This time of year especially can bring on sad, moody, depressed feelings. You may just feel out of sorts, anxious and stressed with all the Holidays, snow and cold. The days are dark, the sun goes down early and you might just want to stay in bed all day. Some people begin to crave carbs and sugars, and naturally weight gain begins. Our energy is down and we don’t feel like going outside, we stop exercising and everything compounds until we feel much worse. Our sleep also suffers, we either can’t get to sleep or wake up and can’t get back to sleep, and then in the morning we don’t want to leave our beds.

Does any of this sound familiar? If so, what can you do about it?

Here are nine tips for getting through the dark days of winter. This is how you can feel a whole lot better, have more energy and avoid putting on excess weight (or lose extra pounds).

• Eat more fat. That is right. Significantly raise the amount of fat, oils and fatty animal food. Your body needs to burn it to stay warm. Your body having what it needs, will then stop craving so many carbs and sugars. It is the carbs and sugars that are causing the excess weight gain, and a never ending cycle because these foods do not keep you warm and insulate you against the cold. By eating more fats and oils you will feel warmer, have greater energy, not crave carbs and sugars, and not only not gain weight, but you will start losing it if you are overweight. What are some of the best fats? Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocados, Unsalted Organic Butter, Salmon, Grass-fed Organic Meats like Lamb, Bison and Beef, some nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds.
• Eat dinner earlier around 5 or 6 PM, and go to bed earlier around 8:30 or 9:30 PM. Get up with or before the sun. Get out in the early morning sunlight. When indoors sit in front of sunny windows. If you can’t get into the early morning sun, get yourself a special light designed to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). We need all the strong light we can get during the winter months, especially early in the day. Do not stay up late looking at computer and TV screens. Learn to live as close as possible to the natural rhythms of light and dark.
• Raise your vitamin D to at least 5000 IU a day, even 10,000 IU per day in the very dark of winter.
• Take Premier Adaptogen-R3 or another adaptogenic formula that contains adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha. Adaptogenic herbs help your body regulate and adapt to stresses such as temperatures changes and stress.
• Increase your body temperature before getting in bed by taking a hot shower or bath right before you jump under the covers. Set your thermostat to lower the temperature way down so your room is cool at night, and to turn on and warm it back up near the time you want to rise. Use comfy blankets and natural down quilts to keep warm.
• Find a way to exercise. Take brisk walks on cold days. Take longer walks on warmer days. Join a gym and go at least 3 times per week and be sure to sweat. Join dance or movement or yoga classes. Exercise or dance in your home. Especially soon after rising. Get your energy up and moving. It has a very positive affect on your moods, hormones and energy. Also, drink a glass of warm water upon rising (squeezing in an extra tip here!)
• See an acupuncturist or holistic doctor, particularly if you are really suffering with depression or have major insomnia issues,. Also, look into balancing your neurotransmitters using the Sanesco Health program.
• Get off the sugar and simple carbs by eating healthy foods, getting adequate protein and fats and oils, by exercising and following all of the above tips. All of these work together synergistically to stop the cravings, lift your mood and energy. Loomis/Therazyme Pan and probiotics can also play a major roll in improving your digestion and therefore cutting down cravings.
• Allow yourself to slow down. Learn to enjoy it. Stay inside after the sun goes down. It is not natural to be out running around and in places with blaring artificial lights. It screws up your brain and natural cycles. Fall in love with curling up with hot tea and a good book, or with your loved ones. Play board games or other fun family activities. Cook more at home. Learn new recipes. It is okay to withdraw a bit from the world and go within this time of year. This is a great season to learn yoga or to learn to meditate and practice other mindfulness healing techniques. I myself took up reading fiction books the past month. It is the first time I have read fiction in years and I am loving it! Please let me know your favorite book recommendations!