Seasonal cycles of weight gain and loss

[subdude]

Pretty much throughout my life, and certainly within the last few years, I find that I lose weight from mid-spring through mid-fall and gain weight from mid-fall through mid-spring. Without really trying, I seem able to lose weight during the summer, but during the winter, I have to be really disciplined just to maintain my weight. I guess it's that in the summer, it's easy to be active, unlike in the winter when it's cold, dark, and icy outside. Plus, in the winter my appetite naturally seems so much larger. In the winter, it takes such large amounts of food to satisfy me that I seem to get fat even off of the healthy foods I eat, whereas in the summer, I tend to eat relatively little.

Do other people have similar experiences, especially people who live in places with cold winters? And how do you cope with the inability to work out as much/desire to eat more in the winter? Is there a way to use this tendency to one's advantage, such as by using the summer for weight loss and using the winter to build muscle?

 

[enz660]

Pretty much throughout my life, and certainly within the last few years, I find that I lose weight from mid-spring through mid-fall and gain weight from mid-fall through mid-spring. Without really trying, I seem able to lose weight during the summer, but during the winter, I have to be really disciplined just to maintain my weight. I guess it's that in the summer, it's easy to be active, unlike in the winter when it's cold, dark, and icy outside. Plus, in the winter my appetite naturally seems so much larger. In the winter, it takes such large amounts of food to satisfy me that I seem to get fat even off of the healthy foods I eat, whereas in the summer, I tend to eat relatively little.

Do other people have similar experiences, especially people who live in places with cold winters? And how do you cope with the inability to work out as much/desire to eat more in the winter? Is there a way to use this tendency to one's advantage, such as by using the summer for weight loss and using the winter to build muscle?

This is a natural human instinct, Don't worry. Humans are programmed to eat more during the winter (so they can survive the cold). And obviously, when its warmer outside, you go outside and stay active, which complemented with the smaller appetite of spring & summer, will cause some weight loss.

This is why most people bulk during the winter & fall, then cut during the spring & summer, to naturally take advantage of the seasons.

 

[03gt]

I have noticed the same thing. My appetite is crazy during the winter, although I am still young enough to maintain. Just recently it has risen into the 60-70s and I have noticed I am not as hungry.

 

[BikeSwimLaugh]

I totally agree....it's human.

I think we have a genetically-induced tendency to do this for survival instincts, to survive the winter...but there are other reasons.

What I notice is that while I'm active during the day, I don't really have hunger....but come night-time and I stop working/moving, I tend to get very hungry. It's almost like the body & mind have time to listen to the inner voice of hunger. Many people won't notice it....but if you've been working on your home and doing a project....you think you'll keeping working with a light, but as soon as the sun goes down something in our brain just tells us to stop working....and thus we have more time to eat and less time to be active.

Winter means less daylight....less time to be active, more time to spend in the kitchen! It could also be that colder temperatures slow down our metabolism and we don't mind eating a big warm meal. During summer, it's hot, warm and easy to run light & lean for comfort.

Whether we explain it or not doesn't matter....the observation is accurate and it's something we should be aware of to deal with. Good point.