pre holiday depression has kicked in
 

Happens every year at this time. I have so much going on now (positive stuff) that I had hoped to avoid it this year but nooooo.
Which means my eating is really out of control now and my Christmas weight loss goal, barring a miracle, is going to be next to impossible.
Have gained 2 lbs :(
Am going to try to get back on track today, but I've said that every day for the past week and start off good only to fall apart mid day
Cathy

I agree completely about this time of year. I hate what Christmas has become--I hate what society cracks it up to be--I hate that I don't feel the
"spirit" the same as it seems others do. I would be glad to go to sleep and wake up at the end of January.

Cathy ~
Awww, hugs for you - :hug: :hug: :hug:
This is a tough time of year for a lot of folks for a lot of reasons. Add 'deadline dieting' and that is a recipe for failure.

I do not find it motivating to set a weight loss goal defined by a date. For me it is a set up for failure. And then failure becomes a ball and chain around my psyche and leads to depression road.

I try to stick to my Weight Watchers plan, exercise and drink a lot of water. That is my goal for EVERYDAY. Have I been perfect - HECK NO! Have I lost weight - you bet. This has to be something I can do for the rest of my life not just when I hit goal or get through the holidays. It has to be for EVERYDAY.

What is your plan? Could it be too restrictive and impossible to adhere to? What are you doing to move?

Have been counting calories (between 1200-1300 a day) very easy to stick to and not feel hunger pains. Just haven't been able to the past couple of weeks..I would be embarrassed to tell you what I ate for LUNCH alone yesterday.

Also drinking 32 ozs of water and cut my coffee (with sugar and non dairy creamer) from over 10 cups a day to 3.
Workouts, day of cardio, day of sculpting, walking an hour a day.

All very easy for me to follow, problem is the depression, I know it. Haven't had the desire or energy to do anything and find myself wandering aimlessly around the house thinking I should do this or that and ending up doing nothing.
Yesterday I even changed into workout stuff and then went and sat in the chair with my feet up under the afghan zoning out until it was too late to do it :(

I know this will pass..or at least downgrade to a level that I can operate normally on (which I am usually at) but it's hard to deal with it now when there is so very much that needs doing.

Cathy

I get winter depression too, I use a lightbox. Have you tried them?

a lightbox? I have a lightbox but don't think it's the type you mean...mine is used for tracing patterns on etc..
What is yours?
Cathy

cathy, winter depression is usually due to the lack of sunlight, so they make these light therapy boxes that are either full spectrum at 10,000 lux (where they are effective) or blue spectrum. I use blue, in studies it's been shown to be the spectrum out of the full spectrum that helps with depression.

Anyhow, I got mine on sale on amazon, but this is the company I got it from:

www.lighttherapy.com

you can also search amazon for 'light therapy boxes' or lamps or something like that. or 'full spectrum lamp'

They can be expensive, but I LOVE mine. (I think it was 150?) and it's lasted me these last few years. Mine is blue light, it has a digital thing for you to pick the intensity and a timer for when it needs to shut off.

You might also want to try adding in some super Vit D supplements.
I take an extra 2000-3000 IU a day. I live in a sunny climate and get out in it everyday for at least 30-60 minutes. The light boxes are a good idea but here (SW) I don't need one.

oh yeah vitamin D is good. I was thinking of adding it as well.

I've gone tanning before to help with winter depression. Not long enough to get tan - just enough to feel the warmth for a bit.

tanning bed lights are similar to light box (light box is no uv, not sure about tanning beds) but it's the same concept. :D