cold weather and calorie consumption

jasonweinberg

historically i believe people eat more in the fall and on into the holiday season both because it follows harvest and people are putting on a little for the winter. i got in a discussion with my nutritionist the other day because i have been on a very low calorie regimen for a while now, have lost over 90 lbs. and am concerned that i will face challenges going into winter without some adjustments. i work and ski at the local ski resort (which by the way was the very first to open in the usa today!) so i burn tons of calories and am out in the cold all day every day. i know from past experience how hungry that makes you, although in the past i most definitely overate and made bad choices as a result. she is very concerned about me back-sliding, and seemed to really discredit the idea that you need more calories when exposed to lots and lots of very cold temperatures. i am about 30 lbs from goal and she does not want me to make adjustments until i get there. i believe realistically that i will be cold and miserable without more calories and will wind up famished and tempted to over-eat at the end of the day. in the end, i know she is my nutritionist and i am me and it is my life to live. i clearly do not want to make any bad choices, and have every intention of still making all the right food choices, but just feel that my upcoming lifestyle for the next six months will require me to consume more calories than i am currently consuming.

what do you think: stay the course and reach goal quickly so i can then increase my calories significantly on a maintenance program, or taper up a little, still reach my goal in a reasonable time and then go on my maintenance regimen? she seems worried i will "go off the wagon" completely and never reach goal. but i really have no fear of that. with all the added exercise i will enjoy over the next six months i've got it in the bag.

kgs0201

i would say if your activity level is increasing, log the exercise and eat the extra calories you have earned. Just make sure to be honest about how many extra calories you are burning and don't eat any more than that. I also think you are more likely to "fall off the wagon" if you are miserable and starving all winter! take it slow if you need to and adjust so that you stay on course!

jasonweinberg

the program i am on is a "hard cap" where thsy expect you to exercise but don't give you any more calories for it.

skinnyack

I think give it a couple weeks trying it the nutritionist way... and then make adjustments if you need too. Also I find that eating warm hearty soups or vegetables like squash tend to be more filling with out really uping your calories. But then again I'm from San Diego so I don't know what real cold is

jasonweinberg

by my perception its not really about feeling full or not. its that calories=heat and when you are exposed to very cold temperature for extended periods of time you lose body heat and your body wants calories to burn to replace them. when you are burning a lot of calories from activity on top of that it is all that much more pronounced. as it is, i know i am going to feel the cold a lot more anyway being down 90 lbs. since last winter. i have spent probably 12 winters at least working out in the cold and many many more skiing and snowboarding in the cold so this is not new territory to me. what is new is trying to do it on a very low calorie intake. of course, the real cold doesn't get here till december though and i could be pretty damn close to goal by then.

trivico1

I's a really tricky question.
I tend to agree with you that the body needs calories to generate heat during fall and winter, I also understand your nutritionist's concern of a possible relapse.
All I think you can do is to try sticking to your programme for a while, keep warm with some extra clothing as mentioned above make warm meals during the day and drink warm drinks, to the extend your programme allows.

However, personally, I do think you are going to be cold during fall and winter because your body does need calories to generate body heat. It's seen all the time in people who undereat or have eating disorders, they are cold all the time because the body is using what little calories it is getting to keep the organs running rather than anything else.

But ultimately when you do get to your goal then you will be eating more calories to maintain your weight and you shouldn't feel cold anymore.
Sorry I couldn't give a better answer

jasonweinberg

no, that was a good answer in that you clearly understand the dilemma. obviously, my nutritonist's primary concern is keeping me on track as far as my weight-loss program. i have to balance that because i am the poor sucker who will be freezing his *kitten* off in the cold. i am also the on who will have to fend off the urge to eat everything in the house after a long day outside in the cold. i'll make my way through it, its still really a question of which path i take: get to goal as quickly as possible or start increasing my calories somewhat as the weather gets colder and maybe taking a little longer to get to goal. the other thing, is a i would assume to some extent that some kind of tapering will be in order at some point anyway, because i doubt you would want to basically double your daily caloric intake on the drop of a dime when you reach goal anyway...

trivico1

''its still really a question of which path i take: get to goal as quickly as possible or start increasing my calories somewhat as the weather gets colder and maybe taking a little longer to get to goal''

Exactly!
It's a tough choice. Getting to goal quickly would be great, you'd never have to eat next to nothing ever again, so could you sacrifice a few months of winter feeling could knowing it would probably never happen again?

Or would you want it take a bit longer to get there?
By the way who's to say that eating a little more over the winter WILL make you gain weight or make you plateau, as you said you're active all day long.

Have you made a decision regarding what you're going to do?
I guess you could always stick to your plan and then have the option to increase your calories a bit if it gets too much.

jasonweinberg

again, i am not at all worried about gaining weight. my current calorie intake is so far below even a maintenance level let alone gaining weight it is not a concern. even not losing weight isn't a concern. its just a question of how quick at this point. i have already upped my intake a little. i'm gonna play it day by day monitoring my appetite, how i feel, and my weight very carefully. i realize my nutritionist likes the simplicity of "sticking with the program" but i don't believe many in the program attack goal as quickly as i did (90 lbs in six months...75% towards goal already) nor have the unique situation of a very physically active outdoors lifestyle in the cold winter temperatures.

we'll see how it goes. if i keep up the same pace i will hit goal by new years. my original goal was to hit goal within one year, whereas that would have me at goal in eight months.

trivico1

I really admire your ability to focus on getting to goal so quickly and on what sounds like a ''no mercy''-programme
A day by day aproach sounds like the optimal of doing it.

Please let me know how you're getting on with everthing, it is extremely fascinating to me that you can be so determined!

jasonweinberg

thanks. when you've come this far its almost like an athlete approaching the finish line. and yes, it is a no mercy program. they are pretty hardcore. but all my medical tests show me to be in great health, my glucose is perfect, i've stopped using my breathing machine for sleep apnea, and i am on one last remaining (mild) medication for my blood pressure.

trivico1

Great news!
It must be absolutely amazing to see such changes.
Sleep apnea is a really serious condition, congrats on getting rid of it.
Experiencing such benefits must give you extra motivation to keep going even if it is a killer plan.

jasonweinberg

i am really dealing ith htis everyday. minus 90 lbs i am SO much more susceptible to the cold. i am also famished when i get home. its all i can do to keep from eating everything in the house. and winter isn't even really here yet. can't wait until i can actually go skiing and really up my calorie burning.

jasonweinberg

getting used to it and levelling off my calorie consumption and getting the scale moving back in the right direction. can't wait to start skiing!

LuckyLeprechaun

get a heart rate monitor so you are accurate (ok more accurate) about your calorie burn. Then, NOURISH your body! Quick doesn't equal best! Misery is unnecessary. As long as you are still maintaining a caloric deficit you'll keep losing.

And invest in some really high quality boots. Your feet freezing is the best way to ruin your day... I lived in Lake Tahoe for 5 years, believe me that the money you invest in some Sorels will be WELL worth it!


IMHO

jasonweinberg

yes, i do need better boots. better gloves, too. can't afford them right now. hopefully soon. tomorrow is my first day off with the ski resort open (we just went to seven days a week) so tomorrow is my first of many many days of sking and riding.

AnnaPixie

Just burning a ton of calories skiing is going to warrant more food. If you dont fuel your body for that activity alone, you're going to feel awful! I dont necessarily beleive with need more cals to keep warm! You know yourself, when you're skiing, you keep pretty warm anyhow.

The principle factor on this site is to eat your activity cals. Or at least half of them. I dont even think you will necessarily lose the weight slower!!

I would eat more! But obviously be cautious you dont OVEReat! :bigsmile:

jasonweinberg

you definitely do burn calories to stay warm. calories+heat. if your body is creating body heat to fight the elements it is using energy. it doesn't come from nowhere. cross country skiing warms you up but downhill skiing because of the speed and wind chills causes you to lose body temperature. there's also the chairlift time where you are basically just sitting in the wind and cold.

jasonweinberg

bringing this thread back to life a little later to discuss my experiences this winter. my weight-loss definitely bumped back up with the colder weather but it is definitely a factor of cold weather and activity.. burning many calories skiing and snowboarding, and yes i am eating more to "feed the furnace". on top of that, though, i changed to a new position where i am in fact out in the cold all day long and it definitely helped me to lose weight more quickly. it does make a difference....