Easiest Time of Year to Lose Weight

golfbrew_matt

Now that I am in the middle of my second "successful" weight loss journey (I lost almost 60 pounds and hit my goal weight 4 years ago before gaining much of it back), I have noticed something interesting. My long-term sustained losses generally occur during the same time of year (winter). It may have something to do with the climate where I live (northern climate) and the fact that there are less social functions including food and alcohol in the winter (besides the holidays), but each and every time I have lost weight for an extended period of time, it has occurred between October and April, and I generally gain during the summer. I think this is especially interesting since it is much easier to be more active during the summers "up north". I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience or if different times of year are your most successful for losing weight?

TimothyFish

I generally do better during the summer. In the past, this has been because I quit riding my bicycle as much after we switched over from daylight savings time. This winter, I've cut my evening rides from 30 miles to 16 miles, but I haven't quit. So, I'm still doing okay, but I think I'll do even better as the days get longer.

curiouspeach

I think it depends on your schedule, to be honest. I'm a teacher ( - a very active one, no sitting at my desk!), and I tend to put on a couple of pounds in the summer, simply because I'm not walking around the classroom constantly. Conversely, the moment I get back in the classroom after the holidays, I lose all my summer pudge.

Liftng4Lis

I gain more in the winter ......comfort food!

DawnieB1977

curiouspeach wrote: »

I think it depends on your schedule, to be honest. I'm a teacher ( - a very active one, no sitting at my desk!), and I tend to put on a couple of pounds in the summer, simply because I'm not walking around the classroom constantly. Conversely, the moment I get back in the classroom after the holidays, I lose all my summer pudge.

I'm a teacher too, but I'm also a mum of young children, so I tend to lose more weight in the 6 week Summer holidays, although I lose weight whenever really, so long as I'm getting lots of exercise in.

NewMeSM75

I lose easier in the summer. More active and grill more.

SergeantSausage

... is ANY darned time you *choose* to get serious about it and make the appropriate committment.

Christine_72

For me, summer is way easier. I spend more time actively outside, eat lots of fruits, berries In particular and drink loads of water.

Winter== The opposite of summer! I hibernate and don't want to do anything. I'm getting depressed just thinking about winter. It's summer here atm

missomgitsica

I do better in the summer, especially with food. I live in AZ and it gets so hot that I lose my appetite . . . then all the foods I'm usually tempted by don't sound appealing.

Azexas

I tend to be more active in the summer so I lose easier then. In the winter I would much rather stay in bed doing nothing then getting up to get to the gym before work.

SuggaD

Much easier for me in the spring and summer. I am always outside enjoying nature without the weather being an excuse. Plus I love grilling.

Deena_Bean

My trends show best losses from Jan-May (living in the Midwest). Summer is usually maintaining and fall through Christmas shows gains. How fun...I guess I have have inappropriate commitments.

bainsworth1a

that's interesting. I did my best this last time between august and october. Halloween wasn't so bad but thanksgiving, christmas, and new years took a bit of slow down for me. I think it is mind set. I don't like to feel deprived and there are so many occasions where I did not control the menu. I just did my best to track to the best of my ability. This year I did not gain 10 lbs over the holidays so I consider that success :-)

999tigger

My first diet, but would say summer is easier, because the weather is nicer and its more fun to walk to the gym. Besides Christmas, then I cnat see any reason for it to be easier or harder.

curiouspeach

DawnieB1977 wrote: »

I'm a teacher too, but I'm also a mum of young children, so I tend to lose more weight in the 6 week Summer holidays, although I lose weight whenever really, so long as I'm getting lots of exercise in.

That's the big difference! I have dogs, but no children so, aside from our regular two hours of walking/running a day - which is summer and winter - I'm a free agent in the summer, and I like to spend as much of it as I can catching up with a good book!

karyabc

i live in the Caribbean where it's summer everyday so yeah i've done a good work gaining weight every season, but must say i spend last yeah in NYC like the whole winter season and i've never gain so much weight so soon in my life!! OMG like really i didn't felt in the mood to do anything plus by 5 was so dark #NeverAgain

fis373594

After I had my second child I was looking on line about exercises and what season to do them that made it comfortable for me. I came up with this idea. I hate the summer and winter time so during those times I hit the gym and in the spring and fall. I do running and speed walking because the atmosphere is beautiful and the air is nice. Not to hot and not to cold at least where I live its that why. Of course when it rains its better to be in a gym.

brightsideofpink

Summer is much easier for me to be active, which in turn makes it easier for me to stick to calorie goals. I appreciate the longer hours of daylight and warmer temps which makes it easier to get out with the kids. If you compared my fitbit record from summer to now, its probably half the steps.

skydiveD30571

I'm opposite of most other people. I do great in the winter and gain in the summer. When it's cold out and dark early, I have nothing better to do than spend the evening at the gym. In the summer I'm much more active with lake trips and being outdoors, but that means having a beer (or 8) in my hand at the same time....and eat on the go much more.

cwolfman13

I've been more or less maintaining for over 1.5 years now, but I usually put on 8 - 10 Lbs from about mid September through the end of January or so...this is largely attributable to spending less time on my bike as the temps drop and the days become shorter. I usually spend more time in the weight room here.

I usually start dropping weight starting in February as I start riding more in preparation for spring and early summer endurance rides...usually by mid April I will be at a comfortable riding weight...not going to blow anyone out of the water, but it's a comfortable riding weight for me (around 180 Lbs)

I maintain pretty easily during the summer months due to I'm just really active in general during the summer.

lemurcat12

Like some others, I find spring/summer/fall far easier. It's so much easier to be active, as I can ride my bike to work and on long rides on the weekend for fun, enjoy running outdoors (and hate the treadmill), love hiking and just walking around in the summer and hate the cold and snow, etc.

Also, I do seem to be hungrier in the winter, holiday foods are way more tempting (I like cook-outs, but they are easier for me to make consistent with my plan than the endless holiday treats around Christmas), and summer is filled with fabulous fruits and veggies in season, whereas that's not the case in winter and what is in season (root veggies and winter squash mostly) tend to be a little heavier (although that's the least of my issues, true).

Plus, I get bummed out by the darkness, which tends to make me less motivated, although it's an important reason to keep active also.

DawnieB1977

curiouspeach wrote: »

DawnieB1977 wrote: »

I'm a teacher too, but I'm also a mum of young children, so I tend to lose more weight in the 6 week Summer holidays, although I lose weight whenever really, so long as I'm getting lots of exercise in.

That's the big difference! I have dogs, but no children so, aside from our regular two hours of walking/running a day - which is summer and winter - I'm a free agent in the summer, and I like to spend as much of it as I can catching up with a good book!

I spend most of it chasing my kids on their scooters and pushing swings lol. I get a good tan though.

zdyb23456

It's easiest for me to lose weight when my husband is gone -
He travels frequently and deploys for months at a time, but when he's home I cook dinner almost every day and we tend to eat out more often (at least once per week). When he's gone I cook lower calorie foods and pre-portion them, and I rarely eat out.

I have gotten better at portion controlling when he's home. I've gotten to weighing out my food first, then letting him and the kids eat the rest. Eating out more often is still a toughie.

daw0518

I've had a similar experience. Last year was my first year at this, but I was only successful between January and May-ish, & then couldn't keep up with it over the summer. I think for me it was due to the fact that my class schedule was heavy between January & June, which kept me busy and my mealtimes structured. When summer came, I had no idea what to do with all my time & was constantly battling even to eat under maintenance, not to mention that I like to exercise outdoors but I HATE the hot weather. When classes started again I hoped to get back on track but had a hard time because my class load is so light this year it's almost like summer, so I've had to do a lot of tweaking in my eating & exercise habits in order to settle back into it - and that didn't happen until this month. So my most successful months seem to be late winter/early spring, but I'd like to make it a year round thing so I can lose this weight faster and get on to maintenance!