Always Cold!

IriaSparcast wrote: »

First, thanks for all replies, both private and public. I did mention in original post that my GP already ran blood work and thyroid tests in June to rule those issues out. Numbers all came back solidly within the median of "normal." (She gave me my actual numbers, not just an all-clear, so that I could do my own homework.)

It's disheartening to hear from folks that after 2-4 yrs it doesn't get better. I was already wearing long sleeves and hoodies, plus fleece tights under my jeans at the end of summer. Guess I'll just hafta double up this winter....

Some here said that gaining muscle helps them, so lifting; might also help you.

I've always been on the more cold-natured side, even when I was at my fattest. Ever since dropping below about 190 (I'm in the 170s now) it's been constant. Winter, summer, spring, or fall, there's a blanket or jacket near at hand.

Yeh, those thyroid tests are bunk. Feed that thyroid with iodoral, the best form of iodine.

I was the human furnace for the majority of my life. I though it was my super power. Turns out I was only well insulated.

5"11' 147lbs (down from 210lbs)

Cold regularly for the first time in my life.

To lighten your mood let me tell you the story of going to a concert for the first time with my girlfriend in July this year.

She is my New GF. We are at a Tragically Hip concert. It is raining. It has been raining all day. We are prepared. Me because I am wearing some fancy Gortex Sports Jacket. Her because she is wearing my old school yellow raincoat, which I insist she wear when she arrives at my as she was literally dressed for a day at the beach.

A bit of rain is no big deal I think to myself. After all, it is the middle of the summer and who doesn't like a bit of rain. Right? Wrong.

Sporty Gortex jacket begins to leak down my neck and back in minutes I start to shiver. She is warm and dry in my jacket. Shivers get much worse. What the heck? I have never been so cold. Hug GF. Ah warm. Mmmmm. New GF not exactly 100% comfy with strong PDA's as we had only really just started dating seriously. She moves asay a bit. I follow hug closer. Repeat. To add a little spice to this some of her longtime friends were there watching me glom onto her just to make her really comfy.

By the end of the show I was so cold I was just waiting for it to end and trying to stay as close to her as I could to suck up as much heat as possible. Later, I explained to her that I was trying to not to drop into hypothermia.

The good news in all that cold?

She must really have believed me a she is still my GF!!!

Happy maintaining. May you dress in Layers.

RoB

don't forget how hot you get when you're fat.. and that's the truth. you chilly bunch are a lucky bunch.

Buy a light 100% wool jacket, zip up hoodie style, and wear that under your winter/autumn jackets. I work outside sometimes and it helps a lot. Places like Eddie Bauer should have them, worth the money!

Get your blood moving a little helps a lot! I can be freezing, then do 20 jumping jacks and some pushups and suddenly I am "normal" for awhile. Look into T-Tapp "Hoe Downs". Good way to pump up your body temp pretty quick (she claims they do more, no clue on that... but not hard, can do anywhere no one is looking and really helps with the cold thing for awhile!)

ANd I second/third/fourth the whole "more muscle helps" thing!

As others have mentioned, muscle keeps you a lot warmer than fat so you may want to start thinking about incorporating some muscle bearing exercises into your daily routine if you can; not only is muscle warmer, but it burns more calories, too.
Something else that helps me is layering up! Long johns have become my best friend, seriously. Not to mention heavy, long, and thick wool socks (I admittedly get them from the Men's section in Walmart). But the biggest lifesaver for me personally is winter coats. I have tried Columbia Omni Heat coats and were moderately impressed, but what really saves me is purchasing coats with Down feathers in them!!! Make sure they're hooded, and long enough to cover some of your hands and extends up to your neck to keep that area nice and warm, too. Preferably look for hoods line with fur (doesn't matter if it's real or faux, that's up to you) since it acts as a further barrier to wind. I love my down jackets, it's almost as if they heat up the longer I wear them! (Note: don't go for those lightweight packable down jackets, they don't do much. Look for something big and thick!)
If price is a factor, eBay is there to help I usually purchase my jackets used, but even new ones on there are a lot less expensive generally. You can also try Ross!

If you want to try a miracle fiber, try Alpaca. It has superior thermal properties even when wet like wool, and as the fiber is hollow, is very light. It's like wearing a warm air blanket. This is the most expensive sock I've ever bought, but oh so light and warm.
http://www.albertarosealpacas.com/Products.asp

I don't know. I just assume I'm going to be cold and needing to pee constantly for the rest of my life.

I'm freezing all the time. My feet are always soaked with a clammy sweat too, which doesn't help. My hands, feet, nose and butt (yes, the booty, so strange) are always frozen. Double up on socks, long sleeve shirts under sweaters, Ugg boots... I have a portable heater at my desk at work, and try to do some jumping jacks, squats, twists, to get the blood moving when I go to the washroom. Lots of tea and coffee too! Room temp water, not cold water. Good luck!

I lost roughly 50 lbs years ago and remember the cold feeling. I know exactly what you mean.... really cold all the time! I have felt cold my whole life but that was different and remember hearing one person who was experiencing the same thing say they wanted to GAIN the weight back so they could feel warm again. I recall thinking that I didn't care how cold I was, the weight loss was worth it. It did get better for me..... when I was pregnant with my third and gained weight again. I sit here right now wishing I was cold (and about 50 lbs lighter )

I was always particularly warm as a child, but I grew up on the heavy side. I lost a bunch of weight (67 pounds; 175 down to 108 at the low end, maintaining around 110-120) in high school and became cold all the time... not just cold, but shivering/shaking/extremely cold. I stayed thin for a whole bunch of years, and my sensitivity to cold temperatures did not improve, unfortunately.

Even after I had kids and my weight skyrocketed to obesity, I never really felt warmer... Then I finally lost all THAT weight and actually ended up lower than my previous, already low weight. (I lost 104 pounds; 202 down to 98 at the low end... Yes, I am significantly underweight. That's another story. I am working on it.) Now I could swear I am just twice as cold!

I agree with others that the one thing that helps is exercise. Even jogging in place for at least 10-20 minutes, if stuck inside on a cold winter day, can get your blood flowing, and it helps. Of course, once you stop and sit down to rest you go back to being cold. I do get warm when I am doing a lot of housework, so there's that...

Of course, where I live, subzero temperatures are the norm at certain times of year. I walk my boys to their bus stop every morning around 7:00, which happens to be the coldest time of day. Layers are my friend, and hot drinks upon returning to the house are even better!

arditarose wrote: »

I don't know. I just assume I'm going to be cold and needing to pee constantly for the rest of my life.

LOL. That pretty much somes up how I feel.

Always cold. As I have gotten older I have started to splurge on decent clothing items a lot more often. I bough a down winter coat a few years ago and now it is huge on me but I won't give it up until I find another in sale. Down vests get worn even In the house. I fell in love with high quality wool items as well. Merino sweaters, socks, scarves, mittens, etc. I bought a few beautiful Icebreaker brand sweaters and tunics this year that I have been living in! I usually wear long johns or at least a pair of tights under my pants all winter and often have to drive wearing my snow gear in the winter. I have low thyroid function and even though my body temp average has risen since I started treatment I still get chilled so easily!! Blankets on the furniture all year round and even in +20C outside I often have a sweater or blanket nearby if I am relaxing outside because if there is too much wind and I am not moving I end up cool.