The Winter Blues Series: Hygge Helps Prevent Weight Gain

“Get outside into the fresh air for an invigorating walk. You can hygge outside too, so take advantage of the sunshine and take yourself somewhere beautiful. It could be a countryside ramble, a seaside stroll or even just a wander around the local park; just be mindful of your surroundings and take in the nature around you. Being in tune with nature is an important part of the Danish culture.” ~ Kayleigh, quoted here.

We've been looking at how to fight back against winter blues this month.

And one of the most common symptoms is the craving for carbohydrates and sweet treats as a result of a lack of serotonin that comes from not getting enough sunlight. This symptom often leads to another one: winter weight gain.

In our series, we have taken a look at how hygge can help to lessen or eliminate winter blues symptoms.

And now, apparently, Hygge can help you lose weight! The first suggestion: exercise.

Which means I may be able to use it to maintain my current weight. I'm not even trying to lose right now, I just don't want to gain.

I have lost and regained weight so many times I have lost count!! But guess which time of year it was every time I gained it back? Mmmhmm.

But this time, I am not going down without a fight, and so far, everything hygge that I have tried, has been working.

Another good suggestion was to savor comfort food soups! And other treats, even if you only have a little.

That's a part of my plan, actually, because I love soup! I am thinking to make the idea even better by turning soup into a one-pot meal. For potato soup, I could add more baked potatoes and for broccoli cheese soup, make it almost into a soup-casserole.

I'm still nailing down the food plan, but what to eat and how to exercise were two of my biggest questions and this article really helped.

How are you handling the comfort food cravings?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Jeanine