Shedding a few pounds as the temperatures warm up and gaining them back when the cold returns is a cycle most people can relate to. After all, we want to look good poolside during the summer and may feel “safe” hiding under bulky winter sweaters. However, many people don’t realize that the seasonal patterns in weight loss and weight gain are more than behavioral. In fact, our biological tendencies, daylight patterns, and the ambient temperature of an area play a role in weight changes, which makes behavioral choices an even more critical factor in year-round weight management.

According to Dr. Lawrence Cheskin of Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, people gain on average five to seven pounds during the colder months. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for this and how you can leverage this knowledge to optimize your own weight and overall health.

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Statistics show that America’s obesity epidemic is still deepening on the whole, but how does it break down by individual state? We thought it would be interesting to take a look at how the states compare when it comes to body weight statistics within the last 20 years, and attempt to hypothesize about the statistical disparity between them.

We should point out a couple of important things before getting to the statistics that provide context for why these numbers matter.
First, the clinical definition of obesity is having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI has a directly proportional relationship with increased risk of developing over 59 other chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer. It’s important to know the standard method of measuring and diagnosing obesity so you can personally understand where you fit into the big picture.

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“So-and-so pressured me to go out to eat.”

“I had a long day, so I deserve this dessert”

Have you ever found yourself saying phrases like these?

If you have, you might be breaking one of the cardinal rules of weight loss, and that is accepting personal responsibility for your eating and other weight management choices. When weight loss doesn’t come as easily as you might wish, there could be the temptation to pin those shortcomings on someone or something else. Blaming others and making excuses won’t help you lose weight. At the end of the day, the buck stops with you.

So, if you recognize that your sense of personal responsibility about your weight could use a boost, here are some ways you can get yourself into the right mindset:

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Summer is right around the corner, which means we are about to enter the season of heat and humidity. While the month of May has been slowly heating up, we can look forward to more high temperatures throughout June and July.

To beat the heat, it’s always nice to be in or near water. A pool, beach, or even a backyard sprinkler, water brings relief and refreshment like nothing else can. That goes for drinking it as well. Water is an integral part of many of your body’s processes. You need H2O to function—after all, it makes up 40 to 70 percent of our bodies.

On top of its cooling and intrinsic physiological role, did you know that water can also be your ally in weight loss? Forget the sugary sodas and juices and grab a tall glass of H2O. Here are some of the reasons why:

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When boredom strikes, your pantry may be one of the first places you turn. But if your pantry is filled with high-calorie, high-fat foods, over time, the scale will tip in the wrong direction. Counter these temptations by tossing the junk food and replacing it with wholesome, nutritional snack options. It’s time to give your pantry a healthy makeover by tossing the following five foods for good!

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As we approach Valentine’s Day, we are reminded of all the reasons we love LOVE. Companionship, trust, affection and emotional support are just some of the things we’ve come to expect from a happy couple. Not to burst your dreamy romantic bubble, but there is one very real downside to expect in a relationship, and that would be “relationship weight gain.”

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