Fact Or Myth?

I heard that you lose more weight during the cold winter months because your body burns more calories to keep warm. (and I mean cold cold wheather, not just mild)

Is this true? if so, does it really make a significant change in your metabolism?

I wish, i live in norway and im STILL fat.

Maybe if you're shivering all the time. That uses more energy.

I always gain weight in winter (a cycle I'm trying to break) because I am much less active and I tend to eat as much if not more then I do in the warmer months.

http://caloriecount.about.com/burn-more-calor ies-cold-ft19616

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_you_burn_more_ca lories_being_cold_than_warm

http://www.fitsugar.com/3151164

You do burn more calories but not enough to be of signifigant difference, unless you are cold enough to be shivering for an extended period of time.

I guess there are some advantages to living in ND

Edited for clarification

to healthisinplease, LOL !!! 

I agree with all the above ! Don't burn enough in addition to make a significant difference, YES! I EAT more because I COOK more, AND  I'm less active...!! I say we should all move to Florida.

Not sure, probably true somewhat as your body does need to keep itself warm, but it's not enough to entitle yourself to a huge a** sundae after you've eaten all your meals and snacks. :P

I tend to notice I am hungrier during the colder months and more depressed (which results in me sitting on my arse more or laying down from oddly being tired.) as I love the sun and having it warmly (not blistering hot..ha ha.) have it cast upon me.

I'm not much of a fall or winter person..pretty scenery, but I much perfer the warmer months. I'm missing it already. *sigh.

P.s. I second moving to FL! Or AZ, or CA. Lmao...Anywhere warm!

Gosh, I tend to put on more weight in the winter because I'm less active and I want to eat warm, dense foods that are really satisfying when coming in from the cold. Like gulash! Mmm... Y'know if you made it with Morningstar crumbles it might not be so bad... getting off topic.

This'll be my first winter on CC so we'll see how it goes.

Original Post by silentdeadlyrose:

Not sure, probably true somewhat as your body does need to keep itself warm, but it's not enough to entitle yourself to a huge a** sundae after you've eaten all your meals and snacks. :P

haha :)

I have heard that your body works harder to produce body  heat, but I don't think that is enough to lose weight.

I feel it is easier to lose weight in the winter bc I like to eat warm/hot meals and beverages during this season. For me personally, I do get full faster and longer with a warm dish or drink and that helps me eat less.

I don't think that is related to your topic, but just thought I'd throw it out there. Before joining cc, I generally gained during the winter months.

yeah, i wish it was easier to loose weight in the cold too..... i tend to gain because i eat heavier comfort food. macaroni and cheese, hearty stews and so on. this year i'm going to try making a lot of vegetable soup and eating that instead.

Your body burns more calories when it is cold. "It" meaning your body, not the weather outside. So if it is cold winter weather outside, but you personally are warm, extra calories aren't being burned to keep your body temperature up. On the other hand, if you feel cold and are shivering, extra calories are being burned to keep your body warm enough to stay alive.

If in winter, you:

• spend most of your time indoors in artificially heated environments
• do less exercise
• dress warmly when you are outdoors, so your body doesn't need to burn many extra calories to keep warm
• eat more (like tasty comfort foods to make you feel cozy and warm)

then you won't lose weight from the winter effect.

In fact, your natural day-to-day variations in calorie deficit are probably going to be greater than any cold-weather calorie-burn effect unless you spend a significant time each day outdoors shivering in inadequate clothing, risking frostbite and hypothermia. And who wants to do that? I'd almost rather exercise.

HEALTHISINPLEASE!!

LOL LOL LOL!

Would your body work harder in EXTREME cold temperatures, say -60 F?

Mephyle, i just loved ur comments and i agree with u, during cold weather we tend to eat a lot, mostly comfort food, last year i gained nearly 20lb courtesy eating comfort food and no exercise, well this year it  is going to be different.I live in Canada ,its freezer on earth.

hahaha =D

Yeah, it's not enough to make a huge difference. 

Unless winter for you means going out and shoveling snow for a few hours a day. ^_^ That could definitely help your weight-loss efforts. I know I am going to go totally against the grain here, but I find it easier to stick to my diet in the colder weather. I'm more motivated to go to the gym because it's less hot and stuffy than during the summer, and I can practically live off of soup and tea. (: 

I burn more calories in the winter but I burn them in my furnace and they come from fossil fuels.