adminSiba Guzha
HELLO gentle readers. Well, it seems winter is finally upon us and we need to keep warm and so many people gain weight during winter months and attribute this effect to a slower metabolism.
Many factors come into play that have an effect on your metabolism, but winter itself — or the winter months — does not programme your body’s metabolism, no matter what the thermometer reads. Your metabolism depends on factors such as your genetics, your diet and your exercise regime. Your calorie needs also depend on environmental factors, such as indoor and outdoor activities.
Metabolism is the rate at which chemical processes occur in the body, from repairing tissue to burning calories. In the winter, a colder body temperature stimulates the appetite and eating generates heat. In fact, your body generates about 10 percent more heat on a full stomach than on an empty stomach, says Judy Driskell, author of “Sports Nutrition.” Ironically, eating more can actually increase the body’s metabolism but also increases weight if the right foods are not consumed.The winter season might affect your lifestyle, which can cause some weight gain.
Some people aren’t as active in the colder months and it becomes a time for feasting as we curl under the blankets in front of the TV resorting to comfort food and those extra calories you consume get stored as fat, which can contribute to weight gain.
Some people are not as active in the winter months as they are in the summer, when many activities take place.
Regular workouts can prevent weight gain. The utmost importance is that we make sure that we keep our body moving as much as it can on any given day or time. The more we move, the more we burn and the more efficient our metabolism is. When you build more muscle tone and then use those muscles in daily activities and exercise, your metabolism benefits from that and you prevent it from getting sluggish. Another factor in keeping our metabolism humming smoothly this winter season is to make sure you are eating enough so that your body doesn’t think it’s in starvation mode, but not so much that it can’t burn off the excess calories you are consuming.
So, make sure that what you are putting into your mouth is high in nutritional value, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to help your body run efficiently; but not so much that your body has a hard time getting rid of the extra calories. Avoid processed foods and sugars if you can. . . instead, snack on mostly vegetables or one serving size of nuts or fruits when you are hungry. By eating this way, your body isn’t starving and has adequate nutrients to function at its optimal metabolic state.
When we talk about foods, we frequently forget about our water intake. I am a big fan of green teas and water. Your body needs water to function optimally. So, in trying to keep your metabolism running at its best, you cannot forget about water consumption. If you can’t stand the way plain water tastes, try dropping a small amount of fruits or cucumber or vegetables into your water to give it some natural flavouring. This way, your water doesn’t taste as bland and you’ll get the nutrients of the fruits and vegetables in the water.
Don’t forget that your body needs rest and relaxation to be able to repair, regenerate, and recuperate from your daily activities and functioning. So, make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and try to go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day to help your body maintain its usual rhythms and cycles. Decreasing long-term stress with relaxation and sleep also can be beneficial to your metabolic functioning. Remember also keeping fit and active during winter supports a healthy immune system and shuns common flu. . . STAY FIT.
- Siba Guzha is a fitness trainer at Body Focus Gym Executive. Contact: 1st floor Meikles Mutare, Email: [email protected]; Cell: 0776886939 Tell: 020 64712 ext 218
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