Im Freezing! Why Gastric Bypass Causes Patients to be Cold

Body temperature is the result of your body generating and radiating heat. The body is adept at keeping its temperature within a narrow range even though ambient air conditions vary. A normal body temperature is 98.6°F. It is common during the period of rapid weight loss for bariatric patients to feel cold or chilled, even when their temperature reads normal.

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.

Fat is a highly efficient insulator. Consider animals native to cold climates: for example sea lions and polar bears. They are loaded with insulation and thrive in cold climates. When gastric bypass patients follow the rules: eating protein and exercising, the weight lost can only come from fat or stored energy. In effect you are losing your insulation. Less insulation increases the likelihood that you will feel cold.

The second reason for feeling chilled is that the metabolic cell processes are not working as hard as when you were heavier; it takes fewer calories and less energy to maintain and move a smaller body. Think about using an electric mixer: if you are whipping egg whites for a meringue the mixer will do this task effortlessly. But use the same mixer to knead bread dough and it will become warm to the touch, it is working harder because it is moving more mass. The same thing happens with your body; the more mass it must move, the harder it works. As a result more heat is generated.

The body has two well-tuned mechanisms for regulating body temperature: sweating and shivering. What overweight person hasn't been embarrassed by a sticky bout of sweating at the most inappropriate time? Sweating is a mechanism for cooling your body when it becomes too hot inside. The body rids itself of excess heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin so the heat may be carried to the surface. When this energy or heat in the form of sweat reaches the skin's surface it evaporates and helps cool the body.

Gastric bypass patients become more familiar with the second temperature regulator, shivering, as they lose weight. When you are too cold your blood vessels will contract reducing blood flow to the skin. The body responds by shivering which creates extra muscle activity to help generate more heat. If you allow your body to shiver it will begin to feel warmer. But this is also a good clue that it's time to put on a sweater or turn up the heat. I think most weight loss patients will happily wear a sweater ? a sweater is much easier to shed than that insulation we've worked so hard to lose!

Most weight loss patients report that their body temperature regulates after their weight is stabilized, usually eighteen to twenty-four months after surgery. Keep in mind your body is rapidly losing weight and the rest of your body's functions are caught off guard when this weight loss begins. The body's thermostat needs time to catch up to the weight loss, and it will. Patients who incorporate exercise in their weight loss program experience less chilling than patients who do not exercise.

Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com - Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

---

Weight Loss and Dieting Secret #1 ? IN and OUT

Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More

Weight Loss: Goal-Setting for Success

If you were going to travel to the other side... Read More

Do You Know These Tricks To Help Conquer Food Cravings?

Food cravings are crafty -- they appear from nowhere and... Read More

The Missing Ingredient in Your Diet That is Keeping You Fat and Tired

Whenever I hear someone say they just can't lose weight,... Read More

Negative Calorie Effect in Foods

Negative Calorie Effect in FoodsWhatever food we... Read More

Weigh Loss and your Self Image ? Are You Worthy to Feel Better?

Maybe you losing weight comes down to the simple question,... Read More

Obesity in Old Age May Disable, Not Kill

Many physical problems are related to obese condition, like difficulties... Read More

Four Common Mistakes that Overweight People Make

I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More

Lose Fats - Gain Confidence when You Lose Weight

"How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More

Keen To Be Lean? ? Some Metabolic Musings

Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More

Yes, You Can Lose Weight!

Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More

Overweight - Answering Your Critics

There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More

Weight Loss Is All To Do With Calories

What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More

How to Break a Weight Loss Plateau

Healthy eating has become part of your life, but you're... Read More

Weight Loss Program - Weight Loss? Why Bother With a Diet Plan? Does Weight Loss Matter?

We all know that weight loss is important. We know... Read More

Avoid Commont Fitness Pitfalls

While exercising isn't complicated, it's very easy to make mistakes.... Read More

The Real Challenge Of Weight Loss

Weight loss is never easy. Although this is stating the... Read More

Weight Loss Tips: Get Effective Weight Loss Tips!

Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More

The Best Weight Loss Advice Youll Ever Get

"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I... Read More

Top 10 Points of Encouragement for Weight Loss

On the road to weight loss, fitness, and health,... Read More

Walking, Water, and Weight Watchers: The 3 W?s for Weight Loss

I have been seriously working on losing weight for about... Read More

The Cheapest Way To Stop Eating Junk Food and Start Finding Your Ideal Weight Again

Your health is your responsibility. As a human being, you... Read More

Avoid Weight Gain After WLS: Learn the Difference Between Snacking and Grazing

Gastric bypass patients often find themselves regaining weight soon after... Read More

Even Gastric Bypass Patients Hit Weight Loss Plateaus

Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More

Taking Control of Your Cellulite

Cellulite happens to us for many reasons. Some reasons-- like... Read More

Weight Loss Benefits of Massage

There is no question that having a massage makes you... Read More

Five Reasons NOT To Lose Weight

We are inundated by exhortations to lose weight - from... Read More

Find the Right New Year?s Resolution to Get into Your Best Shape Ever!

Yep, it is that time of year again! Time to... Read More

Gastric Bypass Patients Should Include Tomatoes in Their Diet

After weight loss surgery it is important to include as... Read More

Fighting Obesity - My Pyramid Dietary Guidelines

If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More

How to Lose Belly Fat: Latest Secrets from the Research Labs, Part 1

In this series of articles, you will learn exactly how... Read More

Weight Loss Surgery: What are the options?

To understand how surgical procedures aid the grossly overweight person... Read More

Low Fat versus Low Carb Diets

Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More