When I was in my 20s I lived a bit North of Chicago, I handled temp swings of 120 degrees just fine back then. Now that I'm a bit "longer in the tooth" the cold isn't something I look forward to. I do like a couple of decent snow events a year...but if it can be 28 when it happens vs -18 then that is ideal.
Acclimating to colder weather?
- Thread starter dogememe
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There is a well defined physiological acclimation to heat. Troops need to be sent to a hot zone at least a week before they're needed.
There is no comparable physiological acclimation to cold. You might "get used to it" but that's not the same thing as a physiological acclimation. If you check with people who live in a cold climate you'll find they wear warm clothes and keep their houses fairly warm (actually warmer than many people in milder areas).
. Lots of tobacco helps too lol.While I don't put on 30 pounds, I do usually put on 10 to 15 pounds every* fall so I don't suffer hypothermia when going into the ocean during our (mild) California winter and spring season. I mean, I'd totally put on 30 lbs if I'd still look drop-dead fantastic but I'd resemble fat Thor with better hair. But yeas, fat is a great insulator. Now, if you put on all the weight in the gut, then I'm not sure if that's very helpful.
*I didn't put on pounds this fall because I'm going to spend a few weeks in Costa Ric very soon and there it's the warm season.
I took an ice bath this morning before swimming 30 laps in my pool. That got the cobwebs out. Then I went surfing. The ocean was 53°F, so not quite 12°C this morning. I was in there for about 80 minutes and it felt okay until the end. I took a hot shower at home. I'm all tingly.
I think the short answer is you just have to adjust to it over time. Some do better than others.
I grew up on the great plains, and while there are hot summer days there not for more than a couple months, and the winters were bittter cold. When I first moved to the Southeast I jumped from AC house to AC car the first summer but after a year I became completely comfortable with the weather - even the oppressive humidity. On the flip side, I will wear shorts down to about 40F - with a jacket on of course
Try a blanket over your legs while sitting at your desk. I find the only time I am cold is when I am sitting / not moving.
I grew up on the great plains, and while there are hot summer days there not for more than a couple months, and the winters were bittter cold. When I first moved to the Southeast I jumped from AC house to AC car the first summer but after a year I became completely comfortable with the weather - even the oppressive humidity. On the flip side, I will wear shorts down to about 40F - with a jacket on of course
Try a blanket over your legs while sitting at your desk. I find the only time I am cold is when I am sitting / not moving.
Not here. Our off road toys get parked as soon as it gets down to 80F. It takes me all summer to get acclimated to the heat then as soon as I do it gets cold and I have to start all over.
Our cold weather does not come on gradually. It happens over night. One day we are sweating with the AC on, the next night I'm lighting the furnace.
One time I bought a motorcycle to ride to work. It was 49F. I immediately knew I couldn't hack that and sold the bike soon after.
Without a wet suit? I did the same up in Tofino BC, many years ago, probably the closest I've come to hypothermia, as I was baking in the sun on the beach for a half hour before I started shivering again... Next time I got a wetsuit and found I surf better with better muscle control
Working outside in all kinds of weather has acclimated me to cold pretty easily. Learned a few tricks though, like eat spicy food or something else to raise your internal thermic temp. If you're skinny, try eating at McDs every so often, as a little more fat is good insulation. Exercise to raise metabolism always makes you warm inside too. I usually wear shorts and a t-shirt all the time inside as I'm pretty tolerant to temperature. Try a heavy weight t-shirt and some of the heavier weight shorts that are basically sweatpants with the legs cut down.
No. That would be crazy. I wear a trisuit even during the warm season. I have also surfed and gone diving in a drysuit.I encourage you try again without a wet suit. You may get used to it. Let me know.I did the same up in Tofino BC, many years ago, probably the closest I've come to hypothermia, as I was baking in the sun on the beach for a half hour before I started shivering again... Next time I got a wetsuit and found I surf better with better muscle control
I used to ride PWC year round with a few of my buddies. Have pic somewhere of a local journalist that took photos of us riding around in the frigid (38F) water while it was snowing outside. Full wetsuit, booties, gloves, Float Coat (a winter jacket with personal flotation vest inside it), helmet, and goggles. Fun as hell. We would tie up and take lunch at this little hole in the wall restaurant right on the water. Anyone in the Woodbridge VA area will know all about Tim's Rivershore. Wintertime they would have the pot belly stove going and we'd sit around it with suits folded down eating some of the best blue crabs around. Oh, and peeing in the suit to keep warm only works a short time. Boubon lasts longer
I encourage you try again without a wet suit. You may get used to it. Let me know.
.Ultra-hardcore!I used to ride PWC year round with a few of my buddies. Have pic somewhere of a local journalist that took photos of us riding around in the frigid (38F) water while it was snowing outside. Full wetsuit, booties, gloves, Float Coat (a winter jacket with personal flotation vest inside it), helmet, and goggles. Fun as hell. We would tie up and take lunch at this little hole in the wall restaurant right on the water. Anyone in the Woodbridge VA area will know all about Tim's Rivershore. Wintertime they would have the pot belly stove going and we'd sit around it with suits folded down eating some of the best blue crabs around. Oh, and peeing in the suit to keep warm only works a short time. Boubon lasts longer
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I was a teen, in the 90's, and my Mom was 2000 miles away... TBH I don't remember being the only one without a wetsuit?
I encourage you try again without a wet suit. You may get used to it. Let me know.
I am working on getting wiser, as I am certainly getting older!
Anyways, the key to wearing shorts in cool weather is keeping your core warm. If I am sitting at home in the morning at the house is cool but, its going to get warm during the day, I will do 10-20 burpees and then I am warm for quite a while.
Ignorance and functional illiteracy are not undone by posted warning signs and advice by the locals.
A person in good health and of average physical fitness should last at least 90 minutes in water that's in the 50s. If someone has to fight to stay afloat or fight a current game's over much quicker. Quicker is better. Drowning is very painful. Just take a deep breath of water and get it over with.
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I've been in 50F water without a wet suit at Cannon Beach and I have to say just no.
Now, in my wet suit, 50F is very comfortable even if I am skinny (actually meet BMI)
To the OP, wear sweats in the house when its cool. We do that and are quite comfortable with the heat set at 64F all winter long. Rolling out of bed in the morning calls for a heavy bathrobe, but is not uncomfortable.
Do you get used to the cold?
Yes. 50F feels cold now, but by January it will feel balmy.
Now, in my wet suit, 50F is very comfortable even if I am skinny (actually meet BMI)
To the OP, wear sweats in the house when its cool. We do that and are quite comfortable with the heat set at 64F all winter long. Rolling out of bed in the morning calls for a heavy bathrobe, but is not uncomfortable.
Do you get used to the cold?
Yes. 50F feels cold now, but by January it will feel balmy.
With a non functional thyroid, I take the active form, T3. In winter I need to take more T3 to keep warm. Without a change in dose, I can't get warm, even in utterly frigid South Florida. I end up running the water heater empty during a shower.
It is a very weird feeling to be unable to create enough heat to stay warm on a 75 degree day.
It is a very weird feeling to be unable to create enough heat to stay warm on a 75 degree day.
Time to acclimatize. The snow is coming. The night time temps are toque weather. The daytime temps are freezing. Temps in degrees C. Got the wood stove stoked up.
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Shel_B
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My climate is quite similar to yours, and I'd say I've adapted quite well to Bay Area California cold weather.
About fifteen years ago Sweetie bought me a jacket - she thought I needed one. I went along with it as it seemed like a good idea to have a nice jacket. I even bought one for myself as well.
I hate wearing them. I wore Sweetie's gift two or three times, mine a bit more, and then relegated them to the closet. Neither has been off their hooks for years.
BUT ... even as a kid I hated wearing jackets and warm outer garments, and I grew up in NYC where winters were quite a bit more severe than here. Mom would make me wear gloves, a warm hat (even with ear flaps) and, of course, a heavy coat or jacket. As soon as I turned the corner after leaving the house to walk to school, the gloves and hat came off. I got so sick of all this heavy outer wear that I disappeared the gloves and started leaving the hat in the closet at school.
