Murr Brewster left a comment on my last blog post that got me to thinking. She said she had heard that going wheat-free can affect one's mood, and to pay close attention and let her know, since she's not "giving up my olive bread with slabs of butter for nothing." Her blog is one of my favorites, because I can count on having at least some giggles and maybe even some fall-over-laughing fits when I read it.
The weather certainly has a strong effect on my mood. I notice that walking out to the bus when it's raining hard and the gloomy skies show no signs of lifting, I'm not usually smiling and singing. One thing about this part of the country: when the sun comes out, everybody I see around me sheds their outer clothing and walks around with bare heads. The opposite happens when it's raining: dark faces obscured by hoods and rain gear are the norm. Of course, how could it be otherwise?
Three weeks wheat free now, a head cold and then an unexplained sore throat during that time, and I'm still feeling pretty sunny most of the time. It's impossible to tell what is causing what, because the sun is out right now and I'm feeling great. But our hike this Thursday is not supposed to be so nice. We were blessed with two Thursdays in a row with wonderful weather, surrounded by the days before and after filled with rain and wind. This week's hike is looking like it's going to have a bit of both, with some snowflakes possible as well.
I'll get the first good chance to see if my new expensive raincoat works as advertised. I'll be prepared, and it will also be a test to see if my good mood continues. Of course, mood swings might be much the same as the weather: how can I tell if I'm in a good mood if I don't have down days?
:-)
Good luck with that raincoat. We will be interested to hear about its first true test drive.
ReplyDeleteMood swings I am certainly familiar with, but I think that the good ones do not need a bad one to be recognisable. Those days when you get up, your hair is behaving, all your clothes fit, you don't dribble toothpaste down the outfit of the day, no-one has drunk the last of the milk and the sun is shining can only be good. On the other hand ..
I think we all get mood swings but like everything else, it passes - the bad and the good. I take your point about what causes them though! Sometimes everything can be just right and one still feels down. Why is that? Is it some little niggle eating away at your insides. I doubt it has anything to do with diet.
ReplyDeleteI will be interested in knowing how your mood is when it is raining. I think the weather has a lot to do with moods. Some are affected more than others by it.
ReplyDeleteNow, as far as a diet goes, I think diet also affects mood. I bet if you went on a binge of eating chocolate brownies, drinking coke, grabbing a bunch of French fries, and then topping it all off with ice cream, you would feel lousy. Diet really affects my moods.
Well, because of your blog, I began the wheat-free diet on Nov. 13. Believe it or not, I don't miss the cookies, cakes, and breads. Why is that? I measured my waistline on the 13th and will measure it every Sunday after that. Hope there's progress. As for moods, I have always been the melancholy type. I think I was born that way.
ReplyDeletethanks for keeping us up to date on this...definitely interested...the weather and the seclusion this time of year often affects many...
ReplyDeleteYou are living far enough north that you may well be affected by the short span of daylight at this time of year. On the other hand, you are out and about a lot, which should help your mood. I'll be interested to hear whether the change of diet affects your mood, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm never sure what causes my moods either, but I do know the best way to deal with blue days is to get busy. That and outdoor exercise, which is affected by the weather. I really injoyed the sun today and did finally get out for my 3 mile walk. Now the bad weather comes.
ReplyDeleteThe dark days of winter definitely affect my mood. I'll be interested to hear your take on the diet changes.
ReplyDeleteThese short days of sunlight certainly affect many. November and March are two of the most bleh months of the year, for me. Usually. This November has been pretty mild, sunny and enjoyable so far.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Thursday weather isn't too bad and that your new coat works wonderfully.
I hate these dark dreary days in November..they make me down right cranky..that and the time change..my moods usually change with the weather..I need me some sunshine! :)
ReplyDeleteMy mood swings are one of the main reasons I did the detox, and I'll have to say it made a huge difference. The first few days i felt pretty awful-detoxing from anything can make you feel much worse before you feel better (and could have contributed to your sore throat)-and was really irritable. After that, though, I was surprisingly upbeat. I still had moments of melancholy or whatnot but no periods of extreme bitchiness. I had more patience and took life and all it's little upsets in stride. You know, based on my mood lately I really need to get my eating program back on track...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rain on Thursday!
I could never live where it rains so much of the time because of my tendencies toward being depressed. You are brave to do it. I know how food plays such a large part for me being diabetic so I would imagine that wheat products would be the same. Maybe it is just the carbs and not so much the wheat? Or????
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome photo! It looks like a painting.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW the weather affects my mood. I need light. Winter gloom does bring me down at times.
I hope that raincoat does everything you're counting on it to do.
DJan, I love that photo. It looks like the perfect day. From what I am hearing tomorrow could be the perfect day to try your new raincoat. We are expecting rain tomorrow and snow possibly Thursday night.
ReplyDeleteI would think if a wheat free diet has any effect on ones mood it would be a positive one.
I'm learning so much about diet from your experiences. I had never made a connection between mood and wheat. It makes a lot of sense and I really have to work on giving up wheat and sugar. I doubt that either makes us healthier, so why bother to eat them?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Murr, which I am enjoying also.
Truth. I've had a lot less problems with mood swings since I decided that my mood did not have to be altered by outside influences...not weather, health, money issues, bad service, things breaking down, accidents, somebody else's bad mood...
ReplyDeleteOr by my own dreaded inside influences...worrying about things that may or may not happen (mostly not) should be knocked clean out of my head...beaten back for the negative poison it is.
When I am easily slipping into a bad mood...I know there is usually something else that's really bothering me. And why waste all that time and energy worrying when truly big things will always come up eventually and you will have to deal with them at the time they actually do arrive, anyways. It's like giving those few times control over the rest of your life.
Just two cents from the peanut gallery. ;) I hope your raincoat is superb!! I have already known you to be smiling and enjoying rainy, dark days, lady!! :):)
I think mood swings are just normal with us women I am not sure but to tell you honestly, I am not in good mood right now. And I can't understand why? Yesterday my spirits were high I was all smiles all day and just this afternoon I can't smile and I can't force myself to do so. What did I eat? The same food I ate, well I guess they just come and after a while good mood will be right back...I just hope so.
ReplyDeleteGoing off sweets would definitely put me in a sour mood. You could use some rice flour and splenda brown sugar in my recipe. If only we could harness all the happiness that our pets display. My cats are always purring rain or shine.
ReplyDeleteI discovered when living in Belgium how much the weather can impact your mood. I hadn't lived in countries before where that could happen so it took me quite by surprise!
ReplyDeleteI hope the raincoat works its magic tomorrow! But even more: I hope the forecast is wrong and you won't need it! In any case I look forward to reading about it. :o)
Contrasts, in other words. I think mood swings are normal. I've yet to meet anyone who is hundred percent sunny!
ReplyDeleteI'm behind in my comments. Moods??? I think there's a lot of stuff that alters our moods. It's really hard to put a finger on things. I know that seizure medication certainly gives you a bad trip.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for not thanking you for the compliment this morning on being picked for POTW. I always check POTW and try to look at as many blogs as possible.
Good luck tomorrow on the hike.
Hi Jan, that is one sublime photo!
ReplyDeleteAs far as moodswings go I had a bad downward swing last weekend! And I have been glutenfree for 5 years. Good for you for trying it out! I plan to go on the hike tomorrow .... See you then, Aspen
How can you be in a bad mood with all the walking you do and all the exercise you take?
ReplyDeleteAren't your endorphins doing their job?
I am terribly weather dependent, the coming dark days will more often than not through me into a pit of despond; I should take a leaf out of your book and get moving!
I was thinking the endorphin thing but since I do very little exercising, I can only go by what is happening to me.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling even in mood; personally, I don't want to feel really happy and then unhappy. Some mood change is normal at least I think it is. Right now I am so tired just trying to get enough rest, not just sleep. I do not know how awful things would be if wheat were still in my diet. I think it is good that you are looking for changes and for what stays the same, what you like and not.
I believe not eating wheat or sugar has a very positive effect once the withdrawal is dealt with. Rain should not make you feel down. It is the dampness the stimulates fungus . A strong immune system will not mind that and the mood will stay steady. The throat thing could just be the body getting rid of stuff .
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip. As I type this our first flakes of snow are sailing by outside my window.
Mood swings are usually caused by hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, fatigue, stress and hot flushes are the root causes. It's best to seek advice from the experts regarding this. It's normal to have mood swings, but if it happens more often, then you might need proper medication. How are doing, btw? I hope you're fine. ;)
ReplyDelete