Tis the Season

Another slump… becoming a monthly occurrence…hummm…

I was up a bit at last week’s WW meeting +.8lbs. I was expecting it because of my cycle. I didn’t think it would affect me, but probably did to some degree. Totally no motivation to exercise. Ugh! 10 days in a row of no physical activity. My eating has not been good either. Monday was really bad… came home from work and had a request from the kids to make breakfast for dinner – Belgium waffles. Normally I would make them the waffles and just have eggs, but they looked so good I had them too. Butter and hot syrup.. even had me some chocolate milk. AND for dessert – I made chocolate chip cookies – my favorite! Pig out continued Tuesday.. had some of the Halloween candy that is still around. Felt absolutely gross, like I had gained 10lbs.

So, this is what has always happened this time of year… I get super lazy and seek comfort food. I binge and it lasts for days or months. So, why does it happen:

· Seasonal Affective Disorder – yes.. the shorter days do affect me. I get depressed, low motivation, little things irritate me. I started on Wellbutrin for this a couple of years ago and it does help. Exercise also helps.

· Increased traffic – ugh… snowbirds come to AZ in the winter and take over the roads. I have a long commute anyways (35 miles one way) but it is worst in the Fall and winter. I cannot take the freeway because it is a parking lot – both coming and going. So I take surface streets. It takes me a little over an hour in the morning and an hour and a half to get home. I’ve got the sun in my eyes both ways.

· It’s colder – I don’t want to get out of my warm bed. I dread the cooler pool. Takes forever for my shower to warm up.

· Thoughts of holiday preparation – shopping for Christmas gifts, writing Christmas cards. Also, my eldest’s 11^th birthday!

· Year end stress at work – this is a biggy. I’m in the prescription benefit industry and year end is crazy. It’s all to prepare for 1/1 which is absolutely crazy! Last year was the worst. I was implementing a new very demanding client. I had to deal with a very angry consultant who hated my company and an audit firm that was all up in our biz’nss. I worked long hours, little exercise, and ate badddd! I did not sleep well – would wake up at 2am with my mind racing. I would often just get up and start my day super early. 1/1 was a success and I won over the consultant, but then I was tossed on to another account that needed attention. Instead of having a bit of a down time after the 1/1 project, I had to deal with another stressful situation. I was only supposed to be ‘helping’ out until March, but then it stretched into April, May, June, and July. I finally had enough and moved to a new position. My new job has so much less stress, but getting for 1/1 is still hectic. At least I sleep well at night.

So today I woke up and decided that was enough! I know what causes my apathy, so I should be able to change it. I’m in a much better place than I was a year ago. Much less stress and I know more about myself and my triggers. I got up at 6am and went out for a bit of a run/walk. It was a chilly 50 degrees or so. Came home and showered. Decided I would not miss WW despite that fact that I was up for a second week in a row. In the past, I would have skipped WW and tell myself I would get back on track.. only I would never do it. I bit the bullet and went in. To my surprise, I was DOWN! Only .2 lbs, but I’ll take that! I stayed for the meeting and felt so glad I did. If I did not go this morning, I would still be in that I-know-I-gained-10lbs depression that occurs after a few binge days and no exercise. My plan for this week is to get back on track with my eating and exercise. I plan to go swimming tomorrow morning, running on Friday, and biking on Saturday. I’ve got a tri next Thursday and I want to feel confident going into the competition.