Hot, Hot, Heat

Anyone else feeling the cold since they have lost weight? 


I was overweight my entire childhood and I grew up in a very hot area of Australia, so I always hated the heat. I would dread the summer because the heat was just overwhelming and I never understood how anyone could enjoy feeling hot. Not to mention that summer means going to the beach, wearing bathers or flimsy little dresses that are not fun for fat people, but mostly it was the heat that bothered me.


Ever since I had the lap band and lost 40 kilos (88 lbs) I have been freezing. All the time. I wore thick tights and leggings all through last summer and even had to run my little fan heater in my office at work and no one could understand why I was so cold when it was sweltering outside. Even during this road trip in the US I had to buy a sleeping bag to keep in the car to keep me warm because AJ (understandably) wanted the air conditioner on and I couldn't take it. I am painfully cold everywhere we go, the movies, restaurants, the car, planes, everything is air conditioned and I am freezing.


A couple of weeks ago I was hanging out with a good friend from Australia who happened to be in LA the same day as me and she noticed that I had changed into jeans and a jacket because I was freezing. This friend had the lap band about 10 years ago (one of the first in Australia) and she lost (and kept off) about 60 kilos and she immediately knew what I was talking about when I mentioned being cold all the time. She mentioned that when she lost her weight with the band she was badly affected by the cold, but that it is only temporary due to changes in your cells.


So I consulted google and found this link that relates to the gastric bypass, but the principal is the same for lap banders or anyone that has lost weight. I know, I never read links either, so the general gist of the article is as follows:


People who experience the massive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold for two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation.


I guess it is obvious, but it is good to know that I am not going crazy and this won't go on forever! In the mean time, I have been soaking up every drop of sun in California. We were meant to leave Palm Springs a couple of days ago, but I couldn't bring myself to leave the 100 degree heat (38 celsius) and go back to cold(er) LA, so we have stayed an extra few days until we head to Cancun on Monday.


*** Edit *** Upon reading this post back, I hope it doesn't sound like I am complaining about a good thing, like one of those people that complains about being too rich, too smart or too attractive... Trust me, I know I would rather have lost weight and be cold, than have the weight back and be warm, so I don't want to sound ungrateful!


Here's some pictures of us enjoying the sun in the desert. God only knows how I am going to handle going back to a Melbourne winter in a couple of weeks!