Holiday Weight Gain – Why Does It Happen?
November 21, 2007 by Claire
Filed under Women's Health
Back In Skinny Jeans had a great video post recently about the reasons we gain weight over the holidays (an average of 8 pounds). I won’t spoil it for you, but she mentioned lack of exercising as well as stress.
Did you know that stress can make you gain weight without actually eating more? A stressed body releases more cortisol, a hormone that’s linked to slower metabolism and weight gain, especially in the midsection. The holidays are a very stressful time, and if you tend to eat more when you’re feeling frazzled, it’s a double whammy.
It’s also true that during the colder months we don’t exercise as much as we might when the weather’s nicer. In the spring and summer you can go for walks or runs, swim and bike but when it turns cold, staying inside sounds nicer. I think one way to combat this is to try an exercise class – you’ll be in a temperature-controlled area and get to burn calories as well as meet some new people who share similar interests.
I wish I had some magic advice to give you to keep you all (and me!) from gaining weight during the holidays, but I think it comes down to balance. Enjoy some of your favorite treats, but make sure to get some exercise. Don’t be so rigid about your diet that you end up eating way too much pumpkin pie, but don’t turn it into a free-for-all just because it’s the holidays either.
That said, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving 
Claire
