4 Things About Fall That Can Make You Fat

Say bye-bye to the hot weather. No more worrying about how you look in bikinis, shorts, tank tops or halter tops. Now you can hide comfortably in pants, long-sleeved shirts, and sweaters. But can this still lead to discomfort when you step on the scale?

It’s very likely.

There are a multitude of missteps that seem to sneak up on us in the fall that can lead to an unhappy situation about our weight. Here are a few of fall’s “fat traps” and how to outsmart them.

1. Tempting seasonal food. No matter what your holiday-themed comfort food vice — pumpkin lattes? Heavy beers? Halloween candy? Broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl? There’s a chance it’s going to tempt you between Labor Day and New Year’s.

The fix: There’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to enjoy festive treats, but too much of anything is bad news. So it doesn’t hurt to hunt down ways to make your favorite holiday foods a little bit “lighter.” Like going with skim milk in that gingerbread latte or cutting the sugar in your apple pie recipe.

2. It’s cold outside so you skip your workout. Most of us are guilty of this. “It’s too cold/rainy/dark out” can easily become the excuse du jour not to go to the gym or go for a run just about every du jour in the fall.

The fix: Indoor workouts, maybe at home? When the weather’s bad or it’s pitch black out at 5 p.m., nothing beats rolling out of bed, pulling on your yoga pants, and popping in a challenging fitness DVD. This could kick your butt harder than any elliptical at the gym could!

3. Parties, parties, parties! Sure, summer’s a blast, but the real party season begins in the fall, thanks to tailgating, every Sunday turning into a mini-Super Bowl party, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. And when it feels like there’s a “special occasion,” we tend to give ourselves a free pass to forget smart eating.

The fix: Whether you’re the host or the guest, you can provide a healthy dish you love. That way, if all the other pickings are fatty buffalo chicken wing dip and nachos, you’re all set with at least one thing you can fill up on that’s not totally evil.

4. Colder weather, bigger appetite.No, you’re not imagining it — when your body’s colder, your appetite is stimulated, because eating generates body heat. In fact, your body generates about 10 percent more heat on a full stomach than on an empty stomach.

The fix: Stay warm by wearing layers, cranking up the heat, hiding under the covers, or better yet — working out!

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