It’s that time again!

As much as I do not like being the bearer of unhappy news, its that time again so we need to talk about it! Daylight savings time ends in less than three weeks! This is when those shorter, colder days kick in our inclination to hibernate!

Honesty , the concern is not the lowering of calorie burning.  There is a  bigger problem with the reduced activity that tends to goes with shorter days.  The real challenge is the sharp reduction in great brain chemicals that keep our mood elevated, lowers cravings for comfort foods, and keep us generally feeling good.

We can’t blame those winter blues all on less daylight.   The brain chemicals we get from being physically active are more powerful than those provided by sitting under a sun lamp.

What is your plan for staying active this winter?  What worked last year?  What will work this year?  This post is a reminder to us all to start brainstorming now so we are ready.  Share your list in the comments section so we can inspire each other to stay well physically as well as mentally this winter.

Need some extra motivation?  Consider yourself in spring training!  What do you want to be able to do that first beautiful day of Spring?  Take a walk, garden, bike ride, play golf?  Train for that this winter.  It will keep exercise meaningful and you probably will not regret one moment of exercising in the winter when daylight savings begins again!

Keep Moving, Be Well

Janet

These weekly blogs are general guidelines. These guidelines apply to patients who are cleared by a physician for the type of exercise described. Please contact your physician with any concerns or questions. Always report any symptoms associated with exercise, such as pain, irregular heartbeats, and dizziness or fainting, to your physician.

Please share these posts with anyone you know interested in losing weight with or without weight loss surgery.  Click here to learn more about the UMass Memorial Weight Center