Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after a busy week of work and writing. It grew too cold to run outside this week, so I have to bite the bullet and either join a gym or get an exercise bike. I’m leaning toward the gym. I want to keep running. I can’t run on the treadmill any longer, I’m afraid of messing up my back again.
But enough about that. Today, I’d like to talk about hibernation. That’s right. The season’s changing and the weather Gods are predicting snow in the upper peninsula this Tuesday. I am not ready for winter. It doesn’t feel like we’ve even had a fall.
I can tell the season has started to change. I’m more tired than I usually am. I think this is probably due to the fact there is less sunlight available right now. I’m also craving carbs. Ugh. This is the hardest to fight. I haven’t met a carb I didn’t like. I believe this is all part of my body saying it’s time to slow down and hibernate. It wants me to eat more carbs to fatten me up for my long winter’s sleep.
That’s how I know we humans were also supposed to hibernate. Why else would I be feeling this way and having those horrible carb cravings after months of eating low carb?
We’re supposed to hibernate during the winter so our bodies can renew, and our brains can rejuvenate. I bet our metabolism slows down in the winter. I don’t have any evidence of this, but it just stands to reason that it would. That’s why we gain weight during the snowy season.
So, if you find yourself slowing down this winter. It’s okay. Give yourself permission to do it. It’s the natural course of things.
Below is a list of some of the things I’m going to do this winter while I hibernate:
- Write: I plan on finishing the novel I’m working on now and pulling apart the one I finished and putting it back together, so it’s a stronger story.
- Exercise: I plan on keeping up on my exercise routine, so I can keep that winter weight off.
- Read: I plan on reading a lot this winter to keep away the winter blues and hone my craft.
- Bingewatch Netflix: This one I do during the winter when it’s too cold to go outside and I’m to tired to write, but I’m not ready for bed.
- Maintain my low-carb regime: This will help me combat that winter weight that always seems to creep on.
How about you? What do you plan to do during your season of hibernation? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for stopping by and reading my post.
I definitely agree our brains “throw a switch” when it gets to this time of year, and we instinctively reach for the comfort food, spend more time indoors, move around less, etc. as daylight gets shorter and temperatures get cooler. It is my favorite time of year to be outside, so I “fight back” and get out as much as possible whether it be for a walk, shooting a basketball – something physical. Looking forward to catching up on shows and movies not yet watched when indoors. Carbs? I’ll make a “little room” for them – everything in moderation!
I think the time change is in two weeks so at least we’ll have that extra hour to write ☺️ Not much of a binger, though my hubby is 😉 Will write, get back into reading, exercise, eat, drink and be merry 🥃🎉 After the last two years, we deserve it, Lisa 🥂
You are so right, Sharon! Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate it! 🙂
Yes! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this. Our biological clocks respond to less sunlight. I’m sure of it! I love this time of year, too and get out as much as I can. The fall colors are beautiful right now! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate you!
Back at ya, Lisa. Thanks for stopping by my way as well!
You’re welcome!
I’m revising my current WIP, so I’ll keep that up and hopefully start querying at the beginning of 2023. I’d also like to write a few things for fun–a couple poems maybe (I’m a little obsessed by sestinas at the moment). And I do love to make soups and stews during the colder months. I know what you mean about that winter weight though. My body definitely wants me to have biscuits and rolls with my soup!
LOL! I hear you on the biscuits and rolls! I’m trying very hard to stay away from the carbs and sweets! But the holidays are coming around! 🙂
I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and I totally get what you mean.
I think it’s perfectly natural for our species to slow down in the winter even without being diagnosed with anything. I mean, hunter gatherers probably weren’t going to go running around outside in a blizzard generations ago unless they had an excellent reason to take that risk. They stayed in their warm, safe tents (or homes) and did other things instead that were safer and required fewer calories to do.
So of course people today tend to be sleepier and less active in the winter today. It’s what kept our ancestors alive. Haha.
Have you made a list of things to watch on Netflix? I do that every year and find satisfaction in enjoying films and tv shows I saved months earlier.
Yeah, I made a list. Some of the shows haven’t come out yet. But I can’t wait to see them! Thanks for stopping by Lydia! I always love hearing your perspective! ❤
You’re welcome. I hope you love your shows!
Thank you! I’m sure I will. I will have to do a blog post about them. LOL! One of them was The Watcher. That was interesting!
And, yeah, I love carbs too. I’m cheering you on as you work on your low-carb diet. Kudos to you for giving that a shot.
Thanks, Lydia! It has been working! That and my running! I’m down to a much healthier weight and I feel so much better!