![\"Fall](\"https:\/\/www.weight-loss-center.net\/weight-loss-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/winter.jpg\" "\\"Seasonal")
Fall and winter weather can strongly influence seasonal weight gain, particularly for those living in norther climates.<\/p><\/div>\n
Of course, like many people I have always found it\u00a0difficult to stick to a diet\u00a0when the winter holidays come around, but\u00a0it appears that\u00a0dieting and choosing to start a diet can also be influenced by the different seasons throughout the year. For example, how many of us have headed out in the spring for the much dreaded bathing suit shopping experience to prepare for summer? I know I have. Oh, the torture of being sausaged into a skin tight piece of revealing clothing was at times almost too much to bear, but I would leave the dressing room with a new focus on losing weight.<\/p>\n
Winter is one of the times when people are most likely to experience seasonal weight gain and I \u00a0think there are two main factors that cause this. The first factor may only apply to\u00a0people who live in climates farther away from the equator and that is\u00a0shortened daylight hours combined with cold temperatures and\u00a0rain\/snow. These seasonal changes,\u00a0that begin in the fall and last till spring, make it\u00a0more difficult to get outside for exercise. Even a\u00a0short walk\u00a0can be painful when the temperature is minus 30 degrees. The second factor\u00a0is seasonal moods or depression, which\u00a0are common during the winter months. Seasonally depressed moods and seasonal depression, also known as\u00a0Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),\u00a0can lead to people eating more types of comfort foods that are typically high in carbohydrates. Combine these poorer food choices with\u00a0large holiday\u00a0meals and you have winter seasonal weight gain that may be very difficult to overcome.<\/p>\n
It is important to mention that depression can strike at any time and those that have long-term depression may struggle with weight gain throughout the year. However, there is also a large portion of people who suffer from\u00a0SAD in\u00a0the fall and winter months. There are\u00a0also other\u00a0causes for seasonally depressed moods, including stress before or during the holidays.<\/p>\n
Winter is not the only time seasonal weight gain is common. Fall can be a time for seasonal weight gain as well, though it is not quite as problematic as the winter months. Fall is a time of great beauty in the eyes of some. They see the changing leaves and the orange pumpkins, and they feel content. Temperatures are not that bad and there is no snow. They still feel relatively good. Others, however, see these things as signs that thing are dying and that winter is just around the corner. When that happens, seasonal weight gain in the fall can occur.<\/p>\n
I was surprised to read that some people can experience SAD during the summer months and symptoms can involve insomnia, poor appetite and weight loss (For\u00a0more information about SAD visit\u00a0here: Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/a>)\u00a0. If you feel that you have depression you should see someone to talk about how you are feeling and get the help and support that you need. Even when it is seasonal depression during any time of the year, you may benefit from some extra help. See your doctor to find out what can be done to stop the unnecessary weight gain and to improve your overall mood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As I read some of my old diaries I noted without a doubt that my weight gain has always spiked up during the winter months. Then, when spring and summer hit my weight either stayed the same or I was elated to be losing. I was suprised to make these observations and had to explore my apparent “Seasonal Weight Gain” a little closer. <\/p>\n