There is a reason why bears hibernate in the winter; they are smarter than the average human. Wild animals and other scrumptious menu items for your friendly neighborhood bear are scarce in the winter. Instead of fighting the natural cycle of life, bears have found a smarter way to deal with the weather. They hibernate. They find a cozy cave and make it their home from early October until April, and sometimes even May.
If I were a bear my name would be Matilda, and I would climb into my cave right after my birthday in September where I would stay until May flowers are in full bloom. But my name isn’t Matilda, and the way I deal with the winter is to pack on the layers. I use tee-shirts, long johns, sweaters and a less flattering layer of fat. The Winter Ten is what I like to call it.
This morning I weighed myself and realized the scale hadn’t dropped below 180 since last October. I hate to make excuses, but the winter weather must be the reason for my superfluous fat. What else could it be? Unlike our gigantic furry friends who can’t find food in the cold, winter offers mankind glutinous Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. Gyms are often overcrowded and less desirable during winter months. Furthermore, I’d rather curl up with comfort foods on extremely cold days than take part in my weekly ritual of summer happy hours and weekend clubbing. I eat more and do less. It’s a basic equation that equals increased fat cells around my midsection, i.e. butt, hips and thighs.
Then just like clockwork, spring arrives. Frosty mornings aren’t so frosty, and going out doesn’t require as much effort—I can throw on a summer dress, some sandals and call it a day. The thing that I like about warmer weather is that I lose weight without even thinking about it. (Not much, just the ten pounds I picked up in the winter). The sun is shining, the air is warmer and the days are longer. I want to be out and about more just because the weather inspires me. I walk more, dance more, and move more. I love the spring and the summer!
Ahhhhh, if only I could avoid the Winter Ten and sail right into summer without picking up the extra weight. I’m 5’10” and my target healthy weight is 165. I was only ten pounds away from goal last summer. If my starting point in 2009 was 175 instead of 185, I might finally reach my goal this summer. Anyway, I just needed to vent. I feel like a fat cat who wants to avoid the rest of the winter by being a bear named Matilda for the next 3 more months.
Longing for the spring…
~bee
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