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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: MaryW
Date: 02-13-2007, 03:06 PM (1 of 19)
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I wrote this a few years back, but it still applies today. http://www.sew-whats-new.com/MiddleAgeSpread/health/seasonal.shtml MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 02-14-2007, 08:09 PM (2 of 19)
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I liked that Mary. I find this time of year I get frustrated with the clouds and the rain. I'm ready for spring or a holiday or something. I start to eat chocolate all the time too, which isn't good for anything. And I'm just tired all the time. I didn't find Feb like this until moving West. In the prairies, we had so much sun all the time in the winter, it was glorious. I'd do sunlamps but have family history of melanoma so thats out. Soon, it will be over, my snowdrops are up and just blooming now!!! and my tulips are up a good 3 inches!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 02-15-2007, 04:28 PM (3 of 19)
And it is all so true. I had so many problems adjusting when I moved from Western Australia to Victoria. My hubby wanted me to see the doctor for depression, but I was too stubborn. Instead I invented Lizard Therapy, and it made sooooooo much difference in a short time. WA is sunny all of the time, and we moved to Vic in the middle of winter. Every day I would spend an hour curled up with a book on the end of my bed. It was the only patch in the whole house that got any winter sun. When I finally got out of the house, I met more of the mining wives who had also moved here from WA and were having the same problems. After a while I found my children joining me for Lizard Therapy, and even their bad attitudes changed in no time. But I wonder if part of that was the fact that Mum wasn't wanting to strangle them all of the time either. 
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: vickki
Date: 02-15-2007, 04:41 PM (4 of 19)
What's Lizard T?I probably need this as well...Today once again its windy,overcast,stormy as in snow storm,freezing cold and what ever else can fit into that catagory...
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User: vickki
Member since: 08-21-2005 Total posts: 374 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-15-2007, 06:36 PM (5 of 19)
I know vickki, we are the same. Freezing rain and snow along with high winds.  It's just that time of year, we all need cheering up. Haven't seen the sun in a dogs age.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: material_pakrat
Date: 02-15-2007, 08:32 PM (6 of 19)
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Lizard Therapy only works if you have a bit of sunlight. It's just taking the time out and finding a window with a bit of sun, and sitting there doing nothing. Just so long as there is some light I am sure it would work. I just find that when it is cold or rainy, we all seem to close our houses up (curtains closed etc) to keep the heat in and save our energy bills. And electric lights just aren't the same as a bit of sunlight. I guess I just have one of those brains that just dont work properly if it doesn't get a certain amount of bright light a day. Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 02-15-2007, 09:44 PM (7 of 19)
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There have been studies that showed that taking a Vitamin D supplement has really helped people with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) - if you really can't get a bit of sunshine it might be worth having a look at. With the sunlamps I have heard also that you can get ones that have no UV factor - this should prevent melanomas - or else just a little bit of lamp light everyday (equivalent to what you would get on a spring or summer day) with some sunscreen on. I get a certain amount of "the blues" in winter. I don't usually notice how bad it is until the first few nice days of spring and I feel terrific. I might try some LT myself this winter. Sounds like a good excuse to lounge around with a book anyway. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 02-15-2007, 10:05 PM (8 of 19)
The group of ladies I do WW with are having problems staying focused because of the weather. They don't understand why they are not following the program. I told them I thought that is what it was because we have been having freezing weather for the last week or so and then it was raining here too so I guess that's what we have. Instead of losing we are all gaining no matter how hard we try we always sabotage our effort before the weeks over and weigh in with a gain. UGHHHH So now we have a name for it. LOL Thanks Mary for letting me know we are not all going crazy we actually have a real problem. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 02-15-2007, 10:16 PM (9 of 19)
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One of my gf's suffers from this. It use to get so bad we would spend days with her trying to get her to get out of the house. So we bought some cheap goose neck lamps, some tinted paper, yellow and oranges, and made her sun's that could hang from the lamps. No it isn't real sunlight, but they are cute and when she starts to get down, she goes to her closet and pulls out her special sun lamps. We would go over and have a picnic on the living room floor, play a sound tape of water, and cheer her and ourselves up. Now that I am taking care of mom and much less active, I feel the winter blahs more, and think about my gf doing her fun suns.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 02-15-2007, 10:56 PM (10 of 19)
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Cool - new house has one of those triple lights in the loungeroom - going to decorate them when winter hits. I'll just tell him it's "Fun Sun" therapy. Dont need the lizard therapy at the moment - 31.8 C (89F) here right now, and getting hotter. Would send some of it over to all of you if I could.
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 02-16-2007, 05:29 AM (11 of 19)
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Susie, all things being equal it should be easier to lose weight in winter. This is because your body needs to work harder to keep yourself warm (metabolically I mean), thus burning more calories. Having said that however two things happen in winter to make it difficult. It's really tough to get out and exercise (more for some than others) so a back up plan for exercise is needed when the weather is crappy. The sabotage thing is not really deliberate (or not most of the time). Because we don't really want to be cold and our body resists having to work so hard to keep itself warm (this is not a conscious thing) we tend to eat more carbohydrates (our best source of easy energy). Although it's not helpful the resistance is a sign that our bodies are functioning well and attempting to guard against starvation. Unfortunately most of us in winter think of carbs like all the lovely stodgy fatty french fries, baked potatoes with sour cream, sugary foods (which are simple carbohydrates) etc. So carbs are easy energy for the body but most of the carbs that we tend to eat are high GI carbs. These carbs raise blood sugar levels quickly - translating to a quick fix of warmth. They also drop the levels quickly so there is a tendency to go and have more (or at least crave more) in an attempt to fix the problem again. So a lot of us love them for both physical and psychological reasons. The answer is to eat the lower GI (also not as yummy  ) carbs - like wholegrain bread and pasta, apples and oranges (fruit is a sort of carb) etc. This will keep the blood sugar levels more stable and body warm and will hopefully stop some of the winter cravings.Sorry for the lecture - I work as a leader for WW and can't help myself. Unfortunately although I talk the talk I don't always walk the walk and consequently am about 5 kilos over my goal at the moment - and getting my you-know-what kicked by management. Anyway - keep trying - it will come off in the end - even if it's slower than what you'd like. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: weezyrider
Date: 02-16-2007, 10:32 AM (12 of 19)
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I liked that Mary. I find this time of year I get frustrated with the clouds and the rain. I'm ready for spring or a holiday or something. I start to eat chocolate all the time too, which isn't good for anything. And I'm just tired all the time. I didn't find Feb like this until moving West. In the prairies, we had so much sun all the time in the winter, it was glorious. I'd do sunlamps but have family history of melanoma so thats out. Soon, it will be over, my snowdrops are up and just blooming now!!! and my tulips are up a good 3 inches!! If you are going to eat chocolate - eat dark. It's supposed to be good for the heart. We call this cabin fever and I suppose everyone in the states has it by now. Had some warm weather last week, but high pollution levels, and everyone was outside, regardless! Weezy 
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User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-16-2007, 10:41 AM (13 of 19)
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It's still snowing and snowing and snowing. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Longblades
Date: 02-18-2007, 10:34 AM (14 of 19)
| When I get S.A.D. it's in the summer. I love winter and snow; skiing, skating and snowshoeing. Shovelling snow is a chore I enjoy. But heat, boy does heat get me down. Anything over 20C and I start to wilt. Even though I also love my garden, hiking, bicycling and canoeing. I just can't function in heat. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 02-18-2007, 09:42 PM (15 of 19)
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Pauline, I'm not taking it as a lecture. I've been in WW for about 3 years now with the exception of after the hurricane I didn't go to meetings for about 5 months. I took off the 25 or so pounds I put on but now i need to get the rest off (35) pounds would make me happy but not really goal. If I were to get goal I would be very skinny and not look healthy. I've been active all my life so I have muscle and as you know that weighs more than not having muscles. According to WW guildlines I should weigh about 105 pounds. I know that is not practical for me to weigh that little so I would be happy with 130 - 135. I'm trying hard to stay on the program but every day I hit obsticles that make it hard for me to not do what I'm suppose to. I really think stress is my main problem and I tend to self medicate with food. I don't smoke, drink or take any form of drugs so food is my drug. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: PaulineG
Date: 02-18-2007, 10:48 PM (16 of 19)
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I think it is for most of us in WW. I know it is sometimes for me. You're doing well to keep going when it gets difficult. Most of us do okay for short periods of time but if we don't get the payoff we want straight away then it's just too easy to give up. It often annoys me when I read the success stories of "I lost 52 (115 lbs) kilos in 49 weeks" - I'm more proud of my members who stumble on the way but persevere to get where they want to be. So a pat on the back for you for your persistence - much more of an achievement if you have to work hard for what you want than having it fall into (or out of in this case) your lap. 
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 02-18-2007, 11:59 PM (17 of 19)
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I got the giggles on the way out the other morning when the sun was shining brightly, thinking ' OH, I need to get home fast so I can be a lizard!!!'. I didn't make it home in time, but it was sure fun to think about!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 02-19-2007, 12:23 AM (18 of 19)
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Thanks Pauline, I'm not giving up. I lost 52 pounds before Katrina on WW and then gained 25 of the 52 back before I came back to WW. I have struggled all my life with my weight so I know it will be that way the rest of my life so WW will be a big part of my life from now on. I think I'm the only one at my meetings that is still there after the 10 months that I've been going this time. So people do come and go as you say. I've been on many diets in my life along the way but WW is not a diet to me........ it's a way of life with a nice fellowship of friends along the way.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: Bama
Date: 02-19-2007, 12:04 PM (19 of 19)
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Susie, I was talking with a friend at work the other day who has joined a weight loss group with me at work about how most of us in the group get off track when we have very cold or gloomy weather. We've had cold temps and gloomy skies for about 3 weeks now. Almost everyone has gained a few pounds. When it's warm and sunny, more of us lose pounds. I made myself start back my walking routine yesterday. I bundled up and just did it. We're supposed to get warm temperatures this week. Maybe that will keep me on track. My goal is 10 more pounds.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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