Everybody loves the round, jolly, bearded man that is associated with Christmas and the holiday season. Few, however, like how they start resembling Saint Nick after a week off of school laying around and eating Christmas cookies. Many people seem to put on a few pounds over the holidays even teenagers.

With a strong willpower and determined mindset, it is quite simple to stay healthy during this time of year. 

The Science Behind Winter Weight Gain

There are real biological reasons we tend to gain weight in the winter season. One of the reasons was found in a research study from the University of Alberta. They concluded that fat cells dwindle when reduced to sunlight so, in the winter your body is typically exposed to much less sunlight.

Eating Healthy

Saying no to grandma’s cookies is not the easiest task but it is equally as hard for the body to process all that sugar. The University of Utah Health explains that when too much sugar is consumed at once your liver cannot process it all and immediately turns the sugar to body fat. By no means does this mean a complete restriction of sweets but limiting  sugar and caloric intake is essential. 

In many cases, people spend their holiday break away from home and do not have a say in what food is served. Packing simple snacks is a good way to combat relatives’ unhealthy offerings. Some easy choices to pack are fruit, nutrition bars and yogurt. Although your uncle teases you about eating an apple instead of a sugar cookie, your body will say:  thank you. 

Exercise

Often times at this busy time of the year the last thing on the mind of most people is exercise. This year, however, the most important gift you could get for yourself is instilling a workout routine. 

Of course, getting a gym membership is one of the best ways to stay in good shape but, many people do not like the commitment of a membership. Going for a short run each day is a good alternative as long as you are careful not to slip on ice. Another suggestion is simple at-home bodyweight exercises. Doing push-ups, sit-ups, planks and mountain climbers at home is a good way to tone your muscles and combat fat buildup.

The Bottom Line

The simple way to keep the pounds off is not letting yourself eat more food during the holiday season. Weight gain is your body storing the extra calories your body does not need as fat. As Mayo Clinic explains, it takes 3,500 extra calories for your body to produce one pound of additional fat. Putting it into perspective, Healthline.com says the average man needs 2,500 calories a day and the average woman needs 2,000 calories a day. To gain a single extra pound, you would need to consume almost triple your needed calories for a day. 

It takes an excess of calories to gain even a pound, so a few days of gorging out on sweets is not the end of the world! The important lesson to remember that it matters more what you do for the rest of the year than what you do in a couple of weeks in December. If you want to maintain your weight, however, making a few adjustments to your normal holiday habits is recommended.