Article: Avoiding the Winter Blues!

During the winter months do you:

Have an increased appetite and find yourself eating more?
Have intense cravings for carbs and sugar?
Feel apathetic, unmotivated and even depressed?
Have a particularly hard time losing weight and are even gaining weight?

Sounds like you’ve got a case of the Winter Blues, often referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)!

Winter in New England is the time of year when the days are shorter, there’s less sunlight, the temperatures are colder and we often feel more socially isolated and even DEPRESSED!

…but you don’t have to relocate to Hawaii or Florida to survive!

There are actually several natural, easy and effective things you can do to help combat the negative symptoms of the Winter Blues so you can go from feeling SAD to GLAD almost immediately!

Amy’s Tips for Avoiding the Winter Blues!

Increase your exposure to natural, full spectrum light. Light Therapy is the #1 remedy for SAD. Even though it may be cold out, bundle up and make it a priority to get outside, even for just 15 minutes a day so you can be exposed to sunlight which increases your serotonin (the “Happy Hormone”), Vitamin D (which is KEY for avoiding the Flu and your immune health), and melatonin (which is important for restful sleep). If your schedule doesn’t allow for this, consider purchasing a full spectrum illumination lamp that you can put on your desk or somewhere in your home.

EXERCISE! Getting your body moving increases blood flow, helps eliminate toxins and clear your mind; yet most importantly it increases endorphins- the neurotransmitters that make you feel good! Think of endorphins as nature’s Prozac but better- no side effects!! You can get a double whammy and do some activity outside where you’re exposed to natural light and sunshine and then you’re really talking!

Harmonize your home with the season. Synchronize your circadian rhythm’s (your body’s natural “clock”) with nature. The more you adapt your schedule to the cycle of the sun- the sunrise and sunset, the better you will feel. At night (3 hours before bed) AVOID bright lights, computer screens, and big screen TV’s. This artificial light disrupts the pineal gland in the brain that produces melatonin (the sleepy hormone). So use candles and dimmers after sunset or certainly 2 – 3 hours before bedtime.

Rest more! Winter is the season where all of nature is in a hibernation mode so why should we humans be any different? This is the season to GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO DO LESS AND VEG-OUT MORE! Not feeling guilty about relaxing, having down-time, slacking off and my personal favorite, taking NAPS is not only OK right now but extremely important and healthy!! It’s dark and cold outside for a reason! Take your queue from nature. All of nature is doing so why shouldn’t you?

Avoid sugar. Everyone knows that sugar is no good for you and leads to increased cravings and weight gain but it’s important to remember that just one teaspoon of sugar can depress your immune system for up to 4 hours- leaving your more susceptible to colds, flu and viruses. Moreover, after the initial rush, it also zaps your moods, leaving you lower than before. What a cruel trick! But you can have your cake and eat it too! Instead of sugar, you can use safe and delicious naturally sugar-free alternatives to sugar like Stevia and Lakanto. Both which you can find on my website Store.

Use a BioMat. This is an AMAZING tool that increases serotonin (improves your mood), strengthens the immune system, increases metabolism (burns calories!), assists in detoxification and cleansing, relieves pain, increases relaxation and quality of sleep, reduces joint and muscle pain, stiffness and arthritis, improves skin quality and suppleness and improves circulation and cardiovascular function. Best of all, it’s so simple to use: all you do is plug it in and lay on it! I recently purchased one and it’s changed my life! For more information on the remarkable healing and health promotion powers of the BioMat, please visit my website Store.

Amy Fournier is a certified dance, fitness and yoga instructor, holistic nutritionist, workshop presenter and free-lance writer. She specializes in awakening the inner spark of passion, energy and enthusiasm in others. Amy is available for specialty classes, private functions, speaking engagements and media opportunities. To learn more about Amy or to contact her, please visit:
www.ZumbaDanceWithAmy.com, email: amy@zumbadancewithamy.com or call: 978-500-8943.