Harley Pasternak is a celebrity trainer and nutrition expert who has worked with stars from Halle Berry andLady Gagato Robert Pattinson and Robert Downey Jr. He’s also aNew York Timesbest-selling author, with titles includingThe Body Reset DietandThe 5-Factor Diet. His new book5 Poundshits shelves in March 2015. Tweet him@harleypasternak.
I spent the first 30 years of my life in Canada, so as you can imagine, I’ve braved my share of cold weather days. But watching CNN this morning, I can truly empathize with those of you freezing your butts off on the East Coast this week.
As you bundle up in your stocking hat, fur-lined gloves, fleece jacket, puffy vest, insulated boots and any other winter gear that makes you look like the Michelin Man, take comfort in this: cold weather has an upside. We’ll get to that shortly, but first I want to tell you about some hot-off-the-press research:
Lower Temperature, Lower WeightSo what can we do with this knowledge at this time? In the days before central heating, people simply tolerated chilly temperatures for part of the year. Their ratio of brown and white fat varied with the season. They needed more brown fat when temperature dropped so their body fat could self-regulate body temperature in cold conditions.
Today, air conditioning and radiators have narrowed what we regard as a comfortable temperature range within our homes. Why subject yourself to cold (or heat) if you can just adjust the thermostat? We also spend more time indoors, both for work and entertainment, than previous generations did. As a result, we have less brown fat and more white fat than our grandparents and great-grandparents, which is yet another reason why we tend to be heavier than they were.
Do you have to venture out in subzero temperatures to increase your ratio of brown fat? Fortunately, the answer is no. Dutch researchers have studied what they call “non-shivering thermogenesis” and found that even milder cold temperatures, say 55° Fahrenheit, can raise your resting metabolic rate so that you burn additional calories. Another study revealed that spending just two hours daily at about 63° Fahrenheit for six weeks burned more calories than the same amount of time in a warmer situation.
5 Ways to Chill Out and Slim Down:1. Spend more time outdoors in cool weather2. Take up ice-skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or another cold-weather activity3. Wear one less layer of clothing — your body will acclimate4. Turn the thermostat down to no more than 68° Fahrenheit during the day and no more than 63° Fahrenheit at night5. Drink cold water before a meal
source: people.com
