SAD Season 2010/11

So SAD season is upon me yet again. I will be honest here and say I am struggling more this year due to having more demands placed on me. This is mainly at work, and especially due to the current financial climate where people are thought to be lucky to have a job in the first place. Yet I have decided that I will honestly track the season, with the ups and downs and whether coping strategies are working or not.

Exercise

Making myself go to the gym every day is really important and I have a Personal Training session once a week to help me focus on what I can do at the moment. Intensive aerobic exercise is very hard at the moment so strength training and core exercises are what we are focusing on. Not sure I always have the strength to do that either, but trying not to get frustrated when I can't.

Diet

I usually struggle to keep my weight down but I'm trying to use Weight Watchers Propoints plan to monitor my food and keep eating healthily. I'm still craving sweet things but I'm eating more fruit and cherry tomatoes, as well as allowing myself chocolate, just monitoring how much I have.

Light Therapy

Regular Light Box sessions and going outside for a walk midday when possible.

Feeling drained so will blog more later in the week...

The clocks have gone back

Well, it’s the end of October, which means it’s autumn, the clocks have gone back (we’re now on GMT) and the nights are noticeably drawing in.  This is the part of the year I really dread.  Lethargy prevails and it’s a struggle just getting through the day, when all you want to do is sleep, not to mention eat all manner of high calorie foods “for energy”.

Thanks to really working hard at losing weight and getting more active, this year I am heading into the winter a whole 3 stone lighter than I was last year, with much better eating and fitness habits and a determination that I will keep going to fitness classes even when my body just wants to hibernate.

Over the years since I understood and was diagnosed with SAD, it has been a journey of discovery.  It’s been really important to understand how different things seem in the winter compared to the summer, and also how much I can cope with, activity-wise.  Each year I seem to learn something new.

Coping strategies which I’m determined to keep to over this winter are around diet and exercise:

1)   Taking exercise for at least 30 mins every day.  Even better to take a break and go outside to get some daylight (as you can see by the photo, walking outdoors is a great idea on a sunny day - to get as much light as possible)

2)   If I need a powernap, then I will programme one into the day, but taking exercise should help me get through.

3)   Sensible eating habits (i.e. not skipping meals) and planning healthy snacks, such as nuts and raisins, fresh fruit, low fat yoghurt.

4)   Eating enough protein to feel full longer, and stave off the carbohydrate cravings

.5)   Planning foods rich in Omega 3 and essential oils such as fish, nuts, eggs which will help in the fight to balance my mood

6)   Drinking plenty of water and de-caffeinated drinks (going to TRY to cut down here, although it’s easier said than done!)

It's about being wiser with the choices I make now, so that when the darker months come along, the groundwork has already been done.  I hope to add helpful thoughts, ideas and recipes along the journey...

 

 

 

 

Introduction

I'm going to be posting thoughts and comments on my journey through the winter with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I hope that while there will be honesty in the blog, I'll also post interesting thoughts and recipes, and anything that I have found helpful and feel may be of encouragement to others.