We all know the drill when it comes to winter. We exercise less. We eat more. And we keep our bodies covered up. And then when winter comes to an end and the spring weather kicks in, we regret our actions big time! It’s not uncommon for us Aussies to stack on an average of 2 – 4 kgs just in a single winter season! Research shows that unfortunately those extra winter kilos stick around for many years to come.

So as always, in my opinion an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In simple terms: DON’T GAIN THE WEIGHT OVER WINTER AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING RID OF IT IN SPRING!

Here’s some simple tips to avoid the “winter-weight-gain-trap” this year:

•  Eat a healthy and nourishing breakfast – skipping, or eating rubbish at the start of the day sets the tone for the rest of the day.
• Always do a workout on a Monday – again this sets the tone for the rest of the week, if it gets too late in the week and you haven’t worked out yet, you’re more likely to pull the “I’ll start fresh next week”.
• Have a wet weather plan – have workout options that don’t rely on weather or day light.
• Find a training buddy or hire a trainer – if you know that you won’t do it on your own, get someone else to help with motivation.
• Plan your meals – there are so many delicious and healthy winter stews and soups that you can prepare and freeze up in batches.
• Try drinking a warm Brothie (bone broth) instead of coffee, or hot chocolate – not only is it super high in minerals but it will keep you nice and warm.
• Drink plenty of water – even when you don’t feel as thirsty, water can still fill you up and stop you from over-eating. Try it in the form of herbal teas if cold water is unappealing in the cold.
• Just eat real food – it’s amazing how much healthy whole foods you can consume without putting on weight! It’s the empty calories loaded with sugar and processed fats and oils that stack the weight on quick.