Some of you in northern climates might already be familiar with SAD (how the shorter days make us quasi-hibernate, crave carbs, gain weight and get lethargic). I avoided the worst of it in the fall, but my time since Thanksgiving has been hard (i.e., I've gained 8 lbs).

I use a therapeutic full-spectrum lightbox every morning. I have also cut out eating nuts and nut butters since they are so calorically dense.

Any other advice, wise maintainers? This has got to end!

My advice: eat soup. When I get the "winter blues" I crave hearty meals (like beef stew and comfort foods), but really anything dense and warm does the trick. I'd cook up some homemade vegetable soup (I make pseudo-minestrone with whatever veggies I have left over or canned/frozen, broth, a can of stewed tomatoes, and elbow macaroni) or a healthy stew (I have a yummy red lentil stew recipe). You can cook up a huge amount of soup and eat it for a week or two, so easily available food solves the problem of lethargy leading to not wanting to cook.

Also, I'd recommend drinking hot tea. It warms you up and fills you up at the same time without the negatives of coffeeshop drinks.

But I've only been a maintainer for like a month, so maybe the other ladies here will have better advice.

Warm food is nice!

I am supposed to take 20 mg of Paxil everyday (antidepressant) I only take 10 mgs .... HOWEVER ... over December, January etc .... I'm taking all 20 and feel pretty good this year.

I don't have SAD but I do have down times or lazy times or eat everything in sight times... What I do is exercise, get outside and run, go to the gym. Even if the sun is not shinning out I feel better when I get outside in the fresh air. I find indoor air suffocatingly dry in the winter and the air is so moist outside in the winter...

Eating soup curbs my appetite and so does eating a large grapefruit or orange, for some reason, probably all the fibre...

Hope this helps...

I just started using a light box about a week ago, so I don't know if it is helping. So far I don't feel any different. On the pamphlet that came with it, it recommended: "walking outdoors at a good pace for 20 minutes five or more days a week" and taking the following vitamins: "50 mgs each of vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6; 400 mcg folic acid; 400 IU of vitamin D; and 200 mcg of selenium. Most of these doses are higher than those found in a one-a-day multi-vitamin, but all are within safe limits."

I know I feel better if I get outdoors, especially if it is a sunny day.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but it's natural to put on weight in the winter (if we were cavemen it would keep us warm), we're programmed to crave stodge and warmth in the winter!

I agree with Ilene and try and get out and get some "sun" during the day, and I bet during the summer when you're living on lettuce leaves you'll lose "naturally" if that makes sense

My DH is very affected by the lack of daylight (and don't get me started why we live in Alaska when he knows this is a real problem for him ). He uses a light faithfully every day, and it helps some. But getting outdoors when it is light is better, and keeping busy is essential. I can really tell if he's spent the day at home (he's retired) with no social interaction or exposure to daylight.

As to what to eat - or not - the others have had good advice. I will tell you from watching him though, that avoiding alcohol (except in away-from-home-social-events) is essential!

Thank you, as always, for the great advice. I made an awesome and tasty lentil/spinach soup (a bit of mustard in at the end to liven it up)--I'd love any other soup recipes people feel like sharing.

I also took a brisk walk today w/13 y.o. son. It certainly made for a lively discussion. I also found at my WW meeting that I've lost weight...the goal is within reach!

I just found out today that I have this...WOW it started about 3 years ago and I never knew what it was.....well I started antidepressants today, so hopefully I will get some relief soon.

I make a "vegetarian chili" soup with kidney beans and a tomato product - you can use tomato juice or diced or crushed tomatoes. Green peppers and any other veggies you want to throw in are good, with some salt and lots of chili powder. I puree some of the beans sometimes to make it thicker.

To battle SAD, how about some very lively music that you really love. Listen to it in the kitchen and the car, and maybe it will boost your endorphins like it does mine.