes the car to drive to a store, when I would – and do! – walk to that store (if it is not too much, I see carrying the shopping bags as a kind of weight training).

Even as a youth I loved books about housekeeping (later I wrote a good-selling book about it) and interior design – and I knew instinctively that there was something wrong with those “efficiently designed kitchens”, where experts had measured the steps a housewife does working in the kitchen - and then showing you how to arrange the furniture to work economical - by saving steps.

But what for???

You have to move, otherwise you will gain more weight!

In summer for most people that is no problem. But in winter? When it is cold outside, getting dark early, and maybe it is even raining? Then it is so much nicer to grab a book, cuddle on the sofa and read. 

Normally you should walk 5000 steps a day (depending on the length of your steps) – and if you want to lose some body-fat, you should work up to 10 000 steps. A DAY!

I was really shocked when I looked at my pedometer after a normal rainy day in the beginning of January. We have a huge flat and I run a lot –BUT absolutely not enough!

I am a person for gold stars: I do work for them :-) If I have a To-do-list, it is much easier for me to work (because I can tick off things “done”); and I love the card at my weight-training, where I have to put in my notes about how many pounds I worked with (I am good at that! And proud of it).

And since I have the pedometer I say to Husband: “I have to go out to fetch a grocery/look at a shop window/walk through a park.” “But it is cold – and raining!” he gasps, but I cannot hear that – because I am already outside.

Daily 5000 steps I get now easily – everything more I am proud of.

So, join me:

-          Don’t look at too many food advertisements

-          Light up your rooms

-          And walk – at least 5000 steps a day.

You’ll love yourself for that!