7 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain When Snowed In!

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ProTFitness
ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Thought this would be a good article considering most of us are snowed in or have been this week!

7 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain When Snowed In!
written by America's Nutrition Expert: Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD

As I’m sitting in my home office watching the snow fall and accumulate into what weather peeps are calling Blizzard 2011 in Kansas City, I’m thinking about what I’m going to eat today and which snowy treats my kids will want to create in my kitchen (I’m thinking Snow Berry Smoothies)!

Then, I realized, I’m quite sure I eat more calories on Snow Days than regular days. I wanted to create a plan to prevent a snowed in weight gain and help you keep your diet and exercise on track!

Here are my 5 top tips for avoiding the weight gain during snow days and until you can return to your normal schedule.

1. Avoid grazing all day long. It is tempting since you might be a bit bored from watching tv. However, you will eat too many calories if you eat all day. Instead, aim to eat 3 meals and you can have 1 snack that packs some protein to satisfy like almonds or Greek yogurt.

2. Get out and play with the kids. Whether it is sledding or just going outside and playing in the snow, this will prevent you from eating and burn some calories. The kids usually love it when their parents come out during snow storms, too!

3. Do a Tabata. Tabata training is highly intense exercise for 20 seconds at a time and 10 seconds rest. You repeat 8 times for a total of 4 minutes. Here’s a video of what you should do. The great news is that you do not need any equipment. Just use your body.

4. Shovel snow. First, if you have any heart issues or other health problems, I do not recommend as it can be very hard on your heart. Based on your weight, you can easily burn between 200-300 calories from 30 minutes of shoveling snow. You can go out a few times a day and shovel to boost your calorie burn and clear your driveway or sidewalk at the same time.

5. Stay out of the kitchen. The more times you go to your kitchen you are more likely to eat something because you are bored and just looking for something to eat. Instead, read a book, clean your junk drawer or closets, do laundry, or get your taxes organized (this is my plan, today).

6. Drink water. Keep a glass of ice cold water next to you all day so you stay hydrated and it will also help to keep you from munching all day. Also, 3- 24 oz of ice cold water per day will help you BURN an extra 100 calories per day!

7. Enjoy the moment. Put on some music, turn off the tv and relax and enjoy the snow. I know it can cause frustration as it can alter your daily routine but you can’t do anything about so why not just enjoy it!

Stay warm and safe and don’t let a few snow days sabotage your diet and exercise routine!

Replies

  • Wendi_S
    Wendi_S Posts: 489 Member
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    Living in the center of Winter hell right now - the northeast- I second the SHOVEL SNOW!! I don't like it, but I agree with it.... lol
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    Or, you could just have sex 7 different ways.
  • sillyme28
    sillyme28 Posts: 4
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    THANKS!!!! I was already planning what to eat today and this gave me motivation to stay on track! :flowerforyou:
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
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    Stay upstairs wrapped in a blanket since you probably forgot you programmed the thermostat down low during the day since you are normally at work and are very cold (mine is 62 during the day 66 when I get home) and play on the internet and watch TV.

    Only go downstairs for breakfast, lunch and dinner especially if you are doing literally nothing all day, no need to snack. If you pre-packed your snacks the night before like you were going to work then go ahead and eat them but if you have to make something new, you may take too much since you have more options in your kitchen then at your desk.

    Staying upstairs is key, you'll be surprised how lazy you are to get to the kitchen. Go do a work-out DVD in the late afternoon like 3-4:30 ish when you start to get hungry but should at least hold off dinner until 5:30 at earliest.

    Roads were full of snow this morning here in Toronto but due to all the crazy storm watch news bulletins most people stayed home so I was once again over 1 hour EARLY for work. Ah well :)
  • peabody18
    peabody18 Posts: 20
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    We are never really snowed in! Cross country skiing is our main activity when there is wonderful snow on the ground. During a big storm, when the sidewalk plow hasn't made it around yet, we ski to the schoolyard or park on the sidewalks. Also the neighbor lets us use a field in back to go around. When the roads have been plowed and we can get out, we go to various state parks. We love it and it is very strenuous.
  • adrienc
    adrienc Posts: 57
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    Or, you could just have sex 7 different ways.

    LOL
  • MiloBloom83
    MiloBloom83 Posts: 2,724 Member
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    Or, you could just have sex 7 different ways.

    Now that's an exercise program i can whole-heartedly endorse!:blushing:
  • isislc
    isislc Posts: 140 Member
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    The freeways were closed here and everyone was advised to stay in. We did some major cleaning and laundry!! Then we broke into an hour of playing Just Dance 2. Taking a break to watch just a little tv then going right back to Just Dance. :drinker:

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