Keep On Track with Your Goals this Blue Monday!

Many of us have fallen victim to the wrath of winter and already have let our cold weather blues bust our goals for the New Year. The first ever Blue Monday – January 24, 2005 – was established as a marketing idea for a travel company to boost sales during the winter. Psychologist Cliff Arnall produced a formula based on factors such as weather conditions, debt level, time since Christmas, time since giving up on our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action. Some argue that there’s no such thing, but there’s no doubt that this is a tough time of year and - this year’s Blue Monday - January 26 - is a great time to talk about the things that get us down and how to get back on track.

Some of the more difficult goals to work towards while "blue" are fitness related ones. If you are among the millions who started 2015 with a goal to be healthier, Dr. Gary Foster, Chief Scientific Officer at Weight Watchers, has a few tips to help you beat your cold weather blues, so you can achieve your winter goals.

Dr. Foster is a psychologist, obesity investigator and behavior change expert with more than 160 scientific publications and three books on the etiology and treatment of obesity to his name. Dr. Foster's research interests include the prevention, behavioral determinants, treatments, and effects of obesity in adults and children. He was previously the Director of the Center of Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia and served as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In his role as Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Foster oversees Weight Watchers science-based program, all clinical research initiatives, and continued program advances. I had a chance to ask Dr. Foster a few questions about staying on track with my fitness goals...

I wouldn't say I have anything as severe as SAD, but I am DEFINITELY happier and more motivated during the spring and summer, and notice a dip in my mood during the cold weather months. When it's cold and grey outside, I just want to curl up under a blanket, snack, and drink wine - weight loss and fitness goals be damned! Lol! I'm going to listen to the good doctor's advice and hopefully be able to work through my winter blues so that by the time the sun comes back to us, I'll be that much closer to a more fit me! Until next time...