winter weather tips that help me

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

The winter weather (the cold) causes me increased lower back pain (not CMT

related) , increased foot pain, decreased hand strength, and can cause (see

below) an overall feeling of fatigue (may be SADD, I dunno).

Speaking of cold, I had an enlightening experience a few years back. I was

attending a business meeting in Canberra (not a particularly cold place, right).

I stood up to leave, and at first could not walk. The host apologized

explaining that the air conditioning had stuck on overnight. To the others it

was not particularly noticeable, nor was it that noticeable to me, but that

layer of cold air at floor level that had not yet been cleared completely

disabled me.

I find the winter can be very draining if I don't take a few precautions. I take

it easy both mentally and physically (which I try to do year round anyway), take

a nap now and then (there's no disgrace in that), dress warm going out ... and

be sure to get out more than just the back and forth to work, always wear my

mitts and carry a pair of pliers in the jeep in case I forget to put on the

mitts and need the extra leverage to turn the key ... what else ... I do bit of

an exercise program at home including light weights/stationary bike/stretching

that becomes close to obsessive in winter, I especially avoid junk food in

winter, or rather, I concentrate on eating healthy, and the past few year have

added 2000 mg of vitmin D to my winter diet ... well, it seems to help me

maintain a positive attititude (which I have by nature, but winter with the cold

and the dark is challenging).

Is it summer yet?

Rick in Ottawa