Snowmageddon 2016: Keep Those Pounds Off

If you are on the East Coast you may be snowed in and on the verge of Cabin Fever (if it hasn't kicked in already). Perhaps your day consists of TV binging on the couch or in the bed (hopefully you are turning to avoid bed sores), cooking as if the world is coming to an end (and tasting every single item), napping on and off and mindlessly grazing on anything you can get your hands on like a cow out to pasture. Am I right? No judgements here, I get it. Snow days can bring on laziness and a disruption to one's routine which can bring on unwanted pounds. 

Times like these you have to dig deep, get creative, make good choices and just move. I will say I have enjoyed the guilt-free disruption of life and have enjoyed some much needed down time however know the difference between taking a break and falling into a coma! Here are some tips to help in avoiding the snowed in weight gain.  

1. Choose healthy options to snack on. Pick snacks that are loaded with fiber and protein to keep you feeling satisfied such as nuts, veggies and fruits. 
2. Get physical! Do activities that will increase your heart rate such as aerobics, Zumba, HIIT routines, dust off that treadmill/ elliptical, go shovel, work on expanding the family (hey.. it burns calories and increases your heart rate!), take a walk in the snow, or pull out that Wii and play. The Internet is a great resource which has tons of in home workouts available for free as well. The key is to increase your heart rate and burn those calories.
3. Avoid boredom. Most times boredom leads to mindless eating so focus on keeping your mind occupied. Use this time to create a weight loss plan. Research various exercises, foods which aid in weight loss, read articles on people that were successful in reaching their goal and make a plan to incorporate those tips in your daily routines going forward. 
4. Stay hydrated. Often times when we think we are hungry we are really just thirsty. Before reaching for those Ding-Dongs grab a bottle of water first! Better yet, before reaching for that bottle of wine or liquor knock out a quick 32 oz of H2O- put it in a wine glass if it makes you feel better or take it straight to the head whichever you like. Just remember to stay hydrated! 

Overall those are some tips to staying on track during Snowmageddon of 2016. I hope you find them useful and I look forward to meeting any new additions come late October 2016!