How can I avoid winter weight gain?

If you are concerned about gaining weight this winter, you are not alone. Shorter days, longer nights, cold weather, and big meals cause countless Americans to gain weight during the winter months. But this won’t happen if you don’t let it. To help stave off winter weight gain, try the following:

1. Keep exercising. Dress warmly and go for a walk. Buy a couple of exercise DVDs and work out in the privacy of your home.
   
2. Cut back on liquid calories, including alcoholic beverages, sugar-sweetened soda, and sports drinks.
   
3. Get up and move around the house during TV commercials. Walk up and down the stairs or do sit-ups and push-ups. Buy small dumbbells and use them while you watch TV.
   
4. If you’re going to a party, don’t go starving. Have an apple or a cup of low-fat soup before you get there. Drink calorie-free liquids before eating to help you feel full.
   
5. Don’t eat dessert. But if you do, sample just one or two cookies instead of having something bigger.
   
6. Reduce your portions the day before and the day after a big meal to make up for the extra calories you may consume. Try to increase your exercise during the week to offset the additional calories.
   
7. Find fun winter activities you can do with your family or friends — ice skating, skiing, and sled riding all burn calories.
   
8. Up your intake of low-fat comfort foods, such as broth-based soups and chili made with lean meat.