Beat the Winter Blues Weight Loss Style
Late January can be a rough time of year. The holidays seem so far behind us, while spring still has not yet sprung. A little comfort food can help cheer you up, but it can come at a cost – the kind of price that shows up on the scale.
Still, there are plenty of healthier ways to cheer up during the winter. The BariatricPal Store has tips from food swaps to healthy boosts to get you through the end of the winter in a cheerier manner.
Comfort Food Swaps
Never say never. Instead of depriving yourself of your favorite comfort foods, choose high-protein alternatives that are just as healthy and great-tasting. Go for Protein Entrees such as Vegetable Chili, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Chicken Parmesan, or opt for Protein Pancakes when you need a decadent breakfast.
The choices don’t stop with meals. Crunch on Protein Cereal or Protein Chips when you get the munchies, or snack on a Chocolate Bar when you need a sweet treat after dinner or between meals. The BariatricPal Store has no shortage of Protein Desserts including Protein Pudding, Protein Brownies, and Protein Cookies.
Vitamins for Mood
Did you know that deficiencies of certain vitamins can lead to depression? If you are suffering from winter blues, talk to your doctor about whether you may need to take vitamin supplements. Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 are vitamins that are linked to depression, and they are commonly deficient among weight loss surgery patients.
Exercise to Boost Mood
Exercise can boost endorphins, which are chemicals in your brain that increase feelings of well-being. Put another way, exercise cheers you up! It does not have to be intense exercise. Instead, just focus on getting out there and moving.
For a bonus, exercise outside in the sun when you can. Sunlight increases levels of a brain chemical called serotonin, which is linked to better mood. Even if the sun is not warm because you are in a cold environment in the winter time, the light from the sun can make you happier. Getting outside for some natural sunlight can also help you sleep better so you feel better overall.
Celebrate Your Home
Make the most of the situation if you find yourself indoors too much. Clean your home to make it a more pleasant place to be. Consider changing the curtains or seat cushion covers to make them cheerier, or set up some candles for another source of warming light. You can even decorate the house for upcoming holidays such as Valentine’s Day.
As a bonus, celebrating your home helps with weight loss, too. For one thing, you burn calories when you are cleaning house – that’s why sweeping, vacuuming, and scrubbing the floors are so tiring. For another, it is easier to make good eating decisions when your home is clean. A tidy kitchen lets you think straight at meal and snack times so you can choose healthy foods instead of being distracted by less nutritious items.
Stock up Your Kitchen
Food shopping can actually be fun, especially when you are shopping for great-tasting, guilt-free Protein Meals and Protein Snacks that are ready to eat or take only minutes to prepare. The BariatricPal Store has meals, snacks, desserts, and protein supplements for most weight loss diets and every stage of the post-op weight loss surgery diet.
Don’t let a long winter get you down. Use it as an opportunity to cheer up and lose weight! There are tons of ways to feel happier as you get through the winter.
