Is it Hard to Lose Weight in the Winter?

When the cold winter months strike, it can be tempting to curl up in a comfortable pair of sweats and hibernate on your couch until spring returns. Skipping your workout just because it's cold can get in the way of your weight-loss efforts and might even lead to unhealthy weight gain. It can be hard to drag yourself out into the cold and fit in a workout during the winter, but it's not impossible to lose weight.

Weight-Loss Basics

• When it comes to losing weight, in the winter or otherwise, it's vital to burn more calories than you consume. If you skip your workout and have a huge plate of pasta for dinner, you might be taking in more than you're burning, which isn't going to help you lose weight. If you want to drop extra pounds in the winter, choose a variety of foods from each food group and include at least 30 minutes of exercise into your routine most days of the week.

Winter Mood

• Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, often sets in during the fall and continues through the gloomy months of winter and can interfere with your mood and dampen your energy levels, according to MayoClinic.com. While it can be hard to drag yourself out, regular exercise during the winter can actually improve your mood and keep symptoms of SAD at bay. You'll also be burning the calories you need to lose unwanted pounds, even if it's too cold to flaunt your new silhouette. Outdoor light can also help you battle SAD, so choose workouts you can do in nature for the most benefits.

Winter Exercise Options

• Sometimes it's just too cold to exercise outdoors, but on many days you can still get out there and fit in a workout. Skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing or sledding burn calories and add a new twist to your typical exercise routine. As long as the trails aren't icy or slippery, your usual walk or jog is still possible when it's cold outside. If you can't bring yourself to brave the frigid temperatures, lift free weights at home, head to the gym and jog on the treadmill, or use a mini stair climber while you watch television in the evening.

Comfort Foods

• Winter is an ideal time to cozy up with your favorite comfort foods. Many are high in fat and calories, though, which can get in the way of winter weight loss. You don't have to give up your favorites, but modifying them can keep your fat and calorie intake under control, according to "Fitness" magazine. Use low-fat cheese and milk when you make macaroni and cheese, choose lean cuts of meat for stew, and beef up your meals with whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Toss brown rice into soup or serve your favorite pasta meal with a fresh vegetable salad. This will satisfy your need for hearty winter dishes without preventing you from losing excess weight.