Spring has sprung, and if you’ve always suspected that weight loss is easier in warmer weather, you might be on to something! Longer days and sunnier skies prompt changes to our brains and bodies that can help make losing weight easier than usual.
Here are some of the reasons why spring is a great time to kick-start your weight loss goals:
- Access To Fresh, Seasonal Produce
While we love fruits and veggies all year round, not everything is easily accessible during the colder months. The great thing about spring produce is that much of it can be eaten as is or with minimal preparation, making it easier to find quick and delicious healthy food and snack options for the whole family, especially with the availability of local farmers markets.
Some fruits that are more commonly available during the spring include apples, avocados, bananas, kiwi, lemons, limes, pineapples, and strawberries.
Some vegetables that can more easily be found during the warmer months include asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, radishes, and spinach.
- Spring Temps Encourage Used to Be More Active
During the winter months, we’re more likely to stay indoors and be less active. Spring days contain sunshine and refreshing air, making it the perfect time to get outside. Take advantage of the warmer weather by taking longer walks at a park or in your neighborhood, getting in the garden, going on bike rides with the family, or enjoying playing outside more with the kids. You’ll burn calories while also soaking up much-needed vitamin D that’s been harder to find all winter.
- Vitamin D Really Helps
With springtime comes ample amounts of vitamin D in the form of sunlight. Vitamin D has long been associated with obesity and insulin resistance. This means that people of a heavier weight may have lower levels of vitamin D, and increasing your outdoor activities can give you access to more.
- Spring Brings Better Moods
Winter can be a long, hard season for many, and spring is usually a welcome change. During the winter months, it’s normal to crave heavy, fatty foods in order to cope with the colder temperatures. In the spring, warmer temps and increased amounts of sunshine can lift moods and provide people with a more positive outlook.
- Warm Weather Drinks Are Lighter
Although sipping hot, sugary beverages are common during fall and winter, they can add up. Spring brings lighter drinks such as fruit-infused water to curb your cravings but without the unnecessary calories.
- Burn More Calories in Warmer Weather
If you stay active year-round and don’t scale back on intensity as the weather gets hotter, you will burn more calories. It all comes down to temperature regulation. Your body has to work harder when it’s hot, so it burns more calories in order to keep you cool.
How can you use spring to help you lose weight?
The goal should be a true lifestyle change in order to reach a sustainable outcome, and spring is a great time to get started!
Here are some ways you can use the warmer weather to help you reach your goals:
Too much too soon can be overwhelming. It’s important to keep it simple – set goals for yourself that are realistic and attainable. You can always adjust your goals as the season goes on.
Even during the warmer months, it’s important to take your time chewing your food. If you eat too quickly, you may overload your stomach before it has time to signal your brain that it has had enough.
Soft drinks, fancy iced coffees, and sweetened iced tea may be popular during the warmer months, but they are often loaded with calories. Cut back on these types of drinks, or replace them with water – about 8 cups a day will keep you hydrated.
- Choose healthy options for snacks and meals
Eat more fruits and vegetables! They’re loaded with helpful vitamins and minerals, and you can find them a lot more readily during the spring months.
As you become more active during warmer weather, it’s more important than ever to plan your meals as much as possible. You’ll be able to better use the healthy foods you get from farmers markets, and you’ll produce less waste. Meal planning can also become a sustainable habit for the future.
As we mentioned before, spring weather allows for staying active outdoors. Doing what you enjoy will encourage you to stay more active in the long run. Walking your dog, going on more walks or jogs, playing outdoors with your kids, and biking with friends are all great ways to increase your amount of exercise.
Getting enough sleep, at least 7 to 8 hours each night, is still important during the warmer months. Without adequate sleep, you won’t have the energy you need to make other lifestyle changes such as exercising or meal planning.
Being self-aware is important. Ask yourself if you’re eating because you’re hungry or only if you’re tired, bored, stressed, or even thirsty.
