Keeping The Weight Off This Winter

As soon as the sun sets at half past six and you fall into the winter wardrobe, the guilt of not going to gym starts to vanish as well. Suddenly eating pizza or pasta on a Tuesday night sounds like a great idea and treating yourself to a hot chocolaty drink afterwards, even better. You soon forget how hard you worked to get rid of last winter’s bread rolls and instead visualise eating freshly baked and buttered ones everyday. In all fairness, nobody is in the mood for rigid diets or going to the gym during the winter.

So, how about doing things differently this cold season? How about tricking yourself into doing small things everyday that could lessen your hate for the scale come September?


Before things get out of hand, make an active decision now not to yield, not completely anyway…


Here’s how:


1. Take the stairs: Whenever there is the option to take the stairs, do it. You will burn an immense amount of calories and work the muscles in your bum and upper legs.


2. Park far away: Instead of trying to park as close to the entrance of the shopping centre, office or a building of a client, park 100 metres or further away. Then walk briskly from and to your car and you will have burnt another set of calories without really even thinking about it.


3. Clean the house: You need to do it anyway at some point. You might as well make it fun. Put on some sweats, get the music on and whatever you do, do it vigorously.


4. Work in the garden: Working in the garden is another task that needs to happen at some point during the week. Rake all the dead leaves lying around, get busy in your beddings and if you have dogs, play with them or take them for a walk. You will get a lot done, burn calories and show love to the pets that adore you so much.


5. Go shopping: Shopping is a fun activity even if you don’t have money to buy things. While you are pushing a trolley or walking from one side of a mall to another a lot of calorie burning is taking place. Drink water while you are at it and if you have been good most of the week treat yourself to a nice hot drink and a slice of cake. If not, rather drink a cup of Rooibos tea and settle for a bran muffin.


6. Replace: Hot chocolate drinks with warmed-up milk and honey.


7. Soup-up: Instead of eating warm starchy meals, eat yummy soups and Low GI toasted bread two nights of the week.


8. Snacks: Take healthy snacks like Provitas, low-fat cheese, nuts, raisins and fruit to work to munch on at 11am and again at 3pm. This way you won’t be so famished during regular mealtimes and will be able to make a healthier decision about lunch and dinner options. Plus, it is healthier to eat six smaller meals than three large ones.


9. Mental trick: Keep a photo of yourself handy where you felt happy about your weight and looked great.


10. Remember the 80/20 rule: Eat healthily and exercise 80% of the time and give yourself some slack the other 20%.


Tip: Struggling to get your two litres of water in during winter? Drink 3-4 large cups of unsweetened Rooibos tea without any milk daily. It is rich in antioxidants and can count as part of your two litre water intake.