Does the fall season make you gain weight?

As summer comes to a close, the weather starts to get colder, many people aren’t as active, and people start eating heavier foods. Since the weather is colder, people wear heavier clothes, so they aren’t as concerned with having to wear shorts or a swimsuit, so they are more likely to let themselves indulge a little bit more than usual. There is also Halloween candy. Even if you aren’t trick or treating, most likely you are still buying candy for the trick or treaters, and probably eating some of that candy yourself. I have, in the past, eaten a lot of my candy that I had planned on handing out, and I would always have a lot of candy left over, which, of course, I ate also. And, I don’t know about you, but fall is when I really get into baking. I always like to make pumpkin everything. And, after Halloween, is Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving leftovers.

For many, this means weight gain. The average American will gain weight between Halloween and New Year’s.

Many people also start going into hibernation mode once the temperatures start dropping, depending on where you live. They eat comfort foods. They gain (more) weight. They cozy up under a blanket and watch TV instead of doing something active. I remember, when I lived in Wisconsin, that is exactly what I did.

Football also starts in the fall, which means getting together with friends and family, parties, tailgating, and more drinking and eating. And, then comes the holiday season. There are numerous holiday parties that start after Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas. Work parties, family parties, drinks with your friends, neighborhood potlucks. The list goes on. And just when you think it will slow down, Christmas arrives, leading you into New Year’s Eve, and topping it off with Valentines Day.

Meaning more weight gain! Continuous months of indulging and mindless eating and drinking.

So, how are you going to handle the fall season and the arrival of winter?

No worries. You can do this. Fall is a great time to detox, preparing your body for the winter.

Don’t forget to get your vitamin D. The days get their shortest come winter. Researchers at Aberdeen Universityfound that obese people had 10% less vitamin D than people of average weight. The study also 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.

Continue exercising regularly. It can be as simple as taking a walk out in the snowy terrain. When I lived in Wisconsin, I would get up at 5am to walk my dog before going to work, just because I knew I wouldn’t want to do it when I got home. I did it throughout the winter, even though it was freezing and dark. I know the cold can be brutal,and Charlotte and I both weren't happy about those cold walks, so maybe start going to the gym or doing home workout videos. I personally recommend Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide.

Make sure you keep yourself hydrated.

Enjoy fall foods. Move toward the more warming, cooked foods and also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings such as ginger and cinnamon.

Here is a list of the seasonal foods of fall:

Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Belgian Endive, Broccoli, Broccoli raabe, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chard, Cranberries, Curly Endive, Eggplant, Escarole, Fennel, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onions, Herbs, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Limes, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Peppers, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radishes, Rutabaga, Shallots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatillos, Turnips, Winter Squash, Zucchini*

Enjoy them all. Try new things. Just remember, don’t let the couch lure you into curling up with the unhealthy comfort foods like creamy soups or mac and cheese.

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

And, please contact me if you are interested in preparing your body for the winter and decreasing your chances of weight gain during the next few months. If you are interested in my fall cleanse, click here to find out more. I'm offering it as a DIY this season, but will be running a 4 week group program starting in November, which I will have more info on later. I also offer habit coaching if you would prefer 1:1 support, which you can read about here.