Does cold increase appetite?

(JOE FABEETS) #1

I’ve been ketoing since mid August and lost over 50 lbs. I have never really been hungry this entire time. However lately my hunger has began to increase. I am not carb crazed hungry but I am eating over 2000 calories now when 1500 had been enough the last 4 months. One cause may be that I am approaching my goal weight and just need to eat more but I also work outside and it has been about 10 or 20 degrees (farenheit richard) every day so I thought that might be a reason that my hunger had increased. Anyone know if cold increases appetite? I assume it takes more energy to keep you warm.

#2

I would say…If you’re getting hunger signals then continue to eat keto, even if it is more than normal. If you put on more than 5 lbs, then you may want to adjust. It may mean that your body wants to use more energy due to the cold. Or it may mean your body needs to do some repairs and needs extra energy that it doesn’t want to use from fat. Or there might be a sneaky source of protein (like pork rinds) in the diet that is giving you an increased insulin response. Could be a TON of things O.o

(JOE FABEETS) #3

Nothing new on the diet front so I don’t think it’s that. I’ve been platued at my current weight for around a week. I just started increasing calories I was do for a feast anyway.

(VLC.MD) #4

Cold is likely a stimulant of cortisol and appetite.
It may work on your interpretation of cold. If you feel the cold is stressful it probably is.

(JOE FABEETS) #5

I really like the cold. I generally where shorts until it’s about 10 degrees outside. I thought since I was carrying less insulation this year I might get colder but my cold tolerance has remained pretty steady to what it was last year.

(Mel Soule) #6

Joe, you are a better man than me. Shorts go back in my dresser drawer at 45 degree days. LOL

Anyway I wanted to share with you a similar experience that I am currently feeling. Hungrier than usual these past 3 - 4 weeks.

My theory is the shortening day length as we approach the winter solstice Dec 20-21. In my reading of circadian rhythms and seasonal rhythms there may be a seasonal driver at work here. I live in Maryland now but grew up and worked in Boston. 450 miles north of here with shorter day/night cycles. Remember hating this time of year experiencing what now goes by the name “seasonal affective disorder”. A mild depression that sets in as daylength dwindles. Once that corner is turned next week I start to rebound big time and always have.

So my thought is that the recent hunger is associated with the time of year and less with my new lifestyle. The 85 lbs lost since 2/2017 have produced a huge energy reserve and I’m not really cold sensitive. Actually I do pool walking and aerobics 4 days/wk one hour each time to get some mild hypothermia as I believe it is therapeutic and I enjoy it.

I am joining the December Zornfast on Weds the 20th for a 3 day fast which will end on Sat. So for the first time in my life I’ll be turning the day length corner in the fasted state and headed into the ever increasing day length future.

(Jennifer) #7

Bingo - I feel like I am prepping for hibernation. But I feel this way every fall and usually put on 10 pounds or so during winter. I’m eating more and even struggling to fast when fasting was really easy during the summer.

So far my weight is stable, this keto way of eating is awesome.

(Mel Soule) #8

Me too. Weird how it works that way, but I’m betting on the post holiday time to be back to business as usual. Good luck to you.

(Liz ) #9

My appetite increased after getting 2/3 of the way to goal & I stalled a bit. I think it’s due to newly efficient fat cells holding on to their fat. Less available energy from body fat means I need to make up the energy deficit by eating lots of bacon :smile: I have to fast more these days to get my insulin down low enough to allow my fat cells to release the energy. Keto for me is definitely a journey & it changes month to month as my body heals & changes.

(JOE FABEETS) #10

Thanks for the info that all makes a lot of sense. I already did my fast this month and I’m not feeling another quote yet but I am excited to join up for a Zorn fast in the future.

(Jenn Monaghan) #11

Humans release more insulin naturally in the winter months so it is harder to lose weight. http://www.clinsci.org/content/41/5/453

(JOE FABEETS) #12

This looks awesome. Only read the 4pts so far will read the PDF later. Thank you.

(ianrobo) #13

of course as the temp dips insulin creates more to store the fat as cold means hardships to come, what triggers the insulin would be fascinating.

What I have noticed on my rides in the cold (like today at average 1C is that my HR has gone up as I work harder to keep warm at the same power levels.

(JOE FABEETS) #14

As a former avid exercisor I do know there are benifits to working out in the cold. I have seen papers showing that you do more work for the same exercise in the cold so when summer roles around you will be able to greatly increase your personal records. So dots are connecting here. Great!

(VLC.MD) #15

ive heard that as well … sounds short sighted.
get sick once with the exercise in the cold plan and there goes all the “benefits”.

(ianrobo) #16

not quite mate, you do not get ill riding in the cold if you protect your chest and layer up fine. What it does for sure is too make you mentally much tougher so the sun makes for salad days.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #17

That’s probably part of it, since as your fat store is metabolized, you will need to get more and more of your energy from what you eat. There is, however, a seasonal effect at work, as well. I suspect that as the days begin to lengthen, your appetite may fall somewhat.

This is my first keto winter, and the experience is fascinating. I am noticing a stronger appetite the last week or so, but I am not putting on weight, the way I normally do in December.