TDEE and Summer vs. Winter

michellekicks

Hey all... just thought I'd post this here. I had a thought the other day and suddenly wondered how different my NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) might be from summer to winter. It's winter here in Canada and I realized I'm not moving around as much as I do in the summer - no gardening, I drive more often, I don't play at the beach with my kids or go to the park... so what is the difference?

Today I discovered that difference is about 300 calories/day as I'm testing with my Body Media Fit.

So if you're having trouble losing with a caloric intake at which you used to have no trouble, it could be a seasonal shift in your own non-exercise activity that is causing you to stall. I think I need to be more deliberate about moving and also have reduced my food intake accordingly.

Just a thought for others to ponder...

Jewlz280

You know, I was wondering about this the other day since with it being so cold, I didn't even want to get out and go to the store! I just hate cold weather and I'm no where near as far north as you. But still, I do wonder since there will be no park visits, less gardening and yard work, and just overall not wanting to deal with getting out. But I do also wonder if when we are out that we somehow equal out because our bodies have to work to stay warm. We'll probably never really know....

heybales

Studies have been done on how many calories extra you burn being cold.

You would have to get to the point of shivering uncontrollably with your whole body, so right next to hypothermia, to burn the same calories as something aerobic at 50% VO2max, not a hard effort at all.

And to keep it up for an hour, yikes. So obviously there's a scale there, but really considering how much of your time is spent cold.

The 5-10 min from house to car waiting for it to warm up aren't that great wearing a coat then.

And actually, as many notice when they starting eating at a more reasonable deficit they stay warmer easier, if you aren't eating enough the body just won't raise metabolism to produce more heat - you'll just put on more clothes. If you force it to be cold in that state of not enough, it'll probably just adapt something else and you'll really not gain anything.

Body is incredible.

bunkahes

I havenot been able to move very fast since cold winter landed in maine. With no snow. It feels 10x worst then if we had snow.
so I never thought I had to - calories if I am not exercising much because winter flew in.

kdeaux1959

Good Point. I know my job is seasonal with regard to activity level... I account for it somewhat; that is why I always count my activity level as sedentary and record unusual shifts from there.

cmriverside

Sounds about right...then add in the natural cocooning on the couch under the blanket and the seemingly insatiable food cravings in the winter and I get that five pounds gain every year around this time.

Oh. Then there are all the goodies.

Is it summer yet?

Cindyinpg

Unless you get a crapload of snow almost everyday and have a broken snowblower like me. :drinker: Shoveling snow will raise your TDEE in no time. :bigsmile: