The time changed, my body still is getting up at 4:30 am which is now 3:30 am and at 5 pm, as the sun sets, so does my energy.  This occurs for me every year and then, as the days get shorter and shorter building to the winter solstice on December 21^st - the shortest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere, I notice other changes in my being.

I often wonder if anyone else has the same or similar responses so feel free to email me or message me on Facebook and let me know.  Here is what seems to happen:

• My body wants to go into hibernation - I want to sit around in heavy sweats, covered by warm blankets for as many hours a day as I can get away with it;
• I crave carbs and comfort food (which are more carbs typically) so that I can make it through these short cold days (remember I live in Southern California);
• I don’t want to go out anywhere after the sun goes down (see #1 - I am in hibernation folks)
• If we have a warm and sunny afternoon I hurriedly put on a tank top and go outside to soak up as much of the weak rays of the sun as possible.

I wonder if this is some sort of genetic imprinting since my heritage is that of the Minsk region of Belarus.  There have been numerous studies done with findings providing evidence of “transgenerational epigenetic inheritance” - that the environment can affect an individual’s genetics, which in turn can be passed on.  When I look at the weather for November - January in Belarus I see 99% cloudiness with snow, ice and temperatures averaging from minus 10 to zero degrees.  In my book, THAT is a reason to stay indoors, eat carbs to stay warm and remain under a blanket all day.

How do I deal with it since I have had Weight Loss Surgery and the carb monster doesn’t serve my goals, nor does staying under a blanket hiding serve my goals.  It is simple to elocute, but difficult some days to execute:

• I maintain the same schedule all year long - this means up and at the gym Monday-Friday by 7:30am at the latest and push through that exercise because I always feel better on the other side
• I plan my meals and may add some more warm and tasty crock pot meals and soups and stews to my daily menu and remove some of the “cold cuts” and barbecue.
• I use hot herbal teas to keep me warm during the day from the inside out.  I also use chicken stock or chicken broth, both low calorie and warm and delicious.
• I get up from my desk frequently and change what I am doing so that the desire to hibernate and sleep the winter away leaves me, even if it’s temporary.
• I take my vitamins daily to insure my good health.
• I spend time with people who are upbeat and positive.

Basically, I do the same thing that I do during the summer when I am full of energy from sun up to sun down, and I just keep going without letting my “transgenerational epigenetic inheritance” control my moods.

I am proactive in my life and choose to be positive.  It’s what works best for me.  It takes too much energy to be miserable.