Weight Loss Support - So, is anyone else cold? *L*

I have always been the type of person who found it warm even when others found it hot. I just don't....seem to get cold.

Until recently, that is. These days, I'm cold all the time. I'm sitting here right now in jeans, wool socks, a hoodie, and I'm still chilly. I mean, WTF?!

Now, I have lost almost 45 pounds since January, but I'm wondering: is this to be expected when you're losing weight? The consensus among the women in my WW group is that most of us have experienced this, so I'm not *too* worried, but I'm still curious. I mean, I went from having to sleep naked most of the time (sorry, TMI!) because I got too overheated, to having to wear flannel pajamas and put flannel sheets and a quilt on my bed because I'm freezing.

I do know that anemia/vitamin B12 deficiency can cause feelings of cold (and I was actually diagnosed with slightly low B12 six months ago) but the thing is, this constant cold only started occurring AFTER I was diagnosed and started taking daily B12 supplements, so I don't think that's the problem.

Could it just be that I've lost almost 50 pounds of "insulation" and this is just going to be a part of my life now? Am I the only one who's always cold, or what? *L*

I don't know if it has anything to do with the weight loss but I am having this problem to! I am freaking cold ALL THE TIME even being fully clothed, its ridiculous! Although it does make working out look good because at least I know that will warm me up for the time being! I chalked it up to the sudden change in climate, we went from having 35 degree weather to a high of like 6 in less then a month, but I would be very interested in learning if it could have anything to do with losing weight :D

I am excited to see what some of the answers are, sorry I couldn't answer your question myself though!

Me too. I've been much colder since losing 40lbs. I think I was accustomed to all that extra insulation! I'm cranking the heat up at night now cause I just can't get warm!

Sorry I wasn't much help either but I think it has to do with not carrying around so much weight? I guess when you think of a whale and the amount of blubber it has to stay warm and we are losing our blubber haha I have no idea that's my only theory I pulled outta my butt!

FREEZING. All the time. Bright side, I'm not overheated and miserable in the summer like I used to be :)... but this cooler weather is KILLING me.

I wonder if it has to do with the lack of insulation or the slower metabolism - older people are cold all the time too. It's known that your slow your metabolism with weight loss (even with doing it slowly and with exercise). Maybe that's part of it?

All I know is that I want to show off my slimming body, but I keep covering it in layers of clothes! As yes, I too am FREEZING!

I am also cold much more of the time than I used to be. There may be some metabolic effect, but I'm going to guess that the effect of losing >100 pounds of blubber is dominant here. :D

I feel the cold since I was born. My ex husband went crazy, and as I was always cold i used to cover up my daugher most probably too much. I've never had anemia, never vitamins deficiency and have been in good health so far. I was always cold when i was thin, I am cold now. If I go for a swim (in summer time) i cant stay in the sea water more than a few minutes. My body temperature is but quite low: abut 35°C (about 95F) and my blood pressure is usually lower than average. who knows, maybe this is a reason!

I am freezing ALL the time!!!!!

Yep. Freezing all the time. I always get cold during winter but this year it's ridiculous. While I'm typing this I'm wearing a winter hat in my 70 degree house.

It's common with weight loss, and it can't just be from losing a layer of insulation, as some people (myself included) get chilly as soon as they've started losing weight. A capsule or two of ginger (excellent circulatory stimulant) every day stopped it dead for me. I'm using the Bio-Health brand, which has 500mg per capsule. The dosage is worth checking, as I've seen some ginger tablets out there with very little actual ginger.

Yes, I'm cold all the time! I used to LOVE the cold weather and I hated the heat. Now I can't stand it. I'm constantly cold and it always seems like I can never get warm no matter what I do.

I have friends who have lost significant amounts of weight and they have the same problem. No more running around without jackets in November for us...

Layering my clothing helps a little, but I'm so used to just going outside with just a sweatshirt or something :joker: Luckily my sweatshirts are big now so I can put them over some layers.

Cold weather requires specialized clothing. Especially when you are on a diet and no longer have that nice warming layer of fat. Polar bears, seals and walrus all have a thick layer of fat to deal with the cold. But I got tired of the walrus look. :(

:snowglo:

Jeans won't keep you very warm. They are cotton and draw the heat away from you. If I wear them outside in cold weather I put long johns under them.
You will need acrylic or wool slacks for winter.

Cotton sweaters won't keep you warm either. Try acrylic, mohair, or wool.
I buy very thin acrylic, cashmere, or merino wool sweaters at the thrift stores to wear under my sweaters now. Layering keeps me the warmest.

I live in a cold climate. When it is below 32 outside I have genuine fox fur hats and beaver hats. The style that covers the ears. Guys can wear fur trapper hats. You can get them off ebay. Most come from Canada. The Canadians know how to dress for cold weather.

If the lining causes your head to perspire, you will have to remove the lining, or you can get infections on the scalp. Wool and mohair knitted hats are fine to wear also and don't cause a problem with moisture buildup on the scalp.

I also have genuine fur slippers to wear at home. They will keep your feet dry and warm. If your feet perspire, you will get skin infections.
You can get alpaca slippers off ebay. I buy shearling wool slippers off ebay also. And some of the outdoor clothing suppliers also sell them.

I also use goosedown and duck down comforters on the bed.
And I sometimes wear my goosedown jacket or down vest if it gets below 35 outside.

And I also wear a ski hat whenever I go out. If I get chilly indoors I put a lightweight one on my head.

:coolsnow:

If you are cold, then you need to put on warmer clothing and dress in layers.

Right now I am dressed in a thin sleeveless sweater, a heavy wool long sleeve cardigan, acrylic jogging pants and wool slippers.
I am warm enough.

In winter I carry a box of cold weather clothing and waterproof boots in my car in case my car breaks down and I have to walk a mile or 2 in sub-zero weather....or I end up in a ditch or the heater goes out.

:flame:

I was so cold the other day, I almost got married.
~ Shelley Winters ~

Uh huh. Cold here, too!

I went from never being cold to being cold all the time. I made maintenance at my work place crank the heat in my office, because I literally couldn't get anything done I was so cold and miserable. Now other people can't stand it in my office, whereas if I run to the bathroom I can't WAIT to get back into my cozy, warm office.

I just read some article online - it was something like 10 weight loss myths busted and one of them was that you don't get cold if you lose weight and there was a whole explanation about brown and white fat (??) - I thought it was complete BS from my experience, but this thread just proves it!!

Yep. Definitely colder these days. I don't know if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that when you are heavier, your blood volume goes up to accommodate the extra body mass, which apparently keeps you warmer. When you lose weight, your blood thins out again and that coupled with the loss of insulation tends to make you get colder faster than before. That would definitely explain things for me.

Hahaha I'm Canadian and I have NO idea how to dress for winter! LOL! Most of us don't unless your going to be outside for a long time which I don't plan on doing! No winter sports for this Cannuk!

Oh man, me too! I was suffering at work today and could barely feel my fingers! I'm pretty sure the heat wasn't on in there but normally it would have been no problem for me. Ever since I started losing weight I went from rarely even wearing jackets outside (I live in Seattle and while it gets cold it rarely gets freezing) to having to at least wear a sweater at all times inside! Its very weird...

Freezing!!! Typed from beneath my electric blanket...

I'll join the freezing cold all the time gang ! I'm sure it's to do with losing weight - makes sense right?

I'm in the electric blanket club. :(

<~~~~ Another chilly less-fat chick here!

I'm OK at home, I still have the heat set at 66 degrees, but I always wear a cardigan or hoodie around the house. But at work, where I was always the hot one, I'm freezing! I used to wear short sleeved or 3/4 sleeved shirts all winter long. Yesterday I had on a long sleeved blouse and was so cold, I put on my Irish wool cardigan that I had worn as my coat! My hands get so cold at the computer, I'm thinking of buying a pair of fingerless arthritis gloves.

I really have no idea how to dress for work anymore. :dizzy::o:dizzy:

So far I haven't noticed a difference but I've still got a pretty good layer of insulation - even with a 60 pound loss. ;)

:lol: "The Canadians know how to dress for cold weather" :lol:

Yes, yes we do (most of us ;) )

I started freezing soon after my weightloss started... For all the years I was XXL I was never cold (outside during winter being the exception). I'm not sure if it's because I've gotten used to it or I've compensated with more clothes (actually right now I have a heater going under my desk), but it's not as bad now. I agree with layering and wool is wonderful if you can wear it. Another trick we do up here is to wear sweats over our jeans if you have to be outside for a while (eg. walking dogs). But long johns are a must also, I have the typical bright red pair and I LOVE them.. couldn't live without them :D

Absolutely Freezing!! I have an anemia problem already (I take iron daily) but as I'm losing my extra layer, I'm having to bundle up more!! My hubby lauhgs at me, cause on our bed alone, I have a sheet, a quilt, and then on top of me I have a fleece blanket, another quilt, and then the comforter...and I should mention...I live in south Georgia!! where its not even that cold quite yet!

Yes, definitely colder than I used to be! And, yes, I did buy an electric blanket, and I wear my coat in the house all the time now. LOL

So am I the only one using ginger to tackle the chilliness, then?

Add me to the FREEZING club. I cannot get warm. It is going to be a LONG winter here.

So am I the only one using ginger to tackle the chilliness, then?

Bah! That's what I forgot to pick up at the store today. I knew there was something I was forgetting.

They're averse to turning on the heat in my classroom apparently, so I'm willing to try anything at this point! It's pretty hard to move around and teach when one is bundled up :(

So am I the only one using ginger to tackle the chilliness, then?

I have a bottle - sometimes I take it for migraines. I suppose it won't hurt to try it!

Sontaikle - my uni put in extra non-fluorescent lighting in one of the seminar rooms for me when I was a student, which meant that I always had my classes in that room. Unfortunately the heating was never turned on, and they were night storage heaters so there was nothing you could do once the class had started. We were all sitting there with our coats and scarves on in the middle of the day come January.

Riddy - what dose and form do you take, and how well do you find it works? I think I've tried ginger in various doses for migraines, but now I think of it, I'm not sure I ever tried a particularly high dose. It's probably safer not to until I have my gall bladder removed, as apparently it can stimulate gall bladder contractions and I don't want another gall stone making a bid for freedom. I've certainly munched on various forms of ginger in the past for migraine-related nausea. Right now the only thing that works for migraines is a combination of co-codamol and a low dose of valium, and while I'm thrilled that something finally works after having migraine for more than half my life (works on muscular pain too, only thing that does for me), it makes me a constipated zombie too.

Going back to the chilliness thing, I'm gearing up for another cold winter in case it gets as bad as it was last year. (My bank account is not at all happy about the prospect of similar heating bills, but at least I live in a naturally well-insulated flat.) I started on 2 capsules of ginger when I first got the dieting chills, then ended up reducing it to 1. Going up to 2 again will probably be a smart move when it gets colder, maybe even more than that. It'll cost a bit more, but if I don't have to raise the heating levels in my flat as much, it'll save money. I'm also going to have to experiment with the fit of my various sweaters and cardigans to see how layering will work now that I'm a couple of sizes smaller.

My dh has lost 50 pounds and i have lost 28 and we both are constantly freezing!! We used to be the exact oppisite so it must be we dont have that nice cushy layer of warm fat insulating us. But yea ill take being cold and skinny anyday of the week.

So am I the only one using ginger to tackle the chilliness, then?

Ginger tea gives me terrible heartburn so I am reluctant to try the supplement! How many mg do you take? I might just try it anyway.

So am I the only one using ginger to tackle the chilliness, then?

You can also use a pinch of chipotle pepper in your cooking. But I have had trouble finding it outside the US, so I bring loads of it back with every trip home. :) If you only use a bit, it doesn't create a "burning" taste like some other peppers -- in fact people who eat it might not know it is in the dish except for a little more depth, and a "smoky" effect -- but does produce warmth. It also goes well with chocolate which of course is another New World ingredient, and they are found together in many recipes for mole (various ingredients ground together as a paste for sauces). A restaurant I sometimes went to in Austin used it in their famous chocolate pecan pie.

A nice curry can have a similar effect, but now that I think about it, they usually have ginger in as well as pepper.

Curries have all sorts of spices, most of which will probably warm you up. I tend to do something like that if I need the help for a particularly cold day, but if I'm cold all the time then I prefer something where I can take a regulated dose every day. It would possibly work for someone who is willing to cook with a lot of spices every single day (although in that case would you not be doing so already?).

Juliana - it's 500mg, but if the tea gives you heartburn and you're sure it's the ginger in the tea doing it (are there other ingredients?) then you should probably just stay off ginger. I also have absolutely no idea how well it works for other people. I mean, there are loads of people on the internet saying that it worked for them, and it's a well-known circulatory stimulant and performs well in research, but for all I know that means it works brilliantly for 1 in 3 people and a bit for another 1 in 3 and not at all for the rest, or something. It's a mild blood thinner, so be careful if need be.

Cayenne and its relatives would also probably work, and you can get various forms of that. I haven't tried it myself, it's meant to be a great herb but my stomach would object strenuously. My guess is that if you have to be cautious about how much you use when cooking, the much larger amount needed for a therapeutic dose will upset your insides, but a herbalist will probably know more about that. It's a pity, I always fancied this circulation blend (http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/circulation.htm).

Anyway, I am now off to munch on some nice black garlic. I have a period with migraine due around now, a sore throat, and a wedding to go to tomorrow!

Riddy - what dose and form do you take, and how well do you find it works? I think I've tried ginger in various doses for migraines, but now I think of it, I'm not sure I ever tried a particularly high dose. It's probably safer not to until I have my gall bladder removed, as apparently it can stimulate gall bladder contractions and I don't want another gall stone making a bid for freedom. I've certainly munched on various forms of ginger in the past for migraine-related nausea. Right now the only thing that works for migraines is a combination of co-codamol and a low dose of valium, and while I'm thrilled that something finally works after having migraine for more than half my life (works on muscular pain too, only thing that does for me), it makes me a constipated zombie too.

Hi Esofia,
I used to take 500mg or 550mg ginger capsules, 2 a day. If I was getting a migraine, I would take a couple more. When I was having the really bad time with migraines (20 migraines in the 28 days of February), the daily dose did not help much until the cycle was broken. After the February from h**l, it seemed to mostly lessen the severity. Even now, I eat crystallized ginger and/or make strong ginger tea when I have a migraine. Yogi Tea is my favorite brand - I don't know if they sell it over there. Pukka Tea 3 Ginger is also really good, and I think that's an English brand.

Years ago I had a chiropractor tell me about ginger - his advice was to take a large pinch of powdered ginger in a bit of water when I got a migraine/C1 vertebra misalignment. :p I decided there had to be a better tasting way.