Good morning! 
Happy Hump Day! Doesn’t today feel like a Thursday? It’s weird how that happens, right? I wish it were Thursday instead of Wednesday! 
Breakfast
Good breakfast this morning! I made a big batch of stovetop banana oats for Mal and me to share.
In the mix:
- 1 cup oats
- 1 banana
- 1 cup non-fat milk
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- Chia seeds
- Cinnamon
I finally jumped on the chia seed bandwagon. I’ve seen them all over the blogs lately and needed to try them for myself. My verdict: great! 
They add a subtle texture to my morning bowl of oats and, of course, they’re a healthy addition! I’m a big fan!
From Wikipedia:
Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, since the seeds yield 25-30% extractable oil, mostly α-linolenic acid (ALA). It also is a source of antioxidants and a variety of amino acids.
I also had a glass of iced coffee with vanilla soy milk for breakfast.
Are You SAD?
Oh, the cold, dark days of winter. They just make me want to snuggle under the covers and never come out. Winter and I generally don’t get along.
Last year (and even previous years), I found myself really down in the dumps for many weeks. I felt so lethargic and blah that I started to bail on plans with friends and even my husband, which was totally unlike me. I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t figure it out. I tried hosting a Yoga Challenge on my blog to help get me out of my funk. Practicing yoga almost everyday made me feel a little bit better, but I still wasn’t my normal self. Eventually, I became concerned that my down-in-the-dumps mood was something more serious, so I consulted my doctor towards the end of the winter. She told me that the short days were likely affecting my mood and suspected that I had Season Affective Disorder (SAD). (Say what? I had never heard of such a thing.)
My doctor suggested that I buy a light box, which has been proven as an effective treatment for SAD. Since it was the end of the winter, I didn’t purchase a light box right away, but I knew that I needed to buy one to get me through this winter. My poor husband had to deal with my mopey moods, so he encouraged me to buy one even before we set the clocks back.
After reading lots of reviews on Amazon, I ended up purchasing the Uplift Technologies DL930 Day-Light 10,000 Lamp. The light source is delivered at an angle that mimics outdoor light– I also thought it might be good for my food photography! 
I used the lamp for 20 minutes a day for 3 or 4 days in a row. I didn’t feel any different, but you’re supposed to use the light consistently for a lot longer. I ended up getting really busy and forgetting to use it all together, but I didn’t get the “winter blues” like I had year after year.
Turns out that this little creature saved me from SAD this year:
Seriously, I laugh at this dog every single day. He makes me happy from the time I wake up until the time I fall asleep (listening to him snore like a chainsaw). I also take him for a lot of walks outside, so I get quite a bit more sunlight in my life than previous years. I haven’t used my light box since the end of fall.
I realize that not everyone can (or wants to) own a dog, so the point of this post was to let you know that SAD is a real condition and it can affect anyone living in a cold, dark location. Last winter, I had no clue what the heck was wrong with me, and I was miserable for a good part of the winter. It stinks that it took me so long to figure it out, but now I know about SAD and how to deal with it.
I’m not an expert when it comes to SAD. Please contact your doctor if you have questions.
Feel Great Weight
Check out my new post on Health.com: 5 Ways to Finally Stop the Stress Eating I talk about my struggles in the first week of my Lose the Dough challenge.
Healthworks Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered! I can’t believe I have so many Boston readers!
Here’s your winner: 81
#81 Emily J
I’ve never had a gym membership due to financial constraints of being a full time grad student. I’m getting pretty bored of my DVDs and my own designed workouts and feel I am plateauing. I would LOVE to try the beautiful Healthworks to push myself further. Thanks!
Congrats, Emily! Please email me to claim your prize!
There will be many more Healthworks giveaways in the future! So, Boston women, keep your eyes open!
P.S. Don’t forget to send some “Oatmeal” today!
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Chia seeds are great. Loaded with ALA and fibre (11g per ounce!)
I have to try those chia seeds as well, they look great!
Last year was my first experience with a Chicago Winter- needless to say, my roommate and I had issues. We moped through the week and became some serious shut-ins during the weekend- which only made me more frustrated because I had the desire to socialize at the same time. It’s crazy what some seasonal weather can do to a person’s head! Awful!
Dogs can do wonders for people’s health in so many ways! I’m glad you figured out what had you down, and the right way for YOU to deal with it.
Seeing Murphy always makes me smile so I can’t imagine what he does for you! He’s sooo cute.
I’m SAD, too.
The last few weeks here in the midwest have been cold, wet, cloudy, & dreary, and my mood has followed suit. My body has also been kinda achy & stiff lately, which I’m also attributing to the winter blues. Hurry up, spring!
i so need to try chia seeds, i just can’t seem to find them locally and don’t want to pay for them online
I LOVE MY DOGS…sooo much. they (along with Nate) really do make my days happier too
I think my husband and I both get SAD! I try to keep a positive outlook though. It’s a little difficult in Chicago though – winter is pretty extreme here!
I feel that way in the winter too, especially since I am just not a cold weather person!
I want to try chia seeds, I might just have to get them today….
Do you know if the light box increases your exposure to UV’s or is it just for mood? I definatly get that winter depression- usually right around January/Febuary, but this year I’m fighting back by fixing my stupid thyroid, staying REASONABLY active (aka not wearing myself out running 45 miles/week and then racing twice each weekend, though I do miss it) and surrounding myself with friends.
I found that the more pressure I put on myself durring the times I know I usually go through a slump, the worse it becomes. Last year, I took on annother internship and annother language durring the winter but hopefully this year things will change.
Good luck, and I’m going to look into the light box!
Thank you for posting this. I’m actually sitting here (at work!) welling up, because I went through a bout of strong depression after graduating from college. My mom had a massive stroke and I was just not prepared to deal with the stress of finding a place, a job and my mom being so ill. I found a miniature schnauzer puppy and have been in love since! I truly credit Bowser for pulling me out and keeping me grounded. If it weren’t for him, I would honestly probably still be in a dark room, not moving.
The chia seed makes the oats so pretty… kinda like it’s filled with poppyseed.
I finally got a light this year for my SAD and I have to say that after a month of using it consistently, I believe it is working! (who cares if it is or isn’t, I feel GREAT in January for a change–even with an injured foot where I can’t go out and run every day).
Weird. I credit my light. I have a “Happy Light” by Verilux. LOVE.
Lots of great info about SAD today! It’s good to see more people talking about it. I’ve found Vit D and HOT yoga help me escape the winter blues. Also, regular exercise helps. I’m glad you found a natural way to defeat SAD – I think too many people depend on medication to pull themselves out of depression. It helps to think like a caveman – what did they do during the winter? And, it’s okay to be sad sometimes. Embrace the emotion, massage it, let yourself grow with it. You might come out even happier on the other side…
Winters are cold and dark where I live and I hear of a fair amount of people affected by SAD (they get light boxes like that too). I don’t think I’ve ever really had it like that, although I can absolutely see how it can happen. For years I’ve worked in a large room in a large building with big windows and tons of florescent lighting, so I think possibly that has helped me from feeling the effects. For that very reason, I also made sure when we built our new house a few years ago that we had high ceilings, big open spaces, light colors and lots of windows. I really think it helps in these climates.
I feel your pain. i live in detroit where the sun literally does not come out from october to march or april. i’m at the peak of my “down in the dumps” mood and often feel bad that it effects my fiance. i try to keep busy to help me stay up beat. I am also a huge pitbull advocate (thanks to my pride and joy furkid, Juno). That said, i volunteer for a pitbull rescue a few times a month and spending a day with multiple adorable pups always puts me in a better mood.
thanks for your post.
weird – I’ve had to remind myself 3 times this morning that it is only Wednesday! Cristin, the Self Eat Like Me blogger, also had this problem today!! Boston must be ready for the weekend! : )
Ugh Tina this is so me! It really stinks but winter definitely makes me miserable. I’m not as motivated and all I want to do is curl up and lay on the sofa after work (yikes!). Come Spring and Summer I am constantly outside doing things and taking in the light/sun. I just love it. I keep telling myself I need to move south but that’s hard when you have family and friends you don’t want to miss! Thanks for the post!
I agree about the puppy
Maggie is so much fun! Definitely kind of makes you stay in a good mood.
I get really bummed out in the winter time. I just feel like being lazy all the time! I miss having a little puppy around to play with and snuggle! They definitely do make the world a better place
I had SAD when I lived up in Canada. It was weird – I was depressed all the time but I had no clue why. Once I was diagnosed I felt such a relief because I knew how I could get out of my funk. This is a great post Tina – very important topic!
Yay Emily for the win!
SAD is definitely a real thing. I know alot of people who moved here to SoCal from up north (Seattle, etc). They get it BAD up there, or so I hear.
i have SAD too – but it hasnt been as bad this year, i never thought it may be because of my dog =)
I love how many folks feel better because of their pets. Here’s some science to back it up: Allen, K., Blaskovich, J., & Mendes, W. B. (2002). Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: The truth about cats and dogs. Psychosomatic Medicine 64: 727-739. You can download it here, if you want to read the article: http://wbm.wjh.harvard.edu/cms/download/64/16.html
Basically, the study finds that people who have pets have lower blood pressure and heart rate and respond better to stressors (quicker recovery). Of course, some of this could be attributed to the fact that people with pets (dogs in particular) tend to get more exercise, but I am sure that some of it has to do with companionship! So YAY for Murphy and friends!
Congrats, Emily!!! GAh, you will love Healthworks! I think owning a dog is something the helps ward off the blues. Oscar is hilarious and cracks me up all the time. Plus, he is such a happy little guy that I cannot be miserable with him around, it is literally impossible! Being a dog mom changed my life too!
My pug & mini schnauzer def cure my winter blues!! I love those little guys!
Thanks for sharing about your experience with SAD…I definitely believe that a lot of people experience its symptoms without even realizing it. And you make a great point, the “cure” for everyone might be different…a light box for one person, a pug for another…seems like it’s about finding something to make you smile and give yours days purpose!
being from michigan, i DEFINITELY can relate to SAD so what did i do? move to north carolina (and atlanta next year) i know its a little extreme, but i am COMPLETELY affected by the weather and i’ve been so much happier in a warmer climate!
I think that this is the first time i’ve seen you make oats with no peanut butter or almond butter. But the chia seeds are a new addition! I know they are so good for you but they are SO hard to find (for me). i’d like to try them though!!
I’ve heard of SAD before but not by that name. I’m so so glad you had a much easier time this winter!!!!
I love Chia seeds in my oatmeal. I need to branch out and put them in other food also.
i agree about the influence of a dog… sadie makes me so happy every day. it’s hard not to smile when a dog is jumping around you bursting w/ so much joy.
Wow this post is dead-on, as I was just talking to some blog friends about how a few of us have been Debbie Downers lately. I have a feeling SAD is even more widespread than we’ve yet to realize.
Murphy is such a better pick-me-up than a light box.
I’m about 99% sure I’m moving home (as in with my parents) soon, which I’m not all that pumped up about (I’ll miss city life!), but I AM excited that I’ll get to see my pup every day! I miss him like crazy!
SAD is a big thing in Alaska. (Where you can go from having no daylight to five hours a day.) I used one of those lights when I was in high school, but I can’t afford to buy one now. Instead I try to get out whenever its sunny and light my house up as much as possible to keep things bright.
thanks for being vulnerable and sharing about SAD! It’s tough to live in the midwest where we don’t get much sun this time of year!
Man, after reading Born To Run and now reading everyone’s post on Chia Seeds and now you too…that is it, I am going to the store and making my own Iskiate drink! I can’t believe how nutritious those little suckers are.
I often suffered from SAD when I was at uni – it was a combination of the dark, cold days and missing my family. Bit since moving in with my boyfriend I don’t really suffer from it anymore. It always helps to have something/someone to make you happy. Murphy is so cute! x
I had never experienced S.A.D. until I went to college. I grew up in Nevada..hardly ever cloudy, then when I moved to N. Idaho…total difference. It only affected me badly one year. That year I spent 30 bucks and bought minutes in a tanning bed! Just to feel warm and like there was light!
And I’m 100% anti tanning bed!
Thank you for acknowledging this on your blog. So often it is put off as not really a problem. But my mom has it and her mood is much improved with more light and her pet.
i’m definitely affected by SAD. luckily i live in los angeles now, where it’s rarely cold or grey – but even here it gets to me on the rare occasion….
Pets are great for any sort of depression. There have been times when I’ve thought I’ve had SAD, but I think most people find winter a bit harder to deal with than the rest of the year.
It’s great that you realized you were experiencing SAD and found a plan of action to feel better.
It’s amazing how much of an affect Murphy has had on you, the extra time in the sunlight walking him helps too, but he seems like such a great friend. Thank you for sharing all of the silly photos of Murphy, I definitely laugh out loud at the pics
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