Mentally preparing for winter.

kallemann67

I know it's only September but as I prep to leave for an open water swim this evening in 11C outdoor temp I suddenly felt ferociously hungry. I got to thinking - being on fixed calories of 2058 through the summer was fine but when the cold hits will the hunger increase? This will be my first winter calorie counting so was wondering what i could expect. If one December morning I find myself waking with my teeth deeply imbedded in my right arm will this be a normal reaction to winter calorie counting?

Lizzy622

Find things to do. I find boredom is the evil that spurs me to eat too much in winter.

Queenmunchy

I find that winter is easier because the things I want to eat: soup, stew, chili, are naturally lower in calories and more filling. Plus there aren't as many parties, bonfires, and BBQs!

lalepepper

kallemann67 wrote: »

I know it's only September but as I prep to leave for an open water swim this evening in 11C outdoor temp I suddenly felt ferociously hungry. I got to thinking - being on fixed calories of 2058 through the summer was fine but when the cold hits will the hunger increase? This will be my first winter calorie counting so was wondering what i could expect. If one December morning I find myself waking with my teeth deeply imbedded in my right arm will this be a normal reaction to winter calorie counting?

I've been doing this for a couple years now and actually find it's harder to keep my calorie counts in line during summer. While there's more opportunities to be active in summer, there's also more daylight and social events, which seems to influence my hunger more strongly. I do intermittent fasting, so your mileage may vary. That said, there are lots of other factors to blame for the winter months being associated with more food intake. Managing your expectations around the holidays and not falling in to common traps (like adding in high calorie hot drinks on a regular basis) can really help you stay on track.

Lizzy622 wrote: »

Find things to do. I find boredom is the evil that spurs me to eat too much in winter.

This is great advice. I've noticed any temptation to indulge in the winter months is usually tied to boredom or comfort eating.

yesimpson

I love winter foods, so I do get tempted to eat more when it's cold.

But exercise keeps you warm, so there's that.

MsJulesRenee

Lizzy622 wrote: »

Find things to do. I find boredom is the evil that spurs me to eat too much in winter.

Same here. I love comfort foods like chili and biscuits n gravy so that doesn't help either.

Last winter I tried to make comfort foods less calorie dense as possible. Holiday leftovers are tough too, my family always tries to get me to take a bunch home. Also, pumpkin spice and cream cheese everything!!! My downfall with sweets

Francl27

I didn't find any change in my appetite last Winter, personally.

kallemann67

Thanks for your input. I read in the UK a Christmas Day feast can add up to between 7500 to 10000 calories. Multiply that by the holiday season and one could be looking at a couple months of calorie burning.

Francl27

kallemann67 wrote: »

Thanks for your input. I read in the UK a Christmas Day feast can add up to between 7500 to 10000 calories. Multiply that by the holiday season and one could be looking at a couple months of calorie burning.

Except it's nearly impossible to eat that much when you've been 'dieting' a while.

I stuffed myself badly last Christmas, and I don't think I ate more than 4500 calories. But I only let myself enjoy that day and Christmas Eve (we visit friends that night and they always have delicious food), and stick to the plan the rest of the week.

rbfdac

Queenmunchy wrote: »

I find that winter is easier because the things I want to eat: soup, stew, chili, are naturally lower in calories and more filling. Plus there aren't as many parties, bonfires, and BBQs!

That's sure the opposite of here! Winter/fall is when our parties, bonfires, and BBQs start. Our 120 degree summer weather is not conducive to those things!

Queenmunchy

rbfdac wrote: »

Queenmunchy wrote: »

I find that winter is easier because the things I want to eat: soup, stew, chili, are naturally lower in calories and more filling. Plus there aren't as many parties, bonfires, and BBQs!

That's sure the opposite of here! Winter/fall is when our parties, bonfires, and BBQs start. Our 120 degree summer weather is not conducive to those things!

Lol, we had a snowstorm here three years ago and it was as high as my neck! The kids were making tunnels in the yard and walking on cars!

kshama2001

kallemann67 wrote: »

I know it's only September but as I prep to leave for an open water swim this evening in 11C outdoor temp I suddenly felt ferociously hungry. I got to thinking - being on fixed calories of 2058 through the summer was fine but when the cold hits will the hunger increase? This will be my first winter calorie counting so was wondering what i could expect. If one December morning I find myself waking with my teeth deeply imbedded in my right arm will this be a normal reaction to winter calorie counting?

I'm mourning the impending end of pond swimming but it looks like I will be good for another few weeks yet. I wonder how much I can extend the season with a wetsuit.

I am looking forward to soup season.

Pawsforme

I definitely have a harder time losing/maintaining during the winter. It's not the holidays. I have this weird thing where anytime there's an overabundance of food it turns my appetite off. I think I get put off by seeing people overeat so much. It's the cold weather and the longer nights that seem to cause me to be hungrier. The heat and humidity of summer kill my appetite. The good news is that where I live it's more pleasant to exercise outside during the winter than it is during the summer. I'd much rather be going for a brisk hour long walk when it's 30 than when it's 90.

Need2Exerc1se

Winter is a problem for me. I don't think I get hungrier, but as someone that gets most of their exercise outdoors my activity level goes down. I have to do a lot more planned "exercise" and I'm not fond of that. Or I could eat less, but I'm less fond of that, and I don't like to lose strength over the Winter because come Spring there will lots of work to do.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I ate my salad at lunch time and I was freezing for 30 minutes afterwards. Time to switch to soup and stews for lunch now.

I don't let my weight change but my food choices are very different.

Yoshirio

Ugh last winter I lost all motivation and became a hermit for four months,gaining 10 lbs back that I lost. Hopefully this winter will be different. It's hard because I can't walk outside during the winter much.(Hard to trek through piles of snow lol) Getting to the gym is a pain as well,since I do not drive.

jgnatca

This week my hands got cold. I haven't been cold all summer. Oh yeah. That. Out come the sweaters.

Soups, stews, roasts, and hot steaming beverages. They all look so much more attractive now, don't they?

mbaker566

chilis can actually be low calorie. it's all the stuff that gets added on top that can make it calorie heavy

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

That looks amazing! It makes me want to start my Christmas planning!

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I just put the slow cooker on for the first time in many months, yellow split pea and chorizo soup for lunch tomorrow!

Need2Exerc1se

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

I just put the slow cooker on for the first time in many months, yellow split pea and chorizo soup for lunch tomorrow!

Oh, now that sounds delicious. Two of my favorite foods!

MarziPanda95

I definitely get more hungry when it's cold. Plus, I feel like I 'deserve' to indulge more. Like I'll walk home in the freezing cold after a long day at uni and go 'screw it, I need something warm and delicious' and have far too much hot chocolate and cake. Plus I'm more likely to eat out, as restaurants just look more... inviting? When it's dark and cold and they have that orange glow to them that makes you think of warmth. I'll be more likely to pop into a cafe or restaurant on my way back from somewhere, just to warm up. Luckily I'm only 5lbs from goal weight and should reach it before it gets really cold, so then I can up my calories and maintain.

Francl27

The worst for me is after shoveling. Hard to resist a nice mug of hot chocolate, lol.

nvmomketo

Queenmunchy wrote: »

rbfdac wrote: »

Queenmunchy wrote: »

I find that winter is easier because the things I want to eat: soup, stew, chili, are naturally lower in calories and more filling. Plus there aren't as many parties, bonfires, and BBQs!

That's sure the opposite of here! Winter/fall is when our parties, bonfires, and BBQs start. Our 120 degree summer weather is not conducive to those things!

Lol, we had a snowstorm here three years ago and it was as high as my neck! The kids were making tunnels in the yard and walking on cars!

We had a snow storm about 2 weeks ago. lol No accumulation yet.

PaulaWallaDingDong

Crap. This reminds me of Dunkin Donuts creme brulee lattes, and how I spent half of last winter damn near starving because I wouldn't give them up.