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Humans Don’t Hibernate…

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As the summer is winding down, it’s common for us who live in a four season climate to subtly change our lifestyles in negative ways, sometimes regressing to the point of starting over. Whether its reducing our physical activity due to less enjoyable weather, or eating more in response to the chilly temperatures; these behaviors feel natural but contribute to the all-to-common cyclical nature of weight loss/gain. While they may feel natural, it is important to remember that we are not bears, and therefore do not require preparations for hibernation.

There are some things we can do to counter these tendencies however; such as recommitting to calorie counting, or finding new ways to exercise indoors (wherever your schedule permits). Also keep in mind that certain types of foods will have different effects on your appetite, which becomes increasingly important as the seasons are accompanied by certain stables like pies, cookies, cakes, and other assorted sweets. It’s the sugar in these foods that creates the terrible feedback loop of insulin spikes and crashes and their associated cravings. Additionally much of this food is lacking in sufficient amounts of protein to satisfy you appetite.

Now may also be the perfect time to find a gym or start a new exercise routine, finding ways to stay active and engaged with fitness will no doubt help you stave off the consequences of having less time to walk or play outdoors.

Whatever you do, I implore you to take in mind what your goals are for yourself, and if you’ve already made progress hold on to it and don’t let the change of seasons throw you off track. There is no need to wait until the New Year to recommit to getting healthy, keep focused year round; count your calories, move as much as possible, and always remember that weight loss is a marathon rather than a sprint,  just keep plodding forward and you will get there.

hibernating.jpg
After drinking all the milk, Remy hibernates

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