Today was winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. It's when the sun is furthest away from Earth and it marks the end of fall and the beginning of winter. Since I live in Minnesota we have already experienced brutally cold days so it's hard to believe that it's the first day of winter. The good news is that tomorrow the sun will start it's rotation around the orbit so that the Earth will become closer, which means longer days and more sunlight! Many cultures recognize this time as a sign of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, and other celebrations. Days shifting into more sunlight is great news for those that suffer from S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which can cause depression, lack of energy, oversleeping, appetite change, and lack of motivation. Many people that suffer from S.A.D. use light box therapy to get the positive effects from the Vitamin D it produces. Serotonin would be a great natural supplement to take to assist with the effects of S.A.D. It's more common than most people realize so take it seriously and find the right therapy that works for you. 

This joke had me laughing out loud. Hope it gives you a good chuckle today as well. You'll see that this is just one more reason not to go to a gym and to practice my Visibly Fit program instead.

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

Dear Diary, For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00am. Tough to get our of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess–with blonde hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!

TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back a push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was okay as long a s I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for this early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair "monster". Why in the heck would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other crap too.

THURSDAY: Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to workout with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny broad to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine–which I sank.

FRIDAY: I hate that broad, Belinda, more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darned barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY: Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

SUNDAY: I'm having the church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank God that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little jerk) will choose a gift for me that is fun, like a root canal or a hysterectomy.

I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

I hope you'll resist the temptation to throw your fitness routine and weight management disciplines out the window until after the holidays. When faced with so many holiday food and drink temptations at parties and various holiday gatherings, you may have a "what the heck…I'll go ahead and indulge!' mentality. While giving into temptation and craving is certainly okay occasionally, the number of opportunities you will have to stray from your healthy habits are sure to be much greater than usual in the next several weeks. Over-indulging with frequency will weaken your resolve and your desire to stick with your fitness routine and healthy plan of eating. Bottom line: It's much easier to stick with a fitness and weight management plan than it is to start one all over again January 1st!