Will this winter never end??

Winter is here to stay for awhile, well according to the groundhog anyway.  So I am here to give you a pep talk to not get too comfy and cozy in your winter sweaters because Spring will come!!  But because this season seems to be lasting forever this could mean trouble.  For many, this could mean weight gain.
 
Many people will want to go into hibernation mode with these cold temps.  We all tend to eat heavier foods this time of year, comfort foods, which could mean we will pack on those Lbs! We cozy up and hunker down. And seriously, we just got away from all the holiday parties, and here comes Valentines day! Holy more weight gain! So many months of indulging and mindless eating and drinking.
 
So, how are you going to handle six more weeks of winter and more free flowing chocolate that your kids will bring home or your loved ones will give you?
 
Fear not. Winter is actually a great time to detox, leading into the lightness of spring.  Or if you do not feel up to detoxing just try your best to eat clean and avoid fast foods/processed foods.  I have a FREE Skinny Black Dress Challenge starting next week and if you participate you can win a prize (check that out here)!  This kind of thing is a great way to stay motivated to stay on track with your goals.  There are plenty of these that happen so if you don't like mine, take a look around on the web and I know you will find something to get you excited!  

Here are a few other tips that help me during this time so I hope these help you get you through the rest of this winter!
 
First off, please don’t forget to get your vitamin D3.  The days are still short and we aren't getting much sunshine. Researchers at Aberdeen University did a study that found that excess body fat absorbed vitamin D so the body couldn’t use it. Scientists now believe that there is a direct correlation between obesity and low levels of vitamin D.  With that, get out there, even in the cold, and get your sunshine, if only for 10 minutes per day.
 
Second, as much as we want to cuddle up on the couch we need to move our booties and continue exercising regularly. It can be as simple as taking a walk out in the snowy terrain.  Also this is a great time to try new things, check out classes at your local YMCA or see what fitness places you have near you.  Find a way to have fun exercising and then you are more likely to stick with it!
 
Third, I realize sometimes you may not feel like it due to the cold weather, but hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  This is so important!  Remember my rule of thumb, try and drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water (120 lbs.= 60 ozs of water).  Flavor your water with citrus or any kind of fruit if that helps.  Once again if you make it fun or enjoyable you are more likely to keep it up.
 
And last but definitely not least, enjoy winter foods. Move toward the more warming winter foods and also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger and peppercorns.  Here is a list of the seasonal foods of winter:
 
Avocado, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Mandarin Oranges, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Potatoes, Radicchio, Rutabaga, Satsumas, Shallots, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Winter Squash*
 
Enjoy them all.  Try new things.  Just remember, don’t let the couch lure you into curling up with those unhealthy comfort foods like creamy soups,  mac and cheese and chocolate cake, oh my ;).

*These were found using the following link, where you can learn more about seasonal produce:  http://localfoods.about.com/od/whatsinseason/a/WinterFruitVeg.htm

Have a great day and thanks for reading!