Climate and weight: tropical fat?

zenovka
zenovka Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2019 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everybody.
For the last 3 years I've maintained what I deem my ideal weight (I was never obese but had an emotional eating issue that I have since overcome). A month ago I moved to the Amazon rainforest, which is hot and humid. I love it here BUT I also noticed I started gaining weight as soon as I arrived. I initially thought I was just retaining fluids, but it's been a month now and I keep myself hydrated so I've ruled that out.
Here I am about as active as back home and eat a much healthier diet. No sugar, bread is a treat we allow ourselves only once a week.
It gets weirder: My boyfriend, who is an athlete, and another colleague who arrived at the same time, are experiencing the same issue.
I did some research and found conflicting information. Some sources say that the metabolism accelerates in hot climates as the body tries to maintain its temperature by sweating and increasing heart rate. Others say the opposite, that heat actually slows the metabolism. I'm at a loss as to why we are piling on pounds :-( any clues as to what could be going on??
Thanks heaps <3

Replies

  • bosque1234
    bosque1234 Posts: 60 Member
    What was the elevation of where you lived before?

    I assume in the Amazon it's almost 0, sea level. I ask this because one fall I stayed in New Mexico, (US) at about 6,000 feet for 6 weeks on a ranch. I lost like 10 lbs without trying at all. Totally unintended. I was from FL, about 100 feet elevation. I think back on this and feel the move up to 6000 ft was definitely part of it as nothing else changed. My metabolism must have sped up at the higher, drier and cooler temp. FL is as the Amazon is: muggy, flat, humid, etc.

    So think about elevation and see if it fits?
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,970 Member
    Fat is insulation, it's why a lot of animals fatten up for the winter, it's why walruses can stand arctic temperatures. Nature didn't give humans a way to stay extra hot in tropical climates.

    Weight gain and loss is about calories. Eating healthy is great for health (and bread isn't unhealthy), but it does nothing for weight loss. Healthy food can taste great, and you can eat more calories than you burn from it. To prove a point, a guy lost 60 pounds eating nothing but McDonald's for a year which most people would consider unhealthy, but he ate fewer calories than he burned.
  • tk2222
    tk2222 Posts: 199 Member
    I've lived in temperate and tropical climates and latitudes and gained and lost weight in both regardless. It's probably just a change in what you're eating - less 'standardized' foods, new foods, more difficult to measure and track everything, and I would guess there's some calories sneaking in where you're not expecting them.
  • steph2strong
    steph2strong Posts: 426 Member
    You've stated what you aren't eating, but what are you eating? nuts, seeds, coconut, avocado, banana, root veggies, meat, fish? and how much?