Question for those who have lost a lot - Always cold?

So, i've lost a lot of weight. Im always, always cold. I also live in Buffalo so its cold here but even inside the house im freezing. The thermostat is set to 71 and everyday my fingers, toes and nose are like ice cubes. All while my 3 yr old wants to run around naked all day lol. So, my question is, does this regulate itself out with time?
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Replies

  • This is why when you're skinny, it's mandatory to move to the beach. :tongue:
  • I'm down 200.4 and yes, I'm always cold or always overheated. I don't have a comfy anymore. My family makes jokes that I don't have any meat on my bones so I stay cold. I'm a lot healthier and better off at 146 than 346.4!
  • sweetpea129
    sweetpea129 Posts: 755 Member
    This is why when you're skinny, it's mandatory to move to the beach. :tongue:

    LMAO! I should tell my husband this law!!
  • UrsuPorno
    UrsuPorno Posts: 11
    I've been experiencing the same thing lately. Always cold ! Hopefully it will get better
  • ninjakowski
    ninjakowski Posts: 158
    Are you still cutting calories now you've lost the weight?

    I find I get really cold if I haven't been eating enough (or getting enough sleep). I've never lost a lot of weight, so not sure if its helpful to you, but I'm fairly thin and being tired and hungry (not neccesarily feeling hungry, just not eating enough throughout the day) is guaranteed to have me shivering my butt off.

    Just a thought, someone might have a better idea :)
  • j4nash
    j4nash Posts: 1,719 Member
    i have been and love it.
  • MsDover
    MsDover Posts: 395 Member
    Strange that you mention this... Since I hit my goal weight I just can't seem to get warm and my husband and I fight over the thermostat all the time. Not sure if it's because I lost weight or if it's a menopause thing. Either way, I like the idea that now it's time to move to the beach, but we already live within shouting distance of the ocean. Problem is, right now there's about 6 inches of snow right down to the high tide line!
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Hats and wool socks help. I dress in layers, and frequently wear long underwear. I also really love my snuggie.
  • LifeWithPie
    LifeWithPie Posts: 552 Member
    Yes! I've lost 25 lbs total and I'm freezing! My workplace is set at 72 and I'm always cold. Everyone thinks I'm nuts.
    A home I sit by a space heater even though the house temp is a constant 70.
  • Delicate
    Delicate Posts: 625 Member
    Yes

    mainly cause I have less fat for insulation!

    thankfully noone notices tights under dresses (even maxi dresses) that much so they dont question it lol
  • heidihorton
    heidihorton Posts: 110 Member
    Yup, always cold too! I live in Michigan sooooooo. Cold anyway but even at 72 degrees in the house I'm covered with a blanket. I'll take it over the fat though:bigsmile:
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
    Ive lost 184 pounds and yes I am always freezing lol...and I dont live in a place where it gets really cold.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    For me, yes, i just dress in layers every day.
  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,264 Member
    Similar here, but not always cold, do get cold fingers & nose sometimes

    I put it down to loss of blubber layer
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I do get cold more often and stay cold longer (same as you - cold hands, feet and iceberg nose!).

    It is MUCH WORSE after a workout. Right now my hands are so cold I need to go make hot tea!
  • I was always cold (until I gained weight). Now that I'm losing I find I'm cold again.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    I'm cold all the time. On cold days I miss the thermal benefits of being a Walrus, fortunately summer is right around the corner.
  • jsiricos
    jsiricos Posts: 340 Member
    It was the first thing I noticed..
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Yep always cold, even during the past summer here. I live right by the beach as well so the 2nd poster can :mad: I'm ALWAYS cold. I actually miss my fat in that way.
  • cordianet
    cordianet Posts: 534 Member
    There are actually 3 things going on here I believe. One, you've lost some of your "insulation", so it's harder for your body to stay warm. Two, because you're eating less, there is less thermic effect from the food you eat. Simply put, calories are a measurement of heat and because you're eating less, you are going to feel burn less calories, hence you feel colder as a result. Three, your body often down-regulates your metabolism when eating at lower calorie rates.

    Put another way, we like to think our bodies burn a set rate of calories aside from the effects of exercise, but that's not true. There's the thermic effect of food , and also the fact that your body can adjust your "thermostat" up or down as a result of various things, one of which is your overall caloric intake.
  • Fishshtick
    Fishshtick Posts: 120 Member
    Cold extremities (fingers, feet, nose), as well as outright chills, are common side-effects of recent weight loss for two reasons 1) loss of insulation or 2) a drop in basal metabolic rate.

    The first of these can be annoying, but is not such a bad thing with respect to weight loss goals. Mammals have a 'lower critical external temperature' at which point the body increases basal metabolic rate to keep core temperature in a survivable range. That external temperature depends on insulation. For example, Arctic foxes don't need to start ramping up their metabolic rate until -40F air temp, because of their great fur. Surprisingly, human's start ramping up metabolism around +75F external temp. This cost of keeping up body temperature can be a huge part of basal metabolism and caloric balance. As you lose insulation (fat) your body temp drops more easily and your metabolism ramps up more often to maintain core temp. If you are attempting to lose more weight this is actually a good thing for burning more calories. For those who live in cold regions, you probably have experienced this energetic cost of maintaining body temp as the extra tired feeling that comes after a bit of work or play outdoors in the winter. If you are a bit cold from time to time after losing considerable weight, but your calories are not severely reduced, you probably have little to worry about.

    The second reason for feeling cold, and in this case very cold, is not such a good thing. It is a symptom of a slowing of metabolic rate due to severe calorie limitation. If you are experiencing not just the occasional cold hands but fairly severe chills and shivering at otherwise normal room temperatures, and you are not sick with a virus or infection, then you are potentially suffering from some severe metabolic depression. In this situation, your body is struggling to have enough calories to even maintain your core body temperature and is taking extreme measures, like shivering of muscles, to make up the difference. If you find that you are not just a bit cold at times, but are experiencing real chills and shivering, you should probably up your calorie intake.
  • sweetpea129
    sweetpea129 Posts: 755 Member
    Thanks everyone! Yes still cutting cals. So maybe once in maintaining it will get better. Makes sense! And hopefully this means summer won't be unbearably as hot now ;)
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    I live in Phoenix AZ. The middle of the freaking desert where anything under 100 is considered winter and yes I am always cold.
  • skinnydreams19
    skinnydreams19 Posts: 282 Member
    Are you sure you haven't lost too much?
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    I'm usually cold now. I used to always be hot so it's definitely taking some time to get used to it.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    Yes - I'm cold most of the time.


    It can take time for your body to re-learn to thermal-regulate when you've got less 'insulation'
  • Ashwee87
    Ashwee87 Posts: 695 Member
    Are you getting enough iron in your diet?
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I haven't lost that much, but I'm the opposite. I used to be a total wimp about the cold, but now that I'm eating more and exercising a LOT more, it doesn't bother me like it used to. I went running in shorts and a tee the other day because it was a "warm" 47F. I didn't get my heavy winter coat out of the closet until temps got below 10F.
  • murdie
    murdie Posts: 85 Member
    Same problem for me! I'm glad I'm not alone! I live in the Buffalo area also! I've been adding t-shirts,or turtle necks under everything this winter, they help. I used to wear short sleeves all winter before I lost weight. I will gladly live with a turtleneck!
  • funhouse77
    funhouse77 Posts: 179 Member
    Yep. I never used to feel the cold. Now I can never really get warm. My family are always complaining I have the heat up too high.