Can Exercise Regulate Resting Body Temperature After WLS?

[logicwand 269]

One of my concerns after surgery is that I will be cold all the time. I’ve seen people mention it as a side effect. For those you that experienced this, does regular exercise minimize this effect? Would regular exercise help maintain a higher body temperature when at rest?

[Creekimp13 5,840]

Well...during the act of exercise, you'll warm up. But no, it won't make you warmer when you quit.

This is how my doctor explained it:

Your body has noticed you're starting to starve to death. It wants you to survive, and it has all sorts of defense mechanisms to help you survive that it has developed over thousands of evolutionary years of famines, bad hunting seasons, bad weather, bad conditions. It has learned to survive when the calories dwindle.

Heat is a MAJOR expense calorie-wise. So your body goes.....Need to keep your core and brain warm, but your limbs? Meh....we can turn the thermostat down a little and save some energy expense. You won't die from cold limbs. It's uncomfortable, but you'll live.

The only way to warm up....is to eat more calories.....which is counterproductive during the losing phase.

So what can you do?

Invest in sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, and lots of layers. Take a hot water bottle to bed with you. Wear lots of socks. Take showers and baths. Down throws and blankets.

Supposedly, when we hit maintenance, it improves.

[Creekimp13 5,840]

I walk about 7 miles a day and do cardio, circuit training and Water aerobics in a heated pool twice a week. I'm on my elliptical a little each day.

I'm COLD. All the freakin time. Exercise doesn't help...except when I'm doing it.

[GreenTealael 25,494]

I was notoriously cold prior to surgery, now not so much. It varies from person to person

[logicwand 269]

Ahhh, that makes sense! Ok, that’s good to know. My mom is bringing me her heating blanket. Makes me feel old!! Lol And wow, you are exercising like a wild child! That is phenomenal. I pray I have Borge the energy and motivation after surgery to do a routine like yours.

[logicwand 269]

Borge = both. Lol

[Creekimp13 5,840]

I was never an exercise person. I mean...I like active things, but in the past ten years or so as my weight crept up....not so much. I started walking with a Fitbit in June. Super easy goal at first....and just worked up a little at a time. The Water aerobics is an excuse to get into that incredibly hot pool! LOL Love that thing! And I figure, while I'm there, I might as well circuit train a little. Kinda fun to use all the different weights and stuff, and you do a little cardio before the circuit.

Reading that, it sounds like I'm big into exercise...i'm really not. I just picked up the walking habit and like to swim. LOL

[Losebig 508]

It varies by person for sure. After being thin for a while you should adjust, though you won’t have as much ‘padding’ so will get cold easier. For me I was freezing all the time and now that I’m exercising most days I’m not as cold. I still do get cold sometimes, but it isn’t like before when I was recovering and not moving much. I’m not hot all day after exercise like I used to be when heavier, but I’m definitely more comfortable on days I exercise. In fact when feeling cold I often try to do something active and that helps more than turning the heat up.