When the temperature drops and holiday gatherings fill the calendar, many Johnson County residents blame candy and turkey for the extra pounds they see on the scale. BridgeFit Personal Training, a local gym, says the problem runs deeper than occasional indulgence.
Study backs the gym’s observations
A recent analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine measured adult weight before and after the holiday season. On average, participants added about one pound, and most failed to lose that weight in the months that followed. The study found that roughly one in ten people gained five pounds or more, and those individuals reported lower activity levels and higher hunger ratings.
Why activity matters
BridgeFit’s owner, Dustin Yantzi, notes that the gym sees the same pattern each year. “Cold weather keeps people off their evening walks, work parties and family events crowd the schedule, and workouts that were routine in October disappear in December,” Yantzi explained. “When you move less and snack on low‑protein foods, you feel hungry again within an hour and end up eating more.”
The trainer emphasizes that the issue isn’t a lack of willpower; it’s a shift in daily habits. By maintaining regular movement and choosing protein‑rich snacks, clients can keep their metabolism steady and avoid the cumulative weight gain that adds up over successive holidays.
Project Zero: a free two‑week challenge
To help residents combat these trends, BridgeFit runs an annual “Project Zero” holiday challenge. The program provides a simple plan focused on three habits: include protein at every meal, log steps even when it’s cold, and schedule workouts before the calendar fills up. Participants also receive accountability from coaches who check in regularly and help get them back on track if a week slips away.
Yantzi stresses that the goal isn’t perfection. “You can still attend parties and enjoy the food,” he said. “The aim is to keep making progress, even when life gets busy, so you don’t end the season with extra pounds that linger for a year.”
How to join
BridgeFit is offering five spots for a free two‑week trial of personal training, including the Project Zero plan. Interested residents can sign up through the gym’s website.
By addressing the underlying habits that lead to holiday weight gain, BridgeFit hopes to give Johnson County families a healthier start to the new year.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
