By: Damian Tawanna

Damian Tawanna — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 11:06:38 +0000

So what does that mean for someone that is ALREADY always freezing???? I am
always so cold. My husband is always yelling at me cuz I have the heat up too
high, or too many blankets on at night! I don’t want to know how cold I will be
post-op! lol
Lori

By: Nanette Zora

Nanette Zora — Thu, 29 Jan 2004 23:27:28 +0000

I do not have an explanation for you regarding this, sorry. But, I *can*
tell you that it is almost universal in its occurrence. I have heard from
longer out posties who say that the phenomenon doesn’t last forever, but it
quite marked the first year or two. I have been a freezing FOOL since
surgery… *hated* the winter… had tons of blankets, flannel sheets, and
a comforter on my bed and was still cold. In El Paso, spring had arrived
right before I left last week. Spring in El Paso is 80+ degree
temperatures… I was in HEAVEN! I could wear shorts and regular shirts
and not be freezing. But, I *always* carry a sweater with me (and gloves)
because inside any building with air conditioning, I am again frozen. Now
that I am back in San Diego, I am freezing again until summer arrives. *sigh*
Some will say it is related to iron or B12 (usually, anemics are freezing),
but it doesn’t seem to be the case for many posties. My iron and B12 are
absolutely normal, yet here I sit with sweats, socks, and a sweater on in a
heated house!

I get barked at a lot for my discussion of swimming for weight loss and it
not being an effective exercise, but since you asked….
Let me preface this with I have been a swimmer since I was 6 years old. I
swam on swim teams (even fat), taught swim classes for years (LOVE teaching
adult non-swimmers), was a (fat) lifeguard, and only swam for exercise when
I was on Phen-Fen because I was unable to walk (ankle disability) and lost
111 pounds in 19 months. That said, women carry so much extra fat on their
bodies that they literally *float* in the water while doing laps or water
aerobics. Floating does not allow for work. African-origined folks have
the hardest time swimming… men especially… because of the lack of fat
on their bodies. They struggle to keep afloat… therefore, work *hard* to
swim. Competitive swimmers have almost no fat on their bodies and work
*hard* to swim, too. The less fat, the more work… that is a given.
Now, swimming (and I include water aerobics in this) is wonderful for those
who have been immobile for years/decades. Swimming is a wonderful new
post-op way to begin movement. Swimming is beautiful for lengthening
muscles and toning. Swimming is a godsend for those who have arthritis or
other immobility issues. But swimming, after the first couple of months,
is *not* the best way to burn calories/lose weight/get aerobically healthy.
UNLESS… when you swim or do your aerobics you are huffing and puffing and
sweating and red-faced for *many* minutes after your work-out. Red faces
and sweating should last about 15 minutes (or more!) after getting out of
the pool. This lets you know that you *have* worked out aerobically.
Once you have lost enough weight that you can move out of the water
virtually pain-free, walking/biking/etc. become more of an aerobic work-out
(unless you push yourself harder and harder in the water).
I am able now to walk 10 miles without stopping… without pain… with
minimal fatigue. I cannot walk faster and do not want to jog or run, so
Sarah and I bought bikes (and a zillion dollars worth of accoutrements that
go with them!) because I am at my aerobic limit walking wise. It is time
to step things up. I want to be *healthier*… to be able to *do* more
stuff… to *see* more things… and I am hoping a bike will get me there.
*donning asbestos suit*
Hope that helps!
Barbara Herrera
San Diego, CA - 41 years old
Open RNY April 5, 2001
Dr. Julie Ellner, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, CA
04/05/01: 344# / BMI: 63/ Body Fat%: 75%
04/05/02: 172# / BMI: 31.6/ Body Fat%: 28%
04/16/02: 165#/ BMI: 30.2
One Year Re-Birth Day: healed of ALL co-morbs, mobile beyond every
expectation, every pre-op dream surpassed a million-fold, and smaller than
any memory.

Comments on: Cold vs. Hot

By: Damian Tawanna

By: Nanette Zora