Snuggling down for winter

[Labarum]

I wonder is there a seasonal effect?

I am averaging 2-3lb heavier in the last two weeks, and I haven't been doing anything different.

I seem to remember in the dark months last year I was the same. I hate this time of year, so may be particularly sensitive to the seasons. I have this hunch it's to do with daylight hours rather than temperature.
Is there any such documented biological effect - hibernation - snuggling down for winter?

[2big4mysize]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

it is your genes we have chemicals that are light sensitve in us and when they don't get as much sunlight we get effected like having the meletonine changing to serotonine in the pinal gland stuff. our bad cholesterol numbers go up in the winter time too.

your body is trying to get you ready for the cold hard winter ahead with no game to hunt nore crops to pick.

break free with more bright light in the am and use more of your own body for heating you up lower the thremastat or wear less clothes and get some free energy burning of fat as fuel.

[higgies]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

So that MIGHT explain my 5lb gain over the past month even though I'm eating no different and exercising more. Weird...

[Labarum]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

Has anyone experience of those sunlight lamps that are supposed to help those with SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder (If it exists)

[2big4mysize]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

it could also beyou are adding lean mass Higgies if you got to a gym ask them tio measure your body fat and see.

in the summer we use free fat burning to cool us off but in the winter we don't and need to switch to free fatburning to stay warm but most folk just bundle up woth warn clothes and up the thermostat so those cooling cals are now not used and we have a debt in the burned up cals

[higgies]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

Yeah, I've been running a lot more, so I might be adding leg muscles as those are pretty easy to gain a lot of mass on. I feel flabbier though in my midsection...

[2big4mysize]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

SAD is very real and using ther 10,00lum lights does what i was talking about above. mostly it is folk in the norther areas that are effected since their dasylight hours are cut way down..

there are some studies that have shown that folk with yr round depression are helped with those lamps too when they use them yr round

[Miss Phode]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

I get depressed in the winter because I don't get to see the sunshine during the week. The sun is just going up when I get to work, and it's already set when I get home. And I live in Florida.

[staziaw]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

I suffer from mild SAD symptoms. I used to life in Minnesota, where the symptoms were worse, but even living in Southern California, they are noticeable. I recently purchased a broad spectrum light, which I turn on for about an hour when I get home at night, while I'm knitting. It seems to help!

Good luck!

Stacy

[gazaleh]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

I wonder is there a seasonal effect?

I am averaging 2-3lb heavier in the last two weeks, and I haven't been doing anything different.

I seem to remember in the dark months last year I was the same. I hate this time of year, so may be particularly sensitive to the seasons. I have this hunch it's to do with daylight hours rather than temperature.
Is there any such documented biological effect - hibernation - snuggling down for winter?

It's called overeating! jk. You can blame your evolutionary past and ancestors for this one. Your ancestors more than likely lived in an extremely cold environment in the winter months. As a result, there was a need for adaptation to the extreme weather and a layer of fat was vital for survival and heat production. Fast forward to 2006 and you are more than likely sitting in front of the fireplace sipping your low carb cocoa. That layer of fat is no longer being used as your internal and external furnace. Unless you want to sit around freezing your *ss off and taking cold showers , then you are stuck. You could up the exercise to make up for this lack of heat expenditure and keep the weight off, should you be extra self conscious about those couple of pounds. I seem to always lose weight in the winter because my ancestors, more than likely, lived in a warm area and I am more than making up for it now with my goosebumps and such. Regardless, your body is better than a lot of 20 year olds I see on a daily basis so I wouldn't beat myself up over something genetic and not that signifigant.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

the light willhelp you more in the AM and remeber you dont have to watch it fr it to work as long as your eyes can see the light it makes.

night time is not when you want the meletonin cut off as we need that for sleep seratonin works better in the day time for this production system.

[ttdriver]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

WINTER? My A/C is still on!!


Betty

[ValidRouge]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

mine too, betty! My husband just came stomping through here saying "Did someone turn the AC off? It's hot in here"

I hate this time change though, it's dark when I get home.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

Our old friend Heidi3 swore by those lights. Washington stays pretty dark and dreary in the winter months and lots of folks suffer from SAD

[JEC48]

Re: Snuggling down for winter

I'm of the belief that our bodies know when cold is coming - or is here - and wants to insulate us to the cold. I have always had a heartier appetite in the winter than in the summer. I have been practicing Atkins 3 years in January. There has only been 1 time in those years I have gained any weight and it was between Nov-Mar - which due to my Atkins education I quickly took off. I don't like it! I'm trying to get a handle on it before the Holidays. But let me tell you, I love Atkins WOE!