Do you get hungrier when the weather gets cold?

I find myself indulging more and more frequently. For me I think it's tied into not wearing a swim suit every weekend. Nobody is seeing me almost nude all the time so I'm finding it harder to give two fuks about about it. It's also the season at work where people bring in treats and I don't stop eating when I should. It all comes down to my decisions, and I don't think it has anything to do w/ needing to stay warm. I'm plenty warm, even at a healthy weight. My off switch is broken and needs to be fixed badly.

I have foods that I associate with colder weather and I usually start craving them when it cools down--things like baked steak (with gravy and mashed potatoes) I don't make in the summer because it's too hot. In the summer I'm more apt to crave cold watermelon and other fruits, which are much lower in calories per serving. There's definitely a "snuggle up in the house" aspect to it for me.

I was never cold before losing weight either. I started losing in January and felt cold all through the spring until it warmed up. Last winter I weighed 50 pounds less but was eating at maintenance and didn't feel as cold. I think that eating below maintenance has as much (maybe more) to do with feeling cold as losing fat does.

How long have you been working at losing weight? Have you taken any maintenance breaks? By that I mean a week or two off, eating at maintenance but still logging, not a week to go crazy.

I am a big believer in maintenance breaks (aka diet breaks.) They help physiologically and psychologically with weight loss. When I was losing last year I pretty much only hit "oh it's dinner time" type of hunger, not "I'm famished!" hunger on a regular basis. When I got to the point where I was hungry hungry hungry constantly, I'd take a week off. Within a week of eating at maintenance I'd feel great and then I'd just start up with the restricted calories the next week. It did me a world of good. Here are a couple of articles about taking breaks.

Diet breaks
* http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/
* http://strengthunbound.com/when-to-take-a-diet-break/

I am in Indy and lately I have noticed that all I want is comfort food. Like roast and mashed potatoes, creamy chicken and noodles with cornbread or spaghetti and meatballs. Basically anything that cooks for a long time and is creamy, soft in texture and piping hot. In the warmer months, I hardly ever think about these things, but there is something about the fall/winter that makes me want warm comfort food in front of a fireplace.

I guess my challenge is to find ways to get these foods but stay within goal. I have been doing a lot of googling lately.

Yep, I'm with you on this one too. I read something that people put on the most weight from October through December. It is pretty obvious with all of the treats that are around the various holidays. But even with regular meals for me, I want to eat so much more!

It definitely is a struggle. I'm trying hard to keep my goal in mind and not let this time of year get too out of control. Oh, and I am colder too. I'm trying to dress in layers and drink hot drinks that aren't sweetened.

I can relate, and I'm a little farther north than you. I bet the wind coming off lake Michigan can be darned cold. I compensate by replacing salads with soups, warm food for cold, hot drinks, insulating clothing, sweaters, and my electric blanket.

The one thing I can't control the thermostat; either at work or at home. (Hubby is a polar bear in disguise).

I suggest you lower your weekly goal; you are so close, and you don't want to be fighting your body.

I've recently added ground cayenne and maple syrup to my infused waters, that I drink throughout the day. I've also started to eat more soups and drink warm teas! If you're inclined toward a more holistic healing type approach, cayenne flower essence will help warm the blood. You can find flower essences at health food or nutrition stores, they are usually sold with emotional health in mind, but they do have physical effects on the body! Cayenne warms the blood and increases metabolism.

I am also struggling with the feeling of cold recently. This will also be my first winter since losing 40+ pounds! I have a few other factors I'm struggling with, that I think are hindering my weight-loss goals and are adding to my difficulty keeping warm and wanting to eat the comfort foods! Thyroid and menopause mainly! Earlier October I reset my intake goal to what I thought was maintenance and still worked out five days a weeks. But ever since I've been struggling to not gain! I was bouncing between 5 to 8 pounds away from my goal weight! But now at a maintenance intake goal, I keep adding 2 to 3 pounds so now I'm 7 to 10 pounds away from my goal. I'm not saying you shouldn't put your goal at maintenance, especially if it's been a real struggle recently. But just be aware that it might become a struggle if you're still wanting to lose.

I've decided to reset my goal back at my normal deficit! And I'm giving my body a break and being very nice to myself! My body is not used to losing weight during the season that we are programmed to gain! I'm feeling the cold in my bones and in my joints so I'm making sure to keep moving but I'm also getting massage and taking warm baths to ease the muscles and the aches! And I am not a bath type person!!! I don't like soaking in the tub, I am an in and out, shower girl! I'm wearing gloves when I go walking, I have my raincoat and warm longsleeve shirts and sweaters to wear under it! I have my weatherproof hiking boots and winter gear for when the snow gets here! I'm also tanning which makes me feel warm and wonderful! Essentially I'm providing my body with other comforts than food! I figure it's about retraining the programming that our bodies have been used to for years! It might be a struggle this year but we'll get through it!!

Best of luck and keep your spirits up!

there is nothing wrong with slowing your loss for a while to see how you feel. When you get closer to the end you will probably want to do that anyway

I don't crave MORE food but I do crave different foods. I cannot remember the last time I had a lettuce salad. I'm all about spinach, kale, shaved brussel sprouts now. And, I roasted a chicken last night and then turned the carcus into broth. I'm sooo looking forward to that soup

I take lots of hot baths in the winter (with nice bath salts). And, I love to build a fire in the fireplace and read my book. While we sleep with the window open for fresh air, I do pile on extra blankets, that's for sure. And, I knit so I have lots of really cozy sweaters. I can't say I'm colder as I've lost weight (50 year old women are generally going the other way) but I do love getting cozy.

I also crave different and heartier foods (I'm in Chicago too), but have found it's possible to respond to that with foods that aren't actually higher in calories -- like others have said stews, seasonal vegetables, pasta with meat sauce (and I include lots of vegetables), roasted chicken or turkey, etc.

I guess I'm lucky as I was always someone who was cold all the time even when I was at my most overweight. I think that's actually less an issue now, as I tend to move more just naturally. I reserve the right to change my mind in January when stumbling through a foot of new snow when it's zero out and windy on my way to the L. ;-)

vivmom2014 wrote: »

I second the suggestion earlier to eat soups, and lots of them. They are really filling - and obviously warming.

Also hot drinks w/ no calories, coffee & tea = great in cold weather.

Yep. And hot porridges (oatmeal, polenta/grits, cream of wheat, congee)

I get lazier and end up skipping workouts. I eat more because of all the football and TV shows I watch in the fall.

When it's cold, and the daylight hours are shorter.... I could and frequently do eat EVERYTHING & ANYTHING! Coffee / Hot Tea consumption is through the roof, and so are potty breaks at work & interruption to sleep during the night. Add some rain or snow to the mix, and I'm hibernating like a (very mean Grizzly) bear. In my very biased opinion, basically Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only highlights to the months Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.

GIMME Sunshine! Warmth! Fresh Fruit & Veggies! Or, a house on the beach in a tropical climate

Soups are my savior. I also try and cook spicier foods in general to warm me up. I treat myself to homemade hot chocolate made with good quality unsweetened cocoa once a week or so.