Don’t be SAD, It’s not your fault!

In the spring and summer months of the year it seems to be easier to follow a diet plan…. Why is that?  As we are smack dead in the middle of a bone chilling winter, the layers of clothing are coming on and so are the pounds.  When you don’t have the pressure of being seen at the beach looming over your head, it’s easier to say YES to the second glass of wine or slice of pie your vanity may have stopped you from accepting before.  But is that all it is? Is the reason we tend to pack on the pounds in the winter months only because we won’t be seen in a bikini? Really? There is another answer, Seasonal Affect Disorder or SAD for short. How ironic that the acronym for the condition is a perfect explanation of how you will feel once spring/summer roll around.  SAD is a type of depression that occurs due to the short days and long nights of the fall and winter months.  Symptoms include depression, cravings for specific foods, loss of energy, hopelessness and oversleeping. Obviously, these symptoms can contribute to weight gain.  So what can we do to fight SAD and the unwanted pounds that follow?  Well unfortunately the combination of SAD, holiday celebrations, and less physical activity is a recipe for added LBS.  At execuSlim/The Executive ER we recommend staying on top of it.  If you expect to put on around 5 pounds over the winter months that’s fine, just have a plan for melting it off once the weather warms up! Stay on top of your weight.  It’s when those few holiday pounds go unchecked, and then get added to year after year that you really have a problem.  The snowball effect of those added 3-5 pounds is what will lead to a steady weight gain and serious problems.  Don’t be sad, just be aware of your body, your current weight and your mood’s affect on your appetite!