Avoiding Extra Holiday Pounds
How to Avoid Those Extra Pounds During the Holidays
It has been estimated that the average American gains between 5 to 8 lbs during the holiday season. That is, between Thanksgiving and New Year's.
There are a number of reasons why this happens. First of all, we tend to over eat during parties and family gatherings. The foods we then eat, are usually rich in fat and calories. Second, this eating pattern, sometimes makes us depressed afterward. We then begin to overeat, or eat the wrong foods everyday. With a little more depression comes the neglect of any exercise. We feel out of control and helpless. Add to that the busy holiday season, which also cuts into our normal schedule, and further decreases our time left for exercise. This increased eating, and decreased exercise, is the major cause for weight gain. However, there is another reason for this weight gain, which is not under our control.
The main reason for fat storage is, that the body is protecting itself from starvation. This mechanism goes into effect, when the winter months approach.
As the pineal gland senses the decrease in sunlight, the body begins to store fat. This happens whether we eat or not. Remember, it is only recently that food has been available all year long. Until recently, winter was a time that food was scarce. People existed on what was put up in jars and stored, plus anything they could hunt.
Due to this shortage of food, the body relied on its stored body fat for survival, just like other animals This stored fat, is what got us through the winter months. But now, we don't have a scarcity of food. We can continue to eat the same or more food during the winter, but our bodies haven't changed accordingly. In fact, I believe, that we should be eating less during the winter, which would allow our body to burn some of its stored fat. Eating lighter during the winter, goes against what most people do. The onset of cold weather, turns people's thoughts to hearty foods, rich casseroles, extra helpings, foods which are higher in fat, and of course those rich deserts, all of which contribute to weight gain. Combine this, with decreased exercise, either due to busier schedules and/or bad weather, and you can be sure to gain weight.
The idea of eating lighter during the winter, dawned on me after speaking with a friend, who was telling me about his great-grand parents, who were sharecroppers. He told me, that his great grand parents, grand parents, and until recently his parent, never experienced any weight fluctuations during the year. I asked him how they did that, and he explained, how during the winter months, when they weren't as active on their farm, they consumed less food then they normally did. They could only eat what they put up, plus, whatever they could hunt when the weather permitted. I believe it was this reduction in total calories, that allowed their bodies to burn some of their stored fats.
If we could change the way we eat during the winter months, it may mean, not having to diet, once spring arrives. This would also go a long way, in avoiding the slow increase in weight, that many of us experience over a longer period of time. It isn't uncommon, that people will gain ten or fifteen pounds, without ever being aware of it, until their clothes don't fit.
Keep in mind, that over eating occasionally, will not cause any noticeable weight gain. It's when we let ourselves continue on the pattern of overeating, that we will gain weight.
When you over eat at a holiday gathering, just go back to your normal eating pattern afterwards. If you know that you are going to a party, watch your diet carefully before the party, eat what you want at the party, and then get back on track. Holiday eating should be fun and enjoyable. But you should be more aware of your everyday diet.
Posted
by Dr. Steven Felder
