winter blues

peopletalk

i actually get incredibly depressed during the winter. which means lack of motivation.
i have no trouble staying in my calorie goal (though sometimes i do want comfort food, but my cravings are pretty much under control)
but i have trouble getting motivated to exercise. like it's so bad sometimes that i have trouble getting up to get ready for work,

for example, last night after work i came home at 5:15pm and ate dinner. then went to lay in bed by 6:30 because i actually felt like being alone all night. i slept from 8:30pm to 8:30am today!! 12 hours sleep is insane. but this is what i''m talking about.
just the lack of sun and going to work in the morning while it's still dark and coming home at night and it's already dark. ugh

i've started taking vitamin D pills to help but is there any other advice that could help? i really wanna lose this weight but i feel if i exercise it will keep me more focused.

sillygoosie

You kind of answered your own question. If you exercise regularly, you are going to feel better. It's just a matter of not letting yourself sink into the blues. It does take some self motivation. Days are already getting longer and it will be spring soon!

infamousmk

Bundle up and go outside! The sun and fresh are are good for you (so is the VitD supp, but real sun is best)!! Once you do it a few times you start to recognize how much better you feel.



sillygoosie and I went for a two-hour-long trail hike in 2 degree weather a few weeks ago, and it was wonderful. Chilly, but wonderful.

JesterMFP

Is part of the issue going out in the cold and dark? If so, maybe look into exercise you could do at home, like exercise DVDs or free videos you can find on the internet (eg youtube and bodyrock.tv as just 2 examples.) Also, things like yoga and body weight exercises - I personally don't get the same mood-boosting effect from stretching or resistance training than I do from cardio, but it's better than nothing.

If you're a member of a gym and are having trouble getting there, well sometimes you've just got to force yourself, just like making sure you eat right, and shower, and brush your teeth, and go to work. All can be difficult when you're depressed, but making yourself do them makes a big difference. Try to look at exercise as a "non-negotiable" task.

Until the sun comes back, have you ever tried or considered a light box? I've never used one myself, but I know someone with S.A.D. who uses one every day, and swears by it.

Hang in there! :flowerforyou:

peopletalk

Bundle up and go outside! The sun and fresh are are good for you (so is the VitD supp, but real sun is best)!! Once you do it a few times you start to recognize how much better you feel.



sillygoosie and I went for a two-hour-long trail hike in 2 degree weather a few weeks ago, and it was wonderful. Chilly, but wonderful.

yeah... problem with that is that it's not 2 degree weather here. it's -25. -30 with windchill. and there's no sun. it's overcast. which means the clouds cover the whole sky. it looks grey.
i tried walking home one day to get in my exercise. it was so cold i couldn't feel my legs halfway through and had t take shelter in a subway to wait for a cab to come.

peopletalk

Is part of the issue going out in the cold and dark? If so, maybe look into exercise you could do at home, like exercise DVDs or free videos you can find on the internet (eg youtube and bodyrock.tv as just 2 examples.) Also, things like yoga and body weight exercises - I personally don't get the same mood-boosting effect from stretching or resistance training than I do from cardio, but it's better than nothing.

If you're a member of a gym and are having trouble getting there, well sometimes you've just got to force yourself, just like making sure you eat right, and shower, and brush your teeth, and go to work. All can be difficult when you're depressed, but making yourself do them makes a big difference. Try to look at exercise as a "non-negotiable" task.

Until the sun comes back, have you ever tried or considered a light box? I've never used one myself, but I know someone with S.A.D. who uses one every day, and swears by it.

Hang in there! :flowerforyou:

i could exercise at home. but you're right, i should push myself to do it. i just need to hop on the treadmill.
i've never heard of a light box but i was thinking of tanning. it's really big here in the winter and is supposed to help.
winter is just awful here. the only exercise anyone does is shovelling lol which i just pushed myself to go out and do.

JesterMFP

Is part of the issue going out in the cold and dark? If so, maybe look into exercise you could do at home, like exercise DVDs or free videos you can find on the internet (eg youtube and bodyrock.tv as just 2 examples.) Also, things like yoga and body weight exercises - I personally don't get the same mood-boosting effect from stretching or resistance training than I do from cardio, but it's better than nothing.

If you're a member of a gym and are having trouble getting there, well sometimes you've just got to force yourself, just like making sure you eat right, and shower, and brush your teeth, and go to work. All can be difficult when you're depressed, but making yourself do them makes a big difference. Try to look at exercise as a "non-negotiable" task.

Until the sun comes back, have you ever tried or considered a light box? I've never used one myself, but I know someone with S.A.D. who uses one every day, and swears by it.

Hang in there! :flowerforyou:

i could exercise at home. but you're right, i should push myself to do it. i just need to hop on the treadmill.
i've never heard of a light box but i was thinking of tanning. it's really big here in the winter and is supposed to help.
winter is just awful here. the only exercise anyone does is shovelling lol which i just pushed myself to go out and do.

Ooh - get on your treadmill then. Sometimes it helps to just make a deal with yourself that you'll do, say, 5 minutes. Once you start, it's usually easier to carry on.

lives21

Try getting some sun in when it's up like a walk at lunch or in the morning. No matter the amount of vit D you take, your body won't absorb it without getting some sun. I think this is why winter blues happen, but make sure to be active sometimes during the week and get some rays. I'm sure it will help you feel better. I went to the beach last week and laid in the sun for a couple hours. The sun works wonders!

BamBam125

I've been thinking of a "light box" as well, even though I live in a sunnier place than you. My desk isn't near any windows, so I get bummed if I haven't had seen the sun much recently. Winter is the worst because the days are so short.

A light box is a special type of lamp that mimics the sun. You might also hear them called sun lamps and the like. It's not as dangerous as tanning.