When it is cold..

Florawanda

Do you burn more calories when the weather is cold... we live in a draughty Victorian house, and in this cold spell we are having, the room temperature does not get higher than 17 - 18 C... which is bearable, but the recommended is 21 C (about 70 F). Even putting on extra clothes, my hands and feet and face get really chill, and I crave sweet things.
So should I stoke my body with extra fuel??? Or better still, maybe do an exercise DVD to warm up!!!

SamNicoll

I'm no expert but I did a search on this subject and the results were all pretty consistent in the conclusion that cold weather doesn’t increase caloric expenditure in any significant way unless the body starts to shiver or has to work much harder to maintain your body temperature.

For an example see:

http://www.acefitness.org/acefit/expert-insight-article/3/1061/do-i-burn-more-calories-when-it-is-hot/

You could try wearing a hat or headscarf to help keep you warmer and it looks like the exercise DVD will be far more efficient and much healthier than eating more!

Florawanda

Thanks, Sam, for doing the seach... here is the relevant bit of the article. The first bit is not so relevant as I was talking about normal activity, not exercising in cold weather!!

"Cold weather doesn’t increase caloric expenditure unless, however, the body starts to shiver. When a person is shivering, the body needs to work harder to maintain thermoregulation (body temperature). According to Nancy Clark, M.S., R.D., shivering can burn about 400 calories per hour and it depletes glycogen stores and leaves you feeling fatigued (3). In this situation the energy expenditure in cold weather is greater than in warm weather, but the actual amount of additional calories burned due to shivering depends on the temperature, how long the person was exposed, and the type of clothing.

Other factors can cause weight gain during winter months. Inclement weather and less daylight can decrease activity. Winter blues, also known as seasonal affective disorder, is related to low levels of serotonin production (the feel-good hormone in the brain). It has been shown that eating carbohydrates increases the amount of serotonin in the brain, which may also be why we reach for a cookie after a tough day (4). Also, many people find it hard to resist the many high-calorie treats that are available in abundance during the holidays."

Right now, my hands get really cold when working on the laptop or on papers, so I have to rub them to get the circulation going, and not sure if I am shivering, but my body temp feels as though it is way down. Temp in the room is 18 C... so yes, hot soup, and then maybe some exercise to keep moving and stay warm!!! I may need to get out my shawl, and I have occasionally worn a hat indoors, but haven't resorted to that yet!! If I have the laptop on, it generates a bit of heat, so warm my hands on that!!!

Brrrr, roll on the spring!

Skinny_minny_mo

cold weather makes me want to indulge in all sorts of yummy sweet goodness!

kobiemom

Me, too, Skinny_minny! And also curl up in a ball with a blankie! I'm beginning to understand why I gain weight every Winter!

Firefox7275

Doesn't sound particularly healthy for you to feel this cold. Be sure to be physically active on a daily basis at least your 10,000 steps, eat healthy hot foods like milky porridge or soup, work on the draughts with products from a DIY store, there are some very effective 'cling film' type secondary glazing products for example.

Consider an electric under or over blanket (costs as much to run as a lightbulb, next to nothing), be sure to keep damp away as this makes you feel colder, use a dehumidifier if necessary they can actually pay for themselves by reducing the amount of heating required. And wear a hat if it helps!

Florawanda

Thanks, Firefox... we need to install some more double glazing.... and yes, I do need to take more exercise. Problem is I have a heap of paperwork to do, and rather hoped all the rubbing of hands to keep warm, etc would mean I could indulge myself with extra biscuits. Aah well, more discipline it is. But agree, I think that is why I put on weight each winter!! When it is safe enough to drive and walk the pavements, I can go out and get the exercise in the gym!!