Break the myth of gaining weight in winter: exercise in cold weather can help burn fat

Whenever winter comes, most people always worry about a sharp increase in weight. Especially this year's New Year holiday is relatively long. If you are not careful and eat too much at every meal, you don't know how much more fat you will gain on your body. However, according to research from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, winter is the best season to lose weight.

(Map by Luo Deyu)

In order to maintain body temperature, humans automatically increase their basal metabolic rate

Why is winter the best season to lose weight? The key is that humans need to maintain their body temperature around 36 degrees. Therefore, if the outdoor temperature is too cold, the human body will automatically take some actions to increase the body temperature, that is, to increase the basal metabolic rate. In summer or other warm seasons, people don't need to do anything special, and their body temperature can still be maintained at a certain temperature, so the body does not need to consume calories to replenish heat. The so-called basal metabolic rate (BMR) refers to the basic calories required to maintain human body functions. It will be consumed by itself even if the body is still all day, accounting for 65~70% of the total calorie consumption of the human body. .

The basal metabolic rate in winter is greater than that in summer

The temperature is low in winter, and it takes more energy to keep the body warm. The basal metabolic rate in winter is even 10% higher than in summer. In other words, the key to losing weight easily in winter is that the human body has the instinct to "maintain body temperature". In order to resist cold weather, it will automatically increase the basal metabolic rate to keep the body warm. Therefore, as long as the basal metabolic rate is better, it is easier to consume calories and less likely to gain weight. If you rely solely on dieting to lose weight, it can easily backfire and cause your basal metabolic rate to drop, affecting the effect of weight loss. Therefore, the best way is to increase your basal metabolic rate.

(Map by Luo Deyu)

The hungrier you get, the more you eat! Increased appetite causes weight gain instead of weight loss

Since the human body will increase its basal metabolic rate in order to resist the cold climate, why do the numbers on the scale continue to soar every winter? The key is that when the body speeds up its basal metabolic rate, people get hungry quickly and have a lack of satiety, so they will be particularly greedy and want to eat. Often, if people do not abstain from food but lack exercise, the numbers on the scale will not hold up.

Winter is the best time to lose weight! Calories consumed in winter > calories consumed in summer

People who want to lose weight can take advantage of the fact that the human body consumes more calories in winter than in summer and take the opportunity to exercise to eliminate excess fat. In addition to consuming calories through daily exercise, the body must also consume extra calories to resist the cold weather. Therefore, the weight loss effect of exercising in winter is far greater than that in summer. The colder the weather, the more fat is burned.

It’s too cold to exercise outdoors! Move indoors

Although winter is suitable for exercise and fat burning, if the weather outside is too cold, people will always be discouraged. Therefore, it is recommended to do indoor exercises instead, such as: practicing yoga, stepping on the spot, indoor swimming, using fitness equipment, or even climbing stairs or shopping in supermarkets instead of taking the elevator. These are all good ways to increase physical activity and enhance fat burning. In addition, although you sweat less when exercising in winter than in summer, you still need to pay attention to replenishing water. Drinking more water not only does not contain calories, but the body also needs to consume extra calories to metabolize the water, which invisibly helps you lose weight.