Nutritionist Garima Goyal in Ludhiana (India) said that in winter, the body's metabolism becomes sluggish, leading to reduced physical activity. This makes you lazy and even skips exercise, leading to weight gain.
Our internal biological clock or circadian rhythm will also change due to the phenomenon of longer nights and shorter days. This causes changes in hormones that can affect the body's metabolism, leading to reduced energy burning and more weight gain.
Sharing the same view, nutritionist Nmami Agarwal, founder & CEO of NmamiLife Nutrition Center (India) added that we will become lazy to go for a walk or participate in any physical activity in winter. The basic reason for weight gain in winter is that the amount of calories consumed is greater than the amount of calories burned.
Therefore, make sure your calorie intake is adjusted according to your activity habits during the cold season.
An average-weight adult woman needs about 2,000 calories per day to maintain her weight and 1,500 calories per day to lose one pound per week, suggests Nmami Agarwal. Meanwhile, an average-weight adult man needs 2,500 calories to maintain his weight and 2,000 to lose one pound per week.
Since fewer calories are burned in winter, you need to subtract about 500 calories from your total daily calorie intake.
For men, if you need 2,500 calories a day, accept consuming only 2,000 calories instead. Similarly, for women, if you need 2,000 calories a day, cut 500 calories from that.
“This way, you are not restricting yourself from any food but you are also in complete control of your calorie intake,” advises Nmami Agarwal.
Meanwhile, Ms. Simrat Kathuria, nutritionist and founder of The Diet Xperts Nutrition Center (India), said that eating healthy soups and low-calorie dishes in winter would be a good choice.
“Instead of eating high-calorie foods, choose nutrient-dense foods like winter vegetables and fruits or low-calorie foods that will help you feel full and healthy,” says Simrat Kathuria.
