Weather = Mood?? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

ElayneRae · 04-07-2008, 03:06 PM

Okay... Since starting my 'diet' this time, I decided to try to be very aware of myself. I am trying to actually think about whether Im hungry, why I think I should be eating, and trying to really enjoy the food while Im eating it.
I've also been paying a lot more attention to my moods.

I have been on 100 different diets 300 different times, but this 'paying attention' to myself is new.

Anyways, I cant believe how different I actually feel when it's nice outside.
I walked outside yesterday morning and felt such relief that the sun was out.
I have been so giddy and excited since that moment. All I want to do is go outside and feel the sun on me.

Im sure this is normal to some extent, but I feel like a different person than last week (when it was cold and nasty).

I need to move to California or something!!

Lovely · 04-07-2008, 03:08 PM

The weather does affect people & their moods

Some to more of an extreme than others. (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)) But, even I can't help but smile and feel just a little bit better when spring comes around!

meowee · 04-07-2008, 03:09 PM

I think a lot of us have a touch of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) even if it isn't at the clinical level. I know I feel so much better on a sunny day it is absolutely amazing.

ElayneRae · 04-07-2008, 03:14 PM

I've never heard of SAD.... definitely something to look into...

gypsylthr · 04-07-2008, 04:18 PM

There's definitely something to be said for SAD. I lived in MD all my life (40+ yrs.). Each year, I would begin getting depressed earlier and earlier and remain so later and later. It got to the point where at the first cool day of September, I would dread winter and be thrown into a funk that lasted until at least April - over half the year!
I LOVE warm weather. 2 yrs. ago I moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Some people complain about the heat, but not me. It gets chilly Dec. through Feb., but nothing like the east coast - and no snow. Oct.-Nov. and end of Feb.-June are gorgeous. The best part is I can excercise outside (I do a lot of hiking) nearly year round. And my depression only lasts a couple weeks, tops.
There are other (less drastic) methods for dealing with SAD, but just wanted to let you know I understand where you're coming from.
Alisa

zeffryn · 04-07-2008, 04:23 PM

Ironic that the acronym is SAD.

One thing that I've always found helps my weather induced depression is opening the curtains in the morning and letting natural light in. For whatever reason, even if it's icky out, the natural light does wonders for my mood.

brn2bthn · 04-07-2008, 04:45 PM

I was a giddy little school girl Saturday. I could go out on the deck with no shoes or jacket and it was sunny. I kept telling my fiance "I'm happy, it's sunny, I can go on the deck with no shoes" (I hate wearing shoes) I have been in a very depressed states for months now, not now, it's sunny and warm. Yes, the weather affects my mood very very much. I keep telling him I want to move to Arizona.

LindseyLouWho · 04-07-2008, 05:23 PM

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I think I definitely have SAD, comparing myself this winter to how I felt when I lived in Europe. The weather here in MD is comparable... dreary a lot and cold. I was really very happy in Texas most of the time and even though I complained about the heat, I wouldn't dare ever again. I guess it took moving to MD to make me appreciate it, but it's unfortunate that I'm stuck here for a couple more years until I finish college. After that, I've told my boyfriend that I'd like to end up in Texas (or maybe Louisiana, since that's where I'm originally from)... he's from Boston and has never been to the deep south (Northern VA suburbs of D.C. are the farthest he's been!) so he's not happy with the idea.

I guess I'll just have to make him appreciate it like I do! I mean, it really does make that big of a difference in my personality... even my boyfriend noticed that when it's warmer and sunnier I'm more "myself" and when it's winter and dreary and cold, I get very irritable and depressed.

mrsaugie · 04-07-2008, 06:52 PM

Oh i notice the connection to the weather. Over the weekend we where in the 60s (the first of the year alot of snow is now gone) and nice and sunny. today and the rest of the week we are supposed to be in the low to mid 40s and cloudy and rainy. I really do not want to do anything today at all.