This Is the Time of Year When You’re at Your Lowest Weight

For the study, researchers analyzed the weight patterns of nearly 3,000 people and found that our weights starts to rise around Thanksgiving, peaking near Christmas and the New Year. What’s more, that weight you gain between October and January can take more than five months to lose. It’s not until Easter that most people get back to their pre-holiday weight, with slight fluctuations between April and November, the study reports. 

Sign up for Women’s Health’s new newsletter, So This Happened, to get the day’s trending stories and health studies.

Of course, this study doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to gain weight over the next few months. In fact, there’s plenty you can do to keep the scale consistent. “Instead of making a New Year’s Resolution, make an October resolution,” Wansink says in a press release. “It’s easier to avoid holiday pounds altogether than to lose them after they happen.”

RELATED: Why We All Just Need to Relax About Holiday Weight Gain

Luckily, we’ve got you covered with weekly challenges that will keep you motivated, even when candy starts filling your office and holiday treats magically appear. Plus, check out these 19 ways to finally keep the weight off no matter what month it is.