You may find yourself putting on weight or struggling to maintain your weight as the winter rolls around. There are many common causes for cold weather weight gain, but a slowed metabolism isn’t one of them. It’s a myth that our bodies start burning fewer calories in the cold. In fact, cold temperatures can actually make us burn more and potentially lose more weight.
Understanding Metabolism
Metabolism is used in common parlance to describe how quickly or slowly an individual gains or loses weight. In reality, your body’s metabolism is a very complex process that regulates energy intake through food, and the breakdown and expending of this energy. According to MayoClinic.com, an easy way to think of your metabolism is by thinking of the total energy your body processes, or “burns” in a day. This can be expressed in a number called our basal metabolic rate, which is the total number of calories your body uses to carry out its vital functions.
Metabolism and Cold
Your body uses energy to regulate your temperature. This process is called thermoregulation and keeps your body close to the ideal temperature of around 98 degrees by sweating to cool us down or shivering to generate heat. In extreme weather conditions, our bodies work hard to keep our temperature regulated and this process requires more energy. According to the Appalachian State University, shivering uses energy in the form of carbohydrates at a rate five to six times the normal amount. Additionally, the winter months can lead to our bodies switching from carbohydrates to fat as a main source of energy.
Winter Weight Gain
Although being cold should make it easier for us to maintain our weights, this is not the case. Many people gain weight in the winter and this can be because it can be hard to exercise outside because of severe weather or shortened daylight hours. Additionally, many people experience seasonal affective disorder, also known as the “winter blues.” According to MayoClinic.com, this can lead to depression, loss of energy, oversleeping and food cravings, particularly for carbohydrates. These symptoms can make it difficult to maintain and lose weight. If you experience these symptoms, contact a health care provider. Treatments include medication and light therapy.
Metabolism Help
According to MayoClinic.com, there are a few significant ways to improve your metabolism and a few things not to worry about. First, you can build muscle. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat tissue, so the more muscle you have, the more calories your body needs to maintain it. Next, you can ensure your body does not burn the lean muscle tissue you have as fuel, as it does when we go on starvation diets, if you eat a balanced diet. Lastly, see a doctor to treat any underlying metabolic syndromes or conditions. Aside from these things, your metabolism is not easily tinkered with and tricks to speed up metabolism works only on a short-term basis and in amounts not significant enough to impact weight. The good news is that a slow metabolism is rarely the cause of weight gain.
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