The human body has evolved in such a way that we eat heavily and put on weight in winters to protect from cold and lack of food. With the approaching winters, various changes take place in our lifestyle. One such major change is spending long hours remaining indoors mostly eating, sitting and watching TV. Our physical activity cuts down to a minimum during the winter months and this puts a toll on our weight. Slowly and steadily we tend to gain a few kilos and make ourselves comfortable by hiding our body under the layers of clothing. But this season is not for hiding that extra weight but instead of that, we can try to knock it off.

Here are a few tips that may help in losing weight in winters

• Opt for Low-Calorie Foods: Try to include freshly prepared clear soups, saute vegetables and warm salads in your daily diet. The best way to do this is to make them your dinner options as they will not only help you keep warm but will also keep your dinners light and we all know that light dinner is the key to weight loss.
• Add in 30 minutes of Walk: Since our lifestyle becomes more sedentary during the winter months and we are not able to go for our morning/evening walks, therefore, try to do them in the afternoon, in your lunch-breaks or any other time as per your convenience. But make sure that you do it. 

• Change your Beverage: We do agree that when it is cold outside, we need to provide comfort to our body by sipping in something hot. But instead of going in for hot chocolates, creamy coffees and other high-calorie beverages, it is better to opt for green tea or any other herbal infusion. This will not only save on the extra calories but will also improve your metabolism. Opt for Jasmine Tea that helps to drain out the water retention from your body.

Ayurveda has some age-old herbs that are very beneficial during winters

• Cinnamon (Dalchini): This herb works best with the waistline. It helps in improving metabolism and thereby helps in weight loss. It also helps in curbing down certain food cravings. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of boiling water and sip it at least once a day.

• Black Pepper: It is enriched with vitamins, healthy fats, minerals, and dietary fiber which enhance fat metabolism and also improve the absorption of nutrients. For all obesity-related disorders, black pepper should be incorporated into the diet. It can either be sprinkled directly on fruits, salads or smoothies or can be taken as a decoction with warm water.

• Amalaki: It helps in boosting digestion and liver detoxification. It also helps in improving metabolism so that instead of piling up fat gets broken down and eventually flushed out of the body along with harmful toxins. The best way to incorporate Amalaki in your diet is to have it in the form of juice first thing in the morning. 

• Fenugreek: Fenugreek is a powerhouse of many essential vitamins and minerals like iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, Vitamin B6 and dietary fiber. It has anti-inflammatory properties and rich in antioxidants also. It contains a substance, Galactomannan which helps in curbing the appetite by enhancing satiety, thereby promoting weight loss. Fenugreek can be taken in the form of decoction for the best results.

• Garlic: Just like fenugreek, garlic is also an appetite suppressant and prevents one from overeating. It also helps in boosting the metabolism and stimulates the fat-burning process. To avail of its benefits, have 2-3 garlic cloves with a glass of warm water in the morning.

Losing weight can be a difficult task during winters but with these easy tips, you can cut down body fat, stay healthy and feel energetic.