The Upside of Heat

[pooks]

When I first started taking antidepressants I lost my appetite. I simply didn't think about eating. If I actually sat down in front of a plate of Tex Mex I'd eat every bite -- food still tasted great. But for the most part (especially if I avoided the foods that would trigger my appetite in that way) I didn't think a lot about food and it didn't take much to satisfy me.

I wasn't sure if my improved mood was because of the pills or because of the weight loss.

Alas, it was temporary, and all the weight came back. Sigh.

But over the past couple of weeks I've been experiencing the same thing. Eating very little for breakfast. Sometimes eating a very fattening lunch (fast food). Not very hungry the rest of the day, and eventually eating either a big salad or something else very light. Maybe a boiled egg and fruit.

And I've started losing weight again.

I wasn't sure what to blame it on until I read that they are now blaming AIR CONDITIONING for obesity. Evidently we eat more in the winter when we're cold, and hardier, heavier foods. In the summer, our appetites weaken in the heat and we eat lighter foods.

Or at least we did until air conditioning took away the heat.

I honestly think the heat (and the fact that I'm now out in it cycling) is the culprit. It's why my appetite is gone again.

And all I can say is, Yay! Because as much as I'd love to have some cooler weather so I could finally build up some distance --

I'm enjoying the lack of appetite, thank you very much!

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hey Pooks - you know I actually read an article published by some scientists that alludes to the very thing you are saying. They stated that air conditioning, among other things, helps make people more sedentary and by extension, obese. Since I get cold very very easy, I tend to hate being in air conditioned places, as it invariably seems to be set to under 75 (I keep my house at 78-80)

High temperatures tend to suppress the appetite and instead, have us focus on thirst! From practical experience, mine and apparently yours too, I find that to be very true. Oftentimes, the thought of having a sizeable meal in the summer is rather repugnant, whereas having a liter (or three) of ice water, sounds infinitely better!

[pooks]

I grew up in a very cold house. My dad had no tolerance for heat and worked outside. He wanted the house very cold when he finally got home. We lived in Texas where at that time, electricity was cheap. It was not unusual for me to wear long sleeves in my house in the summer. To complicate things, the window unit was in my bedroom. My parents' room was next door. They would put a fan in the hall outside my door to redirect the cold air to their room at night, and in the meantime, I'd be sleeping under blankets.

All of which means -- I LOVE THE COLD! We are going camping in Colorado next week just so I can sleep outdoors all snuggly under blankets in the 40-50 degree night air. Can't wait!

For me it has been a major adjustment to get accustomed to leaving our air at 80 during the day. We drop it to 76 at night and use a ceiling fan. My husband grew up in a hot house because his dad didn't like to use the electricity to cool it down, so my husband can sleep with it warm. Not I!

So heat really does me in. And now that I'm out in it more (having fun) I'm reaping the benefits of loss of appetite. Hey, I can handle this!

And you're right -- I'm drinking lots of water!

[Cassandra_Cain]

That's hilarious Pooks - mainly because of the striking similarity in upbringing. Our house was absolutely bloody freezing. Any friends that came over would typically comment on my wearing long sleeves and jackets in my own house when it was 90+ outside!

However, what that did is have me become deeply sensitive to cold. I would sit outside and never complain, even to this day;.

Sounds like you've got quite the balancing act with your own house and the temperature. It is one of those things you take for granted until you start sharing your space/home.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We don't have air conditioning. It's supposed to hit 100 today and tomorrow. All summer it's been hot, and we have NOT been cooking. Just the thought of turning on the stove is ludicrous.
Instead, we usually just eat a big cold salad for lunch with a slice or two of fresh bread, and then some fresh fruit (berries, peaches) over non-fat yogurt for dinner.
Between that and the biking out in the heat, we've been losing 2 or 3 pounds a month.

[pooks]

Sounds like you've got quite the balancing act with your own house and the temperature. It is one of those things you take for granted until you start sharing your space/home.

The flip side to that is, I'm such a "guy" I can't stand to snuggle. When I'm ready to sleep, I need roomd to stretch, to roll over, and no matter how deeply asleep I am, if an arm gets thrown over me, my eyes fly open and I wonder, how long do I have to put up with this before I can roll away without hurting his feelings, damn it?" LOL!

Unless!

It's winter (and we turn the heat off at night in the winter, to please me, yay!) or we're camping. (We only camp where it's cold at night. Again, that's the only way I could do it.) Then I'm the snuggliest of bunnies.

So he grudgingly puts up with the cold because that's the only time we get to snuggle all night!