The PGX Experiment

A little bit of personal background on me.
I'm fascinated with human machine. It's design, it's use, its commonalities and differences. It's natural mutations, for both perceived 'good' and 'bad'. The maintenance of the machine and its control panel (body and brain) are all in my realm of knowledge. In fact at one point, I was a certified fitness instructor and I am still a bona fide geek.

 I am a font of useful physiological information.

 I am also somewhat lazy.

I am the proud owner of a metabolism that runs like molasses in January AND I suffer from SAD - so though I'm smart enough to know what the machine needs, the control panel often overrides and self medicating on the couch is not an uncommon event during the winter months.

Ugh - It's enough to make me hate myself (or at least my machine) during the dismal days of effin winter.
(I did at one point 'run-away' from winter to a sub-tropical isle, but that's another story, and we'll get to that sooner or later)

So, with that said.
A lot of things I've got in my SAD Sack-o-tools are results of experiments conducted by me, to my machine, by deducing similarities in physiological results and reactions either due to Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression, emotional changes, physical side effects of diet, supplements and external factors.

I also am NOT a fan of popping a pharmaceutical 'solution' - I believe that in many cases they cause more harm than good. (In a winter of desperation, I did try a little helper by the name of Prozac. It was not my friend, it did not help and we can talk about that later)

Now, back on point.
This winter has a new experiment, that seems to be going quite well. I need to do more research and actually need to follow through until March, but so far, so good.

While pedaling my way to endorphin  happiness I spied fitness guru Kathy Smith (love her) on Breakfast Television talking about her book and various other things.   She simply mentioned PGX.  I Googled.

Turned out that PGX as a weight management supplement could and should (in my opinion) help with some of the seasonal side effects from SAD.  The carb craving, desire to over eat, sugar imbalances and thus mood imbalances, could all be helped by PGX. I read on, there were no stimulants, it was high in fibre, invented in Canada (this meant a lot to me), and all in all had few side effects and regardless if it produced weightloss, In my opinion should help with my SAD.
So, I bought some.
I am pretty sure it's working.   I sure don't seem to have the mood highs and lows (GI fluctuation, carb binging, sugar spike shitness of winter). In fact, my internal demon which repeats "I want bread, I want potatoes" is silent. Honest.

It could be placebo effect,

But I don't think so. 

The machine is behaving differently

Control panel diagnostics say so

My experiment will continue, I'll keep you posted. 

I'm also going to contact PGX to see what they know. 

Now for the record. I am NOT taking PGX with hopes of weight loss. I AM taking PGX to see if I can avoid the usual weight gain that comes with my ESS.AYE.DEE.

The Cardio Code

Lazy, lethargic, miserable, apathetic, unsocial, passionless and just plain old blechity-bleck-blah.
No desire to work, play or otherwise.
It's an awesome existence, and for those of you who missed it, that  - was complete sarcasm.

If someone told me I could pick one, and just one, of the tools in my SAD sack, Cardio would be it.
Vitamin D is a god-send and it's hard to imagine winter without it, BUT, a winter without any form of cardio would literally be hell-froze over.

Remember all those 'lovely attributes' of Seasonal Affective Disorder, well, I've found that one of the best prescriptions against said attributes, is cardio. And not a leisurely stroll on a treadmill, I'm talkin bout 40-60 minutes of working it and SWEATING - - Every Day.  Yup, every single day.

Now I understand that this could pertain to just me, but I have a feeling it will ring true with more than one of my fellow sufferers. If routine and patterns are my winter friend, then taking a break for a day or two from the cardio, just starts a crap shoot as to what the next day will unfold. So, I chose not to gamble with my sanity and simply find the time (heck who wants to go outside anyways) to work out for at least an hour.  One of the biggest benefits to this chore is the endorphin rush. (insert angels singing) - it kicks the miserable 'tude, the dark and gloomy thoughts, and malaise to the curb and literally lets life shine through.

I know an hour may seem like much to some, but I tried 20 minutes everyday and it didn't work. I upped it to 30, ya, good, but...that pesky 'darkness' peeked through.  40 minutes seemed to be the magic number, 40 and sweat. Sweat meant my heart rate was up and the endorphin was pumping.
(If I remember correctly, one begins to experience an 'endorphin rush' on average, after 20 minutes of moderate (sweating) exercise)  The way I see it, the 20minutes AFTER my endorphins start, are the magic minutes, so sometimes I get 'greedy' (not the right word) and go for another 10 or 15, but heck it's not hurting anyone.

It keeps the demons at bay. 

It combats the fatigue, the pms, the weight gain, the cravings, the depression and for me the dark thoughts. It helps with my productivity, my concentration and my overall health. It IS a Cardio Code. 

The hardest part is starting the everyday routine, especially with everything that works against a SADist (err SADite), I try and start in September, work myself up to it, if you know what I mean. If it 3 weeks to form a habit, then with luck I'm ready when the short days and cold weather hits. 

(For the record - the key word is TRY. It's usually late when I start and my friends and family have to 'remind' me to get crackin)