Fit Friday | How not to let winter weight creep up on ya.

I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow I became a little pudgier than normal.  Maybe it's because of those amazing butter cookies that I couldn't seem to get enough of.  Perhaps, it had something to do with skipping the meal prep process.  Or could it be because I opted to spend more time under warm blankets than I did getting my desired steps in for the day?

In either case, it happened and if I'm not proactive, those extra few pounds could multiply.  Months later, I could be slipping on a tank top wondering where I went wrong, or I could be feeling really good about the decisions I made today.  Another reason to take action now is to make it easier on myself in the future.  Working off 5-10 lbs now is way better than 15-25 lbs down the road.

Let's talk about some quick shifts we can make to stave off pesky winter weight once an for all.

Stick to form fitting attire
I was on cloud 9 after finding a pair of hubby's sweats.  They were super baggy on me and felt so cozy.  Sweats and oversized tops became my new uniform.  While that was going on, I was secretly putting on weight.  But I was completely oblivious until a friend invited me for breakfast.  Sure, no problem...I'll just slip on my favorite skinny jeans.  And that's when the truth came out. Those skinny jeans didn't fit nearly as comfortable as they used to.  Add insult to injury, my friend referred to me as "thickums" during our conversation.  That was all I needed to hear.  From that point on, I swore off baggy sweats and stuck to wearing fitted clothing around the house as a measurement tool.  Never would I be caught off guard again.

Warm up with broths 
As the temperature drops, we tend to crave warm, comfort foods.  If we aren't careful, those comfort foods are a recipe for extra weight gain.  My solution to this dilemma came in the form of bone broth.  Every morning the past few days, I've whipped up a small bowl of broth with onions, spices and rice noodles.  Not only does it warm me up, but if fills my belly and nourishes from the inside.   The benefits alone are enough to keep me coming back.  Plus it's really yummy and keeps me full all morning.  Broths are a fantastic alternative to your typical high calorie winter beverage.  If broths aren't your thing, opt for warm lemon water or nutrient rich tea.   You can enjoy several cups throughout the day without having to worry about expanding your waistline.

Move!
When it's cold out, I just want to nestle under a pile of blankets for warmth.  Sure, that's one way to do it, but I've come to realize that the most optimal strategy is to move.  Even if I lay under a blanket for 15 minutes, I'll still be cold.  But, if I do cardio for the same amount of time, my temperature instantly rises.  Whenever I exercise in cold weather, I find myself peeling off layers of clothes as my internal temperature rises.  Blankets rarely ever offer those same results.  

My strategy for the past week has been to head to the gym first thing in the morning.  I know that minutes into my workout being cold will be the last thing on my mind.  Yes, the pounds will eventually come off, but I'll also enjoy instant gratification.  The short term benefits of feeling warm is enough to motivate me each morning.  It's a win-win.