5 ways to fight winter weight-gain

With the bone-chilling weather here, we all get the temptation to make like a bear and go into hibernationand we mean both sleeping our way through to spring and indulging in every comfort food imaginable type of hibernating. So, how do we get through winter without the weight gain that you'll just stress about shedding the moment the snow starts to melt away?

Here are five tactics to help you glide through winter with your fit self in tact.

#1. Watch your portion sizes. Yes, it's obvious, but being diligent about watching the sheer quantity of food you're consuming remains a key step to maintaining your figure. You may be tempted to eat the same amount you've been eating or to eat even more (there's something about being cozy inside and filling your belly that's oh-so-comforting), but many of us are less active thanks to the season's weather conditions. Opt for smaller portions than you've typically enjoyed in past winters and if you eat it all, pause and ask yourself if you're actually hungry for more before having another serving.

#2. Book a getaway for the middle of winter. Make plans for a trip that works within your budget (it can be as low key as going to local day spa or as extravagant as a vacation to a tropical destination). Why? At home, wearing bulky sweaters and hiding under a winter parka daily, we start to care less about letting our bodies go. But having to wear a swimsuit whether on a Caribbean beach or in the hot tub apres-ski will help keep you on track with your diet and fitness.

#3. Let there be light. With fewer daylight hours, for many people it's still dark when you get out of bed and dark by the time you leave the office. Less light leads to feeling more tired, meaning thanks to your fatigue, you'll move lessall while drinking hot toddies and emotionally eating a dozen sugar cookies thanks to those winter blues. Get outside so you get as much exposure to daylight as you can to help boost your energy levels. If you feel your mood levels dip a lot in the winter, you might want to consider buying a light-therapy box to get even more light into your life.

#4. Find your signature winter workout. The frigid temps make many people retreat indoors to the gym. But we all know how many of us have gym memberships that never get used. However, there are so many more options for indoor workouts now, from Spin, dance and yoga studios, to Crossfit and Pilates. But don't rule out outdoor workouts; you may find you're passionate about skinning (that is, hiking up for backcountry skiing), snowshoeing or running (talk to avid runners and you'll find many prefer winter running over summer running), and you'll come to appreciate the cold temps.

#5. Get your vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D has been linked to obesity, and thanks to fewer daylight hours, we are all at risk of having our D levels fall in the winter months. One research study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that obesity is linked to deficiency in not only vitamin D, but also vitamins A, C, E and calcium and magnesium. And while it may be due to overweight people eating foods low in nutrients, it's also possible that their low levels of these nutrients is what's causing the weight gain. Vitamin D, for example, is involved with our body's regulation of the hormone leptin, which helps manage our sense of hunger. Adding in a daily supplement of D, especially, is sure to help.