Body In Balance

Holiday spirit? Oh, you mean the demon that possesses me from Halloween to Valentine’s Day, conducting sadistic sugary, boozy, carbohydrate bomb experiments on my waistline before collapsing in a feverish bout of self-loathing and impending bikini anxiety? Nope, never heard of it.

Light (Jyoti) Miller, Ayurvedic & Naturopathic Physician

Because we are indoors so much in the winter we tend to be less active. Root vegetables are winter foods, but some can cause weight gain. Try celeric (a kind of celery grown as a root vegetable). Squashes are good for the prevention of cancer and help with hypertension. Chayote is good — you can get it at Spanish and Indian markets. As far as grains, try not to eat too much rice. Instead, eat low-carb grains. Quinoa is a high protein grain rich in iron, B6 and amino acids. Barley helps flush excess water out of the system. It can be used in cereal. Millet helps balance blood sugar levels. Also, eat seaweeds in soups like miso. Seaweeds are high in trace minerals such as calcium and magnesium. If you’re trying to lose weight, soak them to eliminate salt content.

Amanda Brimhall, Naturopathic Physician

A little weight gain in the winter is natural. Don’t panic too much about a few pounds. It’s important to stay active. That might mean finding someone to hold you accountable — hire a personal trainer or join a class at your gym so you have something on a regular schedule. Also, watch the comfort foods. It’s so easy to come home when you’re cold and hungry and just hunker down with a pizza. Plan meals and go grocery shopping ahead of time. Make a big pot of lentil soup and freeze some for later in the week.

James Bailey, Ayurvedic Practitioner

People get too sophisticated with weight loss. Keep it simple. Eat modestly. By age 30, our metabolism starts slowing down and we have to be mindful of how we feed our bodies. We eat because of stress and as a form of entertainment. But as adults, food should be minimal. Our culture is not struggling with famine, but with obesity. We have cheap foods full of sugars. Winter is not a time for sweet taste. In ancient times, sugar came in fruits during certain seasons. There were no sweet things to eat in the winter. Online, you can find Ayurvedic food lists [for guidance].

John Ruhland, Naturopathic Physician

Continue exercising. I promote bicycling — even in drizzly weather — because it’s a low impact sport. If you have balance issues, stay on a bike path and try a three-wheel bike. Swimming is another option, but stick to twice a week if you’re swimming in a chlorinated pool to limit exposure to chlorine. Or find a pool using an ozonation and UV light sterilization system instead of chlorine. If you’re overweight and a brisk walk gets your heart rate up, then walking will help. Vitamin D may be of help if the weight gain results from seasonal mood changes.