Winter Munchies

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, I just wanted your opinion on " combating " winter cravings.

Our bodies naturally crave carbs and have less energy, but since we live in

heated buildings and food isn't scarce in the winter, these instincts no longer

serve us. Also, those of us that get winter blues are dealing with low serotonin

levels as well, which also triggers carb cravings.

Though I eat intuitively the rest of the year, I'm finding it hard to trust my

body right now because I just want to eat sweets and simple carbs when I know I

don't need them. I'm not angry at my body and I know it's just trying to take

care of itself, but my body doesn't realize that I have a full pantry and an

electric blanket. The rest of the year, I can feel satisfied and know when I've

had too much sugar. Right now, I can't get enough and I never feel the usual

signals to stop.

I don't know what to do, listen to my body and eat cookies all day, or try to

regulate my eating from the outside. I feel like I can't trust my body right

now, because I know it wants to build up fat and do whatever it can to get my

serotonin up, even though eating that way will only hurt my body and brain

chemistry in the long run. I don't want to restrict in any way, because we all

know how well that doesn't work. I'm hoping to buy a light box with some

Christmas money, but that may not happen. I have additional stressors in my life

as well right now, but having winter blues makes them harder to deal with. Then

there's always that underlying hum, that drive to munch.

Thoughts, anyone?