Short Winter Days Making You Blue?

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Here are some tips for coping with the low mood that impacts lots of people during the winter months.

Don’t OD on sugar – When you’re feeling sluggish due to lack of sun, you may be tempted to indulge in sugar. It’s a natural way to try to boost our energy. And it’s especially tempting with so many holiday treats around. But it doesn’t really work and when you come back down from your sugar high, you’ll be more tired than before.

Vitamin D – The main source of the Sunshine Vitamin is directly from the sun. You need about 15 minutes a day of sun exposure to get enough. But unless you live in a tropical climate, from November until March, the weather doesn’t allow most people to get enough sunlight. Get your Vitamin D levels checked by your doctor. It’s a simple blood test. And take Vitamin D supplements if needed.

Get More Sleep – If you only get six hours of sleep a night, you’re not alone. But experts agree that most adults need at least 7 and as many as 9 hours to feel rested. Before the days of electricity, people went to bed when it was dark and arose with the sun. Today, we have all kinds of options for avoiding sleep. When it’s cold, dark and gloomy outside, shut off all the electrical stimulation and turn in an our earlier. You’ll reap the benefits the next day.

Move along – Even though your instincts might lead you directly to the couch, getting moving will do more for you than a nap. During the cold days when it gets dark so early, a workout video offers you a way to do everything from qi gong to zumba at home. Many great videos are available for free online. If you have a gym membership, working out indoors is appealing when it’s icy cold outside. But on more moderate days when the sidewalks are clear, wrap yourself up and go for a walk outside.

Less coffee, more fruits and vegetables – Besides sugar, people often turn to caffeine to power them through darker days. In addition to getting more sleep, fresh fruit and veggies will strengthen your immune system and offer you important nutrients that will boost your energy levels more consistently than caffeine.

By the way, winter is a great time to consider a gastric balloon. By the time warmer weather comes, you’ll be ready to enjoy your new shape.

Author: Rebeca Espinoza

Rebeca Espinoza writes about health, fitness and weight loss for Spatz Medical, makers of the Spatz3 Adjustable Gastric Balloon.  You can find her on at [email protected]. Like the Spatz3 Adjustable Gastric Balloon page on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest for healthy eating tips, inspiring quotes, videos and photos and more.

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