Winter is hard to deal with! Unfortunately, even though winter is quickly coming to an end in most parts of the world, it’s still challenging to follow through with those New Year’s cold when it’s so cold outside. While hiding under a blanket in a warm bed may seem like a dream, it’s the worst thing one can do. Why? It can potentially lead to undoing positive habits that’s many of us have worked so hard to achieve. However, just because the winter dampens spirits and makes it challenging to stick to positive habits doesn’t mean we quit our healthy ways. Here are 5 healthy habits to follow during the winter to stick to a diet (learn more on how to lose weight during the winter in the Body Reboot book!), and hopefully get away from staying holed up in a house where it’s warm inside.

Hydration

Even though it may seem like a no-brainer, Megan Williams us just how important staying hydrated is during the winter. When you’re cold, it’s easier to forget to drink water — so that just means you have to put in a little bit more effort than usual to drink enough and keep your body hydrated. Just because it’s the winter doesn’t mean your body is okay with less water.

I like to use the phrase ‘count beyond water’

8 glasses of water per day is the typical guideline but going beyond that can help in more ways than just keeping hydrated, its proven to help skin appearance, concentration, sleeping and a general feeling of wellbeing.

But don’t just think water Is the only way to go, as other drinks like milk, tea, coffee, orange juice, iced tea, these drinks can be similarly hydrating because they stay in your system longer. i.e you don’t pee them out as quickly as water. So, when you need to take a break from water sip on something low cal & preferable low in sugar.

Dehydration is real, and Shape reveals that around 75 percent of Americans may be dehydrated! Instead of chowing down on food, reach for a glass of water instead. It’ll help prevent weight gain and keep you energized!  

Research suggests the some 75 percent of Americans may be chronically dehydrated and we often mistake dehydration for hunger. Diligent water consumption can curb snacking for the wrong reasons and boost energy.

Another reason to drink water? Cosmopolitan reveals that water can actually warm a body up! That’s excellent news if you’re struggling with the cold and can’t seem to stay warm. You might also want to try some hot tea or coffee — that’ll help you warm up too, though, don’t drink too much caffeine or you may get dehydrated (even though it’s a liquid).

Good news if you take your water cold, regardless of the season: When you consume liquids that are colder than your core body temperature, your body has to work to warm it up, and it burns extra calories in the process, according to a 2003 study on the metabolic effects of different water temperature published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Stay warm by trying new workouts

It’s time to get creative! Just because it’s the winter doesn’t mean you can’t stick to your low carb weight loss goals. Popsugar recommends trying new workouts and not giving up on running. No excuses, remember?

We're not joking when we say it's OK to give up running in the Winter months. When it comes to running in the cooler months, most people tend to run less and don't replace those missed runs with another form of exercise — naughty, naughty. Quit blaming the weather for the workouts you miss and opt for warmer exercises. Switching an outdoor boot camp for hot yoga or your regular park runs for an indoor gym session is the best way to guarantee you'll get a workout in no matter the weather.

It’s time to burn some fat, baby! The good news is if you’re on the keto diet (check it out — it does wonders!) you can amplify burning fat by working out. Whereas HIIT exercises are ideal on keto, other activities can help you lose weight as well. Though, Cosmopolitan warns to stay warm in the cold and use common sense, so you don’t get frostbite.  

Turns out your body favors calorie-torching body fat when it's cold. Whether you're walking your dog outdoors or hoofing it from a far-off parking spot, just exposing yourself to cold temperatures can encourage white body fat — the kind that stores calories, causes inflammation, and messes with your health — to act more like brown fat, the kind that generates heat by burning calories, according to a 2015 study published in The FASEB Journal. Just make sure you're not exposing yourself to so much cold that you end up putting yourself in danger.

Hiking is another great winter activity, but make sure you are bundled up. Go hiking on uneven terrain to burn extra calories and increase your low carb weight loss results. Reader’s Digest explains more why hiking is the way to go during the cold winter months:

Pristine snow covered trees, mountains, and lakes are all good reasons to go for a hike during the winter (along with less-crowded trails and the absence of bugs). While hiking on soft or compact snow requires more effort, it’s also one of the quickest ways to lose weight in cold temperatures. “During winter, you may be hiking on snow or the same trails used by skiers,” says Mike Bracko, a sports physiologist and skating coach. “It’s like walking or running in sand, and it is more difficult, so you are automatically burning more calories.” Hiking on uneven terrain has been shown to burn more calories; add hiking poles and you can burn even more. “Hiking with poles helps with stability and you burn more calories because you are using your arms,” says Bracko. Hiking is also good for your brain, and it can help improve mood, creativity, and memory.

Don’t use a lack of time as an excuse

Crunched for time? Most of us are, even during the winter. That’s why Kidney.org warns not to use a lack of time as an excuse. Take a few extra minutes to walk to your car, go up the stairs instead of the elevator and find other ways to apply exercise and positive habits. Trust us, every little bit of effort helps!

When your schedule is busy, remind yourself that exercise does not have to take long. There are many simple ways to increase your physical activity. Instead of using an escalator or elevator, take the stairs. Park your car farther away from the building to increase your steps. When your favorite song comes on the radio, dance for a minute or two. While you’re brushing your teeth, tighten the muscles in your bottom and thighs. Practice standing up from a chair without using your arms.

Fight the urge to stay holed up

We get it, with the cold and sometimes damp weather it’s easy to want to stay holed up inside. However, Health says that’s not the way to go. Try some new workouts and apply some of these other tips:  

Between the snow and ice, and shorter, darker days, winter is enough to tank your motivation to exercise. Who wants to venture out into the freezing weather to go for a run, or to the gym when it's so cozy at home? Luckily, you don't have to leave your living room to get in a killer sweat sesh (promise). There are tons of great workout videos online. “You can put a couple together,” says Viers, “or split them up, with 10 minutes before work and 10 minutes in the evening.” Keeping up a fitness routine will help with more than weight loss, she adds. “The benefit of working out is that it gets oxygen to the cells,” says Viers. “This keeps your body working optimally, and keeps you energized.”

Need some fitspo? We've rounded up our favorite online workouts for yoga, dance cardio, and HIIT. Only got a few minutes? Check out these super-efficient routines you can do anywhere.

NHS recommends light therapy as a way to avoid being stuck inside your home. It’s amazing what a little bit of light can do when you aren’t seeing a whole lot of it when you’re indoors all of the time. So get out and enjoy the sunshine (when it does decide to show its pretty face).

Some people find light therapy effective for seasonal depression.

One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes to an hour each day.

Light boxes give out very bright light at least 10 times stronger than ordinary home and office lighting. They're not available on the NHS and can cost around £100 or more.

“Some people find that using a dawn simulator [a bedside light, connected to an alarm clock, that mimics a sunrise and wakes you up gradually] as well as a light box can enhance the beneficial effect,” says Pavlovich.

Focus on fats that keep a body slim

The ketogenic diet focuses on eating foods high in fat and low in carbs. That’s excellent news because it just so happens that eat fat keeps a body slim! Below are some high-fat foods that Mind Body Green recommends including in your diet. If you go on a low carb diet eating these foods is a great place to start.

Did you know your body needs the right kind of fats to help absorb important nutrients from food as well as lose weight? True story. Healthy fats help your body soak up vitamins A, D and E, and are necessary for a healthy nervous system. That also means when you eat the right fats, your mood is better.

Stock up on a variety of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and the right saturated fats this winter, but avoid hydrogenated and trans fats that lurk in processed foods. Try olives, olive oil, almonds, avocados, salmon, walnuts, anchovies, flax seeds, hemp seeds, grass-fed butter, organic clarified butter, and unrefined coconut oil.

In fact, studies show that eating two tablespoons of unrefined coconut oil, rich in medium-chain-fatty-acids, with meals can boost body temperature and metabolism, helping to avoid the metabolic slow-down associated with winter dieting.

Are you ready to kick the winter to the curb and stick to healthy habits this winter? Don’t be afraid – you can do this! And check out this awesome news: You can get a copy of the Body Reboot book if you help us cover the cost of shipping! This book will help you stick to your goals and reveal how to lose weight by eating fat! Check out this page to find out whether we still have any copies remaining.

Sources: Megan Williams, Popsugar, Kidney.org, Shape, Mind Body Green, Health, NHS, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest