For me it's always seemed so much easier to lose in the summer months than the winter months. Does anyone else feel this way?

Welcome!! It's explained here.

I did my first and best losing over the winter, so I guess it might be an individual thing. For people who live closer to the equator than most of us in North America, the light doesn't change all that much. Some of the Aussies and NZers might have more insight into this. Or do we have anyone from 'northern South America'?

Wordlady, I'm back on induction to restart losing the rest of my wt. I'm dreaming of 18 bean soup with ham and onions, such a wonderful lunch on cold winter's days. Next winter I tell myself it will be allowed, 20 gms of carbs for lunch will be OK by then so eat you salad or veggies and meat and dream of a skinnier me.

Thanks you guys; that link zuleikaa provided above made a lot of sense. I DO have S.A.D., and the doc says a particular bad case of it, worsened by Lyme. (??) All I know is it's bad. I posted a request for info in the supplements section, but it's been sitting there unanswered for days and days. (Actually, maybe I'll copy & paste here) My feeling is that 90% of anything is DETERMINATION. I like the saying: "Strength is the matter of a made up mind". This past month, instead of running a race regularly, I feel like I'm running through mud. Aside from light and exercise, I KNOW supplements could help.

Copy below:

Hello

I'm hoping you folks can help me. I am looking for a supplement that does NOT includea stimulant. (I ALREADY have problems sleeping) In one supplement, I'd love to see: Green tea, L-Carnetine, Chromium Picolinate, CoQ-10, magnesium, and potassium. I often see herbs that are stimulants, or diuretics. I WANT water in my body, I NEED it, and work very hard to keep well hydrated!!! I'm lucky if I get ANY kind of quality sleep as it is; and I have the appetite of a lumberjack!! Help!!!

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? PLEASE!!

Bite the bullet and just buy the supplements you want individually. It is difficult, if not impossible, to buy one supplement with everything you want. My husband takes a lot of supplements and we have 6 liquid minerals and another 5 or 6 supplements in pill form plus a multivitamin. Once you get into the habit of taking them regularly, it is easy. I buy them all online and generally get free shipping becuase I buy a lot at once.

Also, I have been advised to always take calcium and magnesium together. My husband takes both in liquid form.

I lose the best in winter. Think part of this is that I socialize less (summer: bbq's, sitting by the pool) and am more in tune in getting my body in shape for the upcoming summer.

asalvato, thanks for the help. I don't need them ALL in one. I just have a really hard time remembering to take ONE. Actually, I never do unless it's out on the counter, so the less bottles the better! :-)

I tend to also lose faster in the summer, but I think it's a combination of things:

First there's always a greater selection of fresh produce in the summer, and as a result I tend to eat more veggies and low-GI fruits.

I'm also a school teacher, so I have more time to dedicate to exercise and physically active pasttimes in the summer. I exercise during the school year, but it's rare that I'll be able to spend 2+ hours at the gym like I can in the summer. I also enjoy bike riding and winter months are just too uncomfortable for me to bike.

I think that the third factor is the fact that I, uh, ahem, participate in nude recreation during the warmer months, and I am very self-conscious about how I look, so I tend to be more motivated to keep the carb counts low in the "CO" months.

TMI.

Joan

I didn't lose at all last summer and now the weight is really coming off. Go figure. I guess the body will lose when it's ready to lose.

As for supplements, I have gone back to the run of the mill cheapies that have most of what I want. Then I supplement with the few extras it doesn't have. Saves me money. I also happen to think that putting less herbs in my body is better than more. They're drugs even if they are "natural" and I don't need a lot of them.

Squid