RePost From Main Board

Very interesting. I seen a TV news show about these same facts. Enjoy !! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE BLAHS! Original Post by Sharon Neva at 5:32 AM PST on 01/17/2006 SD - RNY (06/20/2002) Do you have the wintertime blahs? Shorter days, gray skies, and cold temps can bring on the winter funk. I was reading an article in Women's Day about the wintertime bluest: Too little sunshine can cause carb cravings: Aside from ultraviolet light, carb-rich food are the only way to convert amino acid tryptophan into serotonin (a feel good brain chemical). Try an apple with peanut butter to get the mood lift and and slow your carb longing. High protein snacks like nuts and cheese have 4 times the appetite suppressing power as sweets. Sleeping in can cause you to be grouchy: Keep to a regular schedule. Varying your wake-up time (even by sleeping in) can disrupt deep sleep, causing irritability and tension. Being a couch potato can cause you to feel depressed: Exercise is a natural antidepressant. During the winter, the average person spends 36 hrs on the couch. Get out and move- even if it's shopping at the mall. Problems falling asleep can be caused by having the thermostat too high: Your core body temp needs to drop before you can fall into a deep sleep. (They suggest keeping the thermostat between 65 and 68- which is way too cold for me.....but) Depression can be caused by lack of social contact/isolation: Because of ice, snow and cold, you may not be getting out as much as you do in the warmer months. Fix it by staying in contact via email and phone. Make a lunch date or movie date and get out with family or friends. Keep hope in your heart. I am rushing off to work, so I won't be able to answer until later- but, I know if anyone has any questions or concerns, my OH buddies will step in and help anyone with comments or questions. Make it a great day! Sharon Reach for the Stars