How to survive winter after weight loss surgery

One thing is certain in life after weight loss surgery. the first couple of winters after your surgery will be brutal. I am now three years’ post-op RNY Gastric Bypass and I think I’m finally starting to thaw out finally. The changes that happen to your body after weight loss surgery are complex and this is no different. It’s part and parcel of life post-op but if you have some warning it should be a bit easier to deal with. I thought I would give you some tips on how to survive winter after weight loss surgery.

After weight loss surgery your hormones and metabolism don’t know what’s hit them. You’re losing weight at a rate your body has never seen before and your metabolic processes change. Your body is struggling to maintain its core temperature, leaving you feeling cold a lot of the time. You’ve also lost lots of that nice, warm padding you had before and these things combined mean you will notice a considerable difference, especially in winter.

Get your hands on some thermals

If you’re still in the rapid weight loss phase this could get expensive. Having an extra layer or two under your clothes will help to make a bit of a difference. Whether you go polypropylene or merino you’re bound to be warmer than without them. If you don’t want to shell out for them when you know the size may not even last you the winter see if you can borrow some or pick up some cheap second hand ones somewhere. The bonus of layering up is that you may get a little bit longer out of the clothes you are in the process of shrinking out of!

Get a heated throw

I really, really wanted one of these but could never quite justify the cost. These throws are like an electric blanket that you would put on a bed but it’s a nice cuddly blanket that plugs in and warms up. If you had one of these I’m pretty sure you would stay toasty warm all winter camping out under one of these. This is example of one you can find at Briscoes here. it looks like they have come down in price quite a bit since I was looking at them a couple of years ago!

Have warm drinks or water

I drink lots of water and I prefer it cold, not room temperature. I found feeling cold was always worse in the mornings when I was working on getting a good start on my water intake for the day. If you can have warm drinks, or if you like warm water this is a great way to warm yourself up from the inside. Even if you like room temperature water it will make a bit of a difference to drinking cold water all the time.

Know that it won’t last forever

Three years on from surgery I think I’m starting to come right. I didn’t have to wrap up through summer when I was in the office where in previous years I’ve had to. Since the weather has been changing and getting colder I haven’t been suffering anywhere near as much as I have in previous years. I have high hopes for not turning into a walking ice block this winter and finally maybe my metabolism is getting back to what it should be.

Were you already aware of and preparing to be freezing this coming winter or didn’t you know this tends to happen post-op? If you have any great strategies to beat the cold comment below and let me know what they are, I’m sure my readers will appreciate any suggestions you have for them!