Around this time of year I’m always reminded how important Vitamin D is for our health, which is why I write about it, because we’re starting to head into SAD territory.
And with everything this year has brought with it, it’s even more important than ever to be diligent with your Vitamin D intake.
Numerous studies are showing a correlation between getting Covid and low levels of Vitamin D.
Even our ‘medical advisors’ are finally getting on board and advising people to take Vitamin D.
However, this goes beyond keeping your immune system strong.
This cold & flu season we will have the new threat of Covid, along with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and when you combine that with Social Distancing and Quarantine, we’re really up against it this year.
As a person affected by SAD, coupled with the stress of rebuilding my business, I’m putting my immune and mental health first while paying extra attention to any signals that I may be ‘going too hard’ in my business, so I don’t burn out, or worse, reach the end of my wits like so many others have this year.
I lost my brother to suicide, and seeing so many of our front-line, top health officials make the same choice because of Covid, and others because of our Political climate, this is no freaking joke.
The ONLY thing about Covid that scared me was our collective mental health, and now we’re at the precipice of the ‘new normal’ and many are jumping off the ledge, literally.
As someone who gets impacted by SAD, along with the stresses that come with having to rebuild my business this year, I’m paying EXTRA ATTENTION to both my immune health and my mental health this fall and winter!
SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a state of depression that occurs seasonally, year after year, most always during fall and winter.
You may feel great during the spring and summer months, but if SAD affects you, starting around October and November you may start to feel those familiar SAD symptoms creeping in, that don’t subside until spring … ugh.
Because this state of depression is seasonal, and you may not always feel SAD, it’s easy to question your sanity and wonder if this is ‘all in your head’.
I assure you, it’s not.
Not only is SAD ‘a thing’, it will cripple your life with a devastating impact, if you let it.
It manifests itself as feelings of ‘having the blues’, where you may feel like sleeping all the time even though you can’t ‘get enough sleep’ as it is, or struggle to get out of bed and feel drowsy during the day, wanting to go to sleep earlier than normal.
Focus, concentration and energy all run low, which will affect your productivity at work and home.
Not having the energy to ‘get things done’ can also lead to more frustration and feelings of depression.
It’s a vicious cycle that may even bring on some weight gain, because SAD sufferers crave foods high in carbohydrates and can gain between 9 and 30 pounds each year.
If you’re in a state of depression, you won’t want to be around others as much as you used to and your social life may suffer, which turns into withdrawal from society making the SAD state even worse.
Now, you’re not at the mercy of SAD and you can combat it with light therapy, regular exercise and that thing we talked about earlier, Vitamin D!
Vitamin D is produced by your body when you expose your body to sunlight, and just 20-30 minutes of exposure can give you 10,000 – 50,000 IUs of Vitamin D.
Why does that matter?
Vitamin D is a hormone that has important roles in regulating your mood and mental health, as well as supporting a healthy heart, cellular replication, immune system, muscles, blood sugar levels and more.
We all know daily sunshine isn’t always available, and higher stress levels deplete our Vitamin D levels.
In fact, look at the following graphic and you’ll see a line that represents the 37th parallel.
People who live at latitudes above 37 degrees north (the shaded area) make little, if any, of their own vitamin D for nearly half the year (fall & winter months).
SAD is very, very real.
It affects many people, and I’m one of them, which is why I have a coach, and why I coach others.
We all need to know we’re not alone.
And even if you’re not SAD during the fall and winter, you are probably deficient in Vitamin D, as evidence continues to mount that even those who live in sunny climates are not getting enough Vitamin D.
This is where a coach can keep you healthy and on track during this time, and give you someone ‘outside of your head’ who can objectively challenge your reality to help you maintain your health and sustain your life, without being adversely affected or ‘falling off the wagon’.
If you have any questions about eating, exercising, and/or supplementing Vitamin D for SAD, just hit reply and let me know, ok?
Be Well – John
Changing the way Life is done.
Mindset. Fitness. Nutrition.
P.S. Here are 4 more ways you can become happier and healthier:
1. At-Home Workout Program
We created a 3 tiered entry-level program for those who want/need to stay at home to workout, and you can access it for FREE.
There is NO EQUIPMENT needed, only an open mind and doing the work!
You can get it now: CLICK HERE
2. Online Coaching Program
We’ve created an Online Program to fit all budgets.
Everything from On-Demand Videos, to LIVE Streaming Classes, Accountability Coaching Calls and more!
If that sound interesting, you can find out all the details now: CLICK HERE
3. Join our BADASS Community on Facebook
We want to work with and be around as many BADASS people as possible. Folks who might forget how BADASS they are and just need the space to remember.
So, we started a FREE group on Facebook called BADASS, which is our own private community where we go deeper into what we do at Bair Knuckle Strength.
The truth is, it makes the world a happier, safer, more enjoyable place when you love your BADASS self.
If you’re ready to see what we do, just CLICK HERE!
4. Rise
Rise is the story of ‘never feeling powerful … to … never feeling powerless’. It’s about John Bair’s life, why he does what he does and how his suffering created happiness.
This handwritten book takes you through an intimate, yet, self-revealing journey, which allows you to implant yourself into the story, as it relates to your own, and reveal the steps you’ll need to take, in order to make change a successful reality.
Available in DIGITAL, AUDIO, BOOK