how am i going to stay warm??

So as someone who is constantly cold as well as being a recovered (yay!) anorexic, I'm still always so dang cold. And it's getting cold where I live and I was wondering if anyone knew of any sort of tights or something non-bulky I could wear under my pants this winter or have any sort of advice? I can't be miserable until April. Sigh.

thanks!

If you're recovered does that mean you've got a good layer of body-fat now? BMI 20+? That's going to help a lot because body-fat is your best insulation. Being active will help as well.... gets the circulation going and that's a good way to stay warm. Hot food and drinks are your best friend... forget salads and cold snacks, start stirring up plenty of hot chocolate, thick creamy porridge, chunky soups and casseroles! Spicy foods help circulation better than bland foods. And then there's always thermal underwear if all else fails. Best of luck

i agree with jane on the food.  and the fat: you're going to need it, especially during winter.  for the extra cold days in january/february: wear tights, 2 pairs of thin socks and a tank top under your clothes; when you get to your destination make dure to take off the tights, 2nd pair of socks (you can keep the tank top on if you want).  when youR'e leaving, put em back on.  if you leave them on, you'll sweat in them and be even colder when you get outside.  if you live in quebec, there's a great winter coat brand: kanuk.  it IS an investment, but mine kept me warm and i have NEVER been warm in winter.  they have a sale around this time of year actually in montreal, on rachel street.  if you can get one, i am telling you, it'S the best thing you could ever buy, if warmth is your primary concern.

Wear good shoes... The comfortable nikes with the air holes in them may help your feet breathe, but since air comes in as well as going out, you'll feel colder.

i agree w GIJANE, recovered, a bmi at least 20??

im actually only just getting there, finally a bmi about 18 altho im going for at least a bmi of 22 and im already feeling less cold!  its great!  id say think about your weight, is it REALLY healthy for YOUR body??

I've heard good things about Cuddl Duds

http://www.cuddlduds.com/

 

Also, wear hats.  A lot of heat can escape through your head.

i agree with the poster who mentioned shoes.  look for thick soles that will insulate you from the ground. (edit: my doc martens rock for this; they have soles like studded tires, plus - supercool!)

polypro long underwear is great; thin and light, but toasty!  and woolly socks of course.

and keeping warm from the inside out is a great strategy.  i've fallen in love with ginger tea, but since you're in recovery, you should probably go for a hot drink that's higher in calories, as they can tend to satisfy, if not actually suppress the appetite. 

and like gi-jane said, keep moving.  you may be in a position where you have to curb exercise compulsion, but even just doing laundry, vacuuming, etc. can make a big difference.  oh - and cook!

I am cold all the time too. Layers, long johns. Might look into Cayenne pepper supplements and eat fresh hot peppers. Not only good for keeping you warm but many other health benefits as well.

Original Post by littleshellys:

Might look into Cayenne pepper supplements and eat fresh hot peppers. Not only good for keeping you warm but many other health benefits as well.

yeah, benefits like appetite suppression and metabolism boost.  the OP is in recovery.

Cuddl duds are great. You can wear them under jeans and they fit fine without getting itchy or riding up into strange regions.

Wool socks. If wool makes you itchy, wear some knee-high stockings underneath. They make some wool socks now that aren't too thick to fit comfortably in shoes.

I don't wear it myself, but Under Armour makes some thin undershirts/underwear that are very warm.

I know last year at Express they sold these long tights (long johns) that worked great in the winter. I'm always cold too, and not under weight (but did lose a significant amount) and you'll always see me clutching onto a warm bottle of water. Depending on your situation, some things may work better than others.

Target should also be selling thermols this time of year. Just look next to the tights and socks. For your hands, get some comfy gloves and dont be afraid to try a few on. As for jackets, I try to get them with the sleeves lined as well as the inside (I noticed a lot of sleeves aren't lined) and layer up!

Oh and blow dry the hair. That freezes me bad.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by littleshellys:

Might look into Cayenne pepper supplements and eat fresh hot peppers. Not only good for keeping you warm but many other health benefits as well.

yeah, benefits like appetite suppression and metabolism boost.  the OP is in recovery.

Although hot peppers have been shown to boost your metabolism that is not necessarily a bad thing for someone recovering. Getting your metabolism regulated and working properly is beneficial for someone who has damaged their metabolism. Studies have been done that show Capsicum, the active ingredient in hot peppers actually increases saliva and stimulates the appetite. I can read and did see the poster is recovering and would never suggest taking anything that would be detrimental. I am completely against any kind of diet supplements. Capsicum is a natural ingredient that shows promising effects for people with and without an eating disorder.

 

Original Post by x17star17x:

I know last year at Express they sold these long tights (long johns) that worked great in the winter. I'm always cold too, and not under weight (but did lose a significant amount) and you'll always see me clutching onto a warm bottle of water. Depending on your situation, some things may work better than others.

Target should also be selling thermols this time of year. Just look next to the tights and socks. For your hands, get some comfy gloves and dont be afraid to try a few on. As for jackets, I try to get them with the sleeves lined as well as the inside (I noticed a lot of sleeves aren't lined) and layer up!

Oh and blow dry the hair. That freezes me bad.

I second these suggestions!  :)  Wearing tights under jeans works really well.  And blow-drying the hair is key, too.

My other suggestion, as far as diet goes, is to make sure you eat something with a little protein in it in the mornings.  When I go skiing, I always find I'm much warmer throughout the day when I eat protein than if I skip it.  My favorite breakfast is the egg mcmuffin: egg, cheese, ham between an english muffin.  Mmm.

I live in Scotland, I'm trying to recover from my EDs but I still have a really low bmi of 12/13. The cold has been unbearable since late august for me, and its hell :/

I attempt to cope by wearing thick tights under my jeans, and extra tshirts and hoodies and a big jacket oh and two pairs of socks. I look like a snowman when I go to school, but thats a good thing I spose cos it lessens the "omggg look how skinny she is! anorexic!" coomments. :/ Sucks.

But defo go for the hot drinks option, just keep making yourself tea or hot chocolate, it warms your hands as well as your insides :)
And body heat is verry helpful ;) Get someone to cuddle you ^^

Always keep your head and feet warm cos loads of bodyheat escapes from there. Well done for recovering! xxx

Tights are good under pants but non-organic super thin long johns are the best. Something man made like polyester will keep you the warmest, cotton breathes too much.

As someone who works outside year round, I've been able to develop a pretty good system for staying warm.  Underarmor is AMAZING, but expensive.  I love my polar fleece riding pants (tights) and wear them under jeans when it gets under 65 or so.  A good coat is imperitive.  I have one from Columbia with a zip in liner that is super warm.  For shoes, Columbia insulated work boots work for me.  Plus toasty toes packets that heat up when you shake them.  Couple pairs of wool socks.  SCARVES are a godsend.  If I plug that hole in the neck of my coat with a scarf, I start to overheat over 30 degrees.  Hats are important, and those little ear bands that are polar fleece and cover up your ears are great.  Good gloves with thinsulate are thin enough to work in, though if it gets super cold I double up with them and good lined work gloves from Carhartt. 

 

Now I'm sure I have much more of an insulating fat layer than you do, but with this gettup, I don't even get cold outside until it's under 15 degrees.  And I tend to be a really cold natured person (hence the double layer of pants at 65 degrees).  Hope this helps!

Thanks for the advice, but I am a normal body weight and have been one of those 'cant stand the cold'people for years. Also, I exercise regularly.

I'm definitely going to look into the clothing ideas. Thats really what I was looking for. I have poor circulation anyway (Reynaud's syndrome) so no matter how large I could be, I think I will always be cold :(

Well as of now I have sweat pants on, my night shirt, a yankees men's t-shirt over it, socks, and my bath robe on as well. lmao.

get those self-heating packs people get for camping. i'm one of those cold people too and this is how i survive.

Original Post by particle_woman:

I've heard good things about Cuddl Duds

http://www.cuddlduds.com/

 

Also, wear hats.  A lot of heat can escape through your head.

Wow, thanks so much for this link! I have a mild skin allergy to spandex, and finding leggings and such without it can be such a pain! I'll definitely be getting some of these!

Also, good post. I'm recovering, and pretty much my motivation this time around has been how freaking cold I am.

Layers, layers, layers. I think I'm also going to start carrying a blanket around with me for when I go to dr's appointments and such. Hats, scarves, and gloves, along with layers, preformance fleece, and multiple jackets.

When I was little, my mom would hard boil eggs and give them to us, still hot, to hold in our pockets on our way to school. Then, we could eat them for lunch. I still think that's pretty cute, and cheaper and better for recovery than hand warmers.

They're hidious, i know, but ugg boots are the best for cold feet.

Original Post by toridl:

I have poor circulation anyway (Reynaud's syndrome) so no matter how large I could be, I think I will always be cold :(

I have Reynaud's too, and I'm cold all the time even though I'm obese.  I had to make fingerless gloves to wear at work in the winter so my hands wouldn't freeze up and go all white and blue.  If you knit, crochet, or sew you can make your own, or get a cheap pair of thin stretchy gloves and cut the fingers off.  People didn't give me any crap about wearing gloves all the time after I would touch them with my corpse fingers.

 

I've also done wool socks on top of tights to help my feet.  Part of the reason I learned to knit socks was so I could make my own toasty socks.  If you have an office job and your workplace allows it, get a tiny space heater for under your desk.

 

I also have one of those instant heat packs - you snap a thing inside the pack and it heats up and stays hot for an hour or so.  Mine is reusable, so I just have to boil it in water to "reset" it and can use it again.  This is what they look like, but I think the one I have is a different brand.