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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Own It Show, Justin Roethlingshoefer dismantles the myth that winter causes “cold and flu season.” He shows how a stack of lifestyle dominos—back-to-school schedules, less sunlight, more indoor time, circadian disruption (hello, daylight savings), lower movement, and sugar spikes—prime our immune systems for defeat. Then he lays out an actionable, step-by-step Own It Immune Protocol to stay resilient through the holidays so your household becomes the one everyone asks, “How are you never sick?”

Episode Highlights

• Domino #1: Back to School (Sept/Early Fall)
   Less outdoor time & sunlight → lower vitamin D, more indoor exposure, schedule stress, earlier mornings → circadian disruption + reduced sleep quality.
  
  
  
• Domino #2: Daylight Savings (Late Oct/Early Nov)
   Earlier darkness → mood dips, lower activity, melatonin/cortisol rhythm thrown off → worse sleep, lower HRV, higher inflammation.
  
  
  
• Domino #3: Sugar Season (Halloween → Holidays)
   Candy/party foods → acute immune suppression for 4–6 hours post-load; repeat hits + late nights = rolling vulnerability.
  
  
  
• Self-Fulfilling Slide
   Less light & movement → lower VO₂ and energy → move even less → sleep & recovery worsen → immunity tanks.
  
  
  
• Mindset Shift
   It’s not an unstoppable winter force—it’s a predictable pattern you can interrupt.
  
  
  

The Own It Immune Protocol (Holiday Edition)

(Lifestyle first; supplements support but don’t replace habits. Not medical advice.)

Sunlight & Light Hygiene

• A.M. light (5–10 min) outdoors within an hour of waking to anchor circadian rhythm.
  
  
  
• Midday sun (10–20 min) to support vitamin D synthesis when possible.
  
  
  
• Evening: Dim house lights 2–3 hrs pre-bed; avoid overhead glare; use lamps.
  
  
  

Sleep & Rhythm

• Fixed sleep/wake window (±30 min) even on weekends.
  
  
  
• 3–2–1 wind-down: 3 hrs no heavy food/alcohol; 2 hrs no work; 1 hr no screens (or strict blue-light filters).
  
  
  
• Cool, dark room; nasal breathing; white noise if needed.
  
  
  

Movement & Breath

• Daily zone-2 (20–40 min) walk or easy cardio; add 10–20 min strength circuit 3x/week.
  
  
  
• Pattern-interrupt breath: 4–6 slow nasal breaths before meals & during stress to keep you parasympathetic.
  
  
  

Sugar & Party Strategy

• Protein-first at gatherings (20–30g) + fiber & fluids before dessert.
  
  
  
• One-plate rule; if sweets, pair with protein/fat to blunt spikes.
  
  
  
• Cut off caffeine by 10–11 a.m. to protect sleep.
  
  
  

Foundational Nutrition

• Daily anchors: protein (~0.7–1.0 g/lb goal weight), colorful produce, mineral-rich foods (red meat, seafood, eggs, dairy if tolerated,

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