Anyone else feel cold all the time after weight loss?

dave_in_ni

I am really noticing this now as winter approaches. The average day time outside temp here is around 10c / 50f although in our old concrete work building with no heating its could be around 7c / 44f. I am freezing all the time. I stand with a fleece jacket on, jumper, t-shirt and thermal vest and I am still cold while some colleagues are still in t-shirts, and I'll not even talk about the woolly hat and thermal socks. I can't seem to get warm in anything lower than 15c / 59f

I noticed this is the summer also, I used to dread summer as I overheated and went bright red in temps as low 18c / 64f but this year after the weight loss I wasn't even in a t-shirt unless it was over 18c.

Anyone else notice this?

Valrotha

I have but not to the same extent. I just chalked it up to having less insulation.

Alatariel75

Yup, it's perfectly logical. Fat is an insulator. There is a reason that seals, whales, polar bears and all other ice dwelling mammals have thick layers of fat - it keeps them warm. You have literally lost your layer of protective blubber!

PAV8888

In addition to losing fat as an insulator, most people who restrict calories experience a degree of adaptive thermogenesis.

It is an interesting subject as there is no universal agreement as to how large the effect of adaptive thermogenesis is, how to avoid it, how to reverse it, and how long it takes to reverse. If it is even reversable short of regaining plus a bit.

Excluding the controversy, and assuming it exists...

One of the things that happens during adaptive thermogenesis is a reduction in body core temperature.

A body core temperature reduction that in my n=1 case many years ago was much larger when I implemented a large deficit as opposed to the past few years where I implemented a much smaller deficit.

You can seek to offset by increasing things such as your fidgeting (fidgeting generates heat). By moving more (at least 3 minutes/300 steps every hour). And ultimately by eating at maintenance or an extremely small surplus for an extended period of time. (Well, you could also go ahead and regain weight lost plus 10℅; but that would probably be counterproductive!!!!)

SingingSingleTracker

dave_in_ni wrote: »

Anyone else notice this?

Yes! My wife and I are both cold all the time - have been for a couple years now.

amusedmonkey

PAV8888 wrote: »

In addition to losing fat as an insulator, most people who restrict calories experience a degree of adaptive thermogenesis.

It is an interesting subject as there is no universal agreement as to how large the effect of adaptive thermogenesis is, how to avoid it, how to reverse it, and how long it takes to reverse. If it is even reversable short of regaining plus a bit.

Excluding the controversy, and assuming it exists...

One of the things that happens during adaptive thermogenesis is a reduction in body core temperature.

A body core temperature reduction that in my n=1 case many years ago was much larger when I implemented a large deficit as opposed to the past few years where I implemented a much smaller deficit.

You can seek to offset by increasing things such as your fidgeting (fidgeting generates heat). By moving more (at least 3 minutes/300 steps every hour). And ultimately by eating at maintenance or an extremely small surplus for an extended period of time. (Well, you could also go ahead and regain weight lost plus 10℅; but that would probably be counterproductive!!!!)

This is true. OP also lost his extra weight netting under 1500, so it's even more true in his case.

OP, you are new to maintenance. Give it time. It will get a little bit better next winter. Of course the reduced fat will hopefully always be the case, so you will likely always be a little bit cold, but it won't be as extreme as you feel now.

elisa123gal

so would losing slower and a less than severe deficit lessen the effects of adaptive thermogenesis? So many people on here complain about being so cold after reaching their goal weight.

PAV8888

elisa123gal wrote: »

so would losing slower and a less than severe deficit lessen the effects of adaptive thermogenesis? So many people on here complain about being so cold after reaching their goal weight.

The balance of stuff I personally read led me to implement a smaller deficit. And to create the deficit from a mix of more activity/exercise (note that activity does not HAVE to be exercise) and caloric restriction. And to contemplate diet breaks which I had not contemplated before.

However the balance of what I've read seems to point to adaptations where your body becomes more "thrifty" for a very long period of time both at rest and while performing customary exercise.

While I am no longer contemplating doing so, when I was planning out my "path", I was seriously considering overshooting my goal by 10+ lbs so that I could then engage in a 1lb a month bulk for a year in an attempt to reverse adaptation.

My actual reality suggests that doing so would result in more lean mass loss than I can afford. And having to rebuild that lean mass feels like a much more daunting task than putting up with the degree of adaptation I've experienced to date (which to my mind is of the order of 7% of TDEE)* and only leaves me uncomfortably cold if I sit around for an extended period of time without getting up and moving.

*my measurement zero point was well into my weight loss. As such the adaptation value compared to pre-weight loss may be larger. However what is relevant to me is that I can quantify how much of a discrepancy I have from what my fitbit thinks I burn... and the 7% figure gives me the answer I need ;-)

Pawsforme

Unfortunately, no. As a woman of a certain age I've been hot for a long time. Years. That's after a lifetime of being cold all the time. I was the type of person who could be chilly on a 90 degree day. Now I'm hot on a 50 degree day even after a 25 pound weight loss and being diagnosed with hypothyroidism (which typically makes you sensitive to cold). I miss being cold. It's much better than being hot.

RoxieDawn

I was colder before weight loss.. I was notorious for walking around the house in sweat pants and socks all summer long..I think my exercise fixed a lot of that.

vixen84

Yes when i was bigger i never felt the cold bit now im slimmer i do but i dont mind means i can layer up on clothes not feel and look a marshmallow lol zx

dragon_girl26

Yes and no. I still get hot in the summer very quickly...the major reason I'm not a summer fan. However, winter never used to bother me until I lost weight. Now I feel like I have a hard time getting warm some nights! I even wear a jacket or wrap at work in the mornings, and I never used to. Amazing how much that extra layer of fat insulation did for warmth..

trigden1991

Firstly remember you have much less insulation so if it is cold out, this is probably the reason. Secondly, if you dieted very hard or for a prolonged period of time you may need a diet break to undo any hormonal or metabolic down-regulation.

leejoyce31

This happened to me. Last winter was awful. Hopefully, this winter will be better.

Gamliela

No, but I used to. I eat more salt and fat now and that has chased the freezies away. Partly the cold, I think, was due to lower blood pressure that takes place when I lose weight. I make room for more fat in my day and haven't found more salt to be a problem and I'm soon to be 67 years!

biggsterjackster

Yes, lost a lot of weight (fat) extremely fast, bad side effect!

khhregister

Gamliela wrote: »

No, but I used to. I eat more salt and fat now and that has chased the freezies away. Partly the cold, I think, was due to lower blood pressure that takes place when I lose weight. I make room for more fat in my day and haven't found more salt to be a problem and I'm soon to be 67 years!

Oh my goodness, could this be part of my issue? I have low blood pressure and I'm always freezing, especially in my extremities.

Unknown

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dave_in_ni

Have to say I never expected the cold to be this bad, as winter begins to bite the only time I seem to be warm in when I am sat in front of the fire. Even at night in bed with a 15 tog duvet and 2 wooly blankets I am still cold when I wake in the morning.

It hasn't even gotten that cold yet, yesterday was 2c / 35f and even with the heating on at work I had 5 layers of clothing on and I was still cold.

I am the guy that used to head out clubbing in a T-Shirt in 0c temps with frost on the ground as I couldn't be bothered carrying a jacket around all night and I wasn't even that cold then.

rennickm1986

Less fat = colder easier (not wearing a tshirt in the snow like heavier people) and you float less easily. That's the price to not being overweight

Slickchick050

Im so glad im not the only one who feels this way! it makes so much sense - loosing a layer! heres to lots of hoodies, warm blankets and many cuddles we now have other ways to stay warm - will give me an excuse to cuddle more haha

tomteboda

Not really. It's hard to gauge though because my mom has heart failure and insists we keep the house between 75 F - 78 F. She still wears blankets and coats at those temperatures!

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx

I was absolutely freezing all the time after losing 150 lbs. Been maintaining for 2.5 years now though and it's a lot better. This past Winter (I'm in Australia) I only noticed cold hands and nose rather than all over shivering freezing cold like I was the two Winters prior. Still, I'm glad for the warmer weather that is approaching!

daz2270

Definitely feel the cold much worse post weight loss. Really, struggle to stay warm. I've also noticed my nose tends to stream whilst out in any cold weather. I will shortly be switching to maintenance/small surplus and am hoping this makes a difference.

GottaBurnEmAll

Pawsforme wrote: »

Unfortunately, no. As a woman of a certain age I've been hot for a long time. Years. That's after a lifetime of being cold all the time. I was the type of person who could be chilly on a 90 degree day. Now I'm hot on a 50 degree day even after a 25 pound weight loss and being diagnosed with hypothyroidism (which typically makes you sensitive to cold). I miss being cold. It's much better than being hot.

As a fellow woman of a certain age, I had the exact opposite experience. I was always hot all the time when I was younger.

I hit menopause before I lost weight, and after the hot flashes passed, the thermostat broke, and I was cold all the time. I was still obese.

So, in answer to the OP, I was cold long before I started losing weight. I might be colder now, I can't even tell. I just know I'm cold all the time unless I make a conscientious effort to keep moving around.

SingingSingleTracker

dave_in_ni wrote: »

I am really noticing this now as winter approaches. The average day time outside temp here is around 10c / 50f although in our old concrete work building with no heating its could be around 7c / 44f. I am freezing all the time. I stand with a fleece jacket on, jumper, t-shirt and thermal vest and I am still cold while some colleagues are still in t-shirts, and I'll not even talk about the woolly hat and thermal socks. I can't seem to get warm in anything lower than 15c / 59f

I noticed this is the summer also, I used to dread summer as I overheated and went bright red in temps as low 18c / 64f but this year after the weight loss I wasn't even in a t-shirt unless it was over 18c.

Anyone else notice this?

Yup. Enjoy layering up - and your lower weight! Totally worth it...

Gimsteinn

Yes! I'm always freezing.. but I blamed it on winter.. then again I was freezing this summer as well

vingogly

I'm an old geezer; I'm cold all the time and losing 72 lbs hasn't helped. I own several weights of coat and jacket, sweaters, scarves, hats and hat liners, long underwear, face masks for below zero F days, gloves and glove liners, and hand warmers.

I see overweight people running around in short sleeved shirts when I have to bundle up. I'd rather be skinny and healthy and freezing my *kitten* off.

bshedwick

Me! I lost 40 lbs and I have to bundle up a bit more. My body was used to having a little more insulation.

Indygirl_81

Check your iron level too

DanyellMcGinnis

I live in the southern US so it is only just now getting cold this week and last. I definitely feel cold now, but I can't say that's worse than last year (I lost 43 pounds starting January 1). Usually thick socks, sweatpants, and a robe around the house are enough for me. But when I am doing yoga in the basement every morning, I am doing it right next to a space heater. And I look forward to Insanity workout days because those warm me up like nothing else. And I frequently wish we had a water heater with a bigger tank for baths and showers.