People who REALLY feel the cold

[Itswinteragain]

....as in 20 degrees in summer you’re wearing 2-3 layers - What keeps you warmish in winter? This will be my third winter in the UK, I’m in the South East and nothing has kept me warm. My flat without heating was 19 last night. That is freezing and heating was quickly switched on and went up to 24 but I had on the Uniqlo extra warm top, oodie, leggings AND joggers so was comfortable. This how cold I feel, I know it’s ridiculous to most people but I can’t help it.

Things I have that don’t keep me warm:
M&S heatgen & Uniqlo heattech extra & ultra warm tops & leggings
North face Arctic parka
amazon & primary thick fleece lined leggings
Real wool jumpers
not to mention numerous knit beanies, earmuffs and gloves.

Nothing works for the 3 days a week I have to spend around 3-5 hours outside. I’ve also spent a fortune on those hand and feet warmers that heat up for a few hours.

Help!

I find layering natural fibres works best for me such as a merino base layer under my top and then a wool jumper.

If I had the money I'd like to upgrade my jumpers to cashmere but some high street cashmere seems to be £££ for not very good quality.

Nearly New Cashmere - second-hand, washed and any holes mended, cheap and often really good brands. They won’t tell you the label before you order it but look out it saying ‘Scottish cashmere’ - these are a bit more expensive than the rest on the site, but they mean it’s from a very high-end cashmere mill such as Johnston’s of Elgin.

Star jumps

I’m in remission from hyperthyroidism (Grave’s) but also have extreme intolerance of the cold and always have. No sign of underactivity yet despite radioiodine treatment.

There is probably a psychological component to mine but below 20c my fingers and toes go numb so there’s something physiological about it too. I’m prone to chilblains so always keep my extremities well wrapped unless it’s 30c+!

I can only recommend layering up in natural fibres such as wool, cotton. Today I’m wearing uniqlo heat tech trousers with a long woollen skirt from Zara over the top. I look awful but it’s comfortable. Hot meals and drinks through the day can help. Exercise to improve my circulation.

Individuals with an overactive thyroid will struggle to maintain or gain weight which may cause a decline in body weight and fat, making the body more sensitive to the cold.
Lots of layers, stew and dumplings or sets of star jumps are only going to help a little bit. Go and ask to be checked for hyperthyroidism again, and also to get an explanation of how the condition has magically cured itself.

Hyperthyroidism doesn’t magically cure itself but it’s never a permanent condition in the way hypothyroidism is. Hence it doesn’t qualify for free prescriptions. It is common to be in remission for years although many if not most end up hypoactive in the long term, either from surgical removal of the thyroid gland or radioactive iodine or through the natural course of the condition.

Wear two fleece tops. I have a small zippy one and then a bigger zippy one on top. Super snug.

Merino wool base layers and fingerless gloves, thick socks and boot type slippers that keep your ankles warm, buffs around the neck. I definitely go for the two coats and skiing liner gloves plus mittens on top look when going out.

I am currently wearing a long sleeve t shirt, thick fleece jumper and thick hoodie, thermal walking tights, thick socks and slippers. My hands are aching with the cold.

i was born in the UK and hate hate hate the winter because I am always bloody freezing.

Bottom to top I wear:
cashmere socks with hiking socks on top. Knee-high uggs.
Thermal merino wool leggings (inside socks and gigs).
Wide leg cords (much much warmer than jeans) over the top of the uggs.
Thermal long sleeve top, merino wool tucked into leggings
Heattech roll neck top
Pure Cashmere round neck jumper
Thick long cardigan if at home
Knee length waterproof and lined coat of out
Cashmere scarf
Cashmere wrist warmers
Cashmere hat
Woollen beany hat on top

Because all the layers are quite thin, it doesn't make me feel like Michelin man

I still need a hot water bottle and blanket it sitting around at desk or on sofa too but this all is so much better than before

I feel your pain. I am perfectly healthy, grew up in Scotland, have the heating on and still have never "got used to it"

Bra on top of a thin thermal vest is my latest discovery to being that little bit warmer along with long sleeve thermal top and bottoms. After that it's a case of plugging the gaps with haramaki belt (a belly/kidney warmer belt), snood, wrist warmers and ankle/leg warmers).

Drinking and eating foods that make me feel warmer, so adding a bit of mustard to soup or stews, adding ginger or cinnamon to hot lemon etc.

I'm sorry you feel so cold, it truly is miserable
I need to keep warm as my muscles go into spasm if I'm cold( Cerebral palsy)
Obviously lots of hot drinks and hot baths
Base layers from ski shops( merino ones if possible)
Layer up as thinly as possible as it traps body warmth
I have a microwave heat wrap for my shoulders( cozee comfort brand)
A heated pad for cold/ sore areas)
Sheepskin insoles and mittens( warmer than gloves
I wear a fleece backed snood too( Superdry from Vinted)
I hope some of these help you

Oh and I have a " fake Oodie) from Online home stores which is great

I'm sitting here OP with an electric cushion behind me, it keeps my core warm when I can't really afford to have the heating on.

I used to be very underweight and I can still remember the feeling of my bones being cold, I used to feel as if the wind was actually whistling through me.

My DD works on film sets and frequently has to stand around outdoors for hours at a time. She and several of her co-workers wear those dry robes, they are very oversized so they can wear another coat and lots of layers underneath. They also all have a hot water bottle stuffed up their jumpers. Fingerless gloves allow some manual dexterity while still keeping the backs of the hands warm and blood circulating (my fingers used to go white and shrivelled in the cold). They also keep those rechargeable handwarmers in their pocket.

I find a belted jacket or coat keeps the heat in; one that has those inner stretchy cuffs keeps the wind from travelling up my arms; and of course the higher and tighter the collar the better.

I'd say if you have to work outside then prioritise keeping warm over looking smart, layer up as much as it takes!

It’s miserable isn’t? I’ve lived in England all my life and never acclimatised. I find the once I get cold it takes aaaages to warm up. My best thing is a thin fleece long sleeved top as a vest, so directly on the skin plus fleece lined leggings then layers over the top.

Like a previous poster said, keeping my neck warm really helps. I’ve got loads of super cheap fleece snood things from Decathlon which are great.

I drink a lot of hot tea, herbal tea, hot squash etc.

I also find that when I’m cold I get really sluggish, almost like I’m in some sort of stasis or hibernation <dramatic>.

I love baths but actually find that a super hot shower works better. Then straight into an electric blanket - heated bed with a feather duvet, brushed cotton sheets, fleecy pjs and a pashmina round my shoulders.

My DH is super hot blooded so he just looks baffled by my reptilian ways. A friend of mine was worse than me with the cold until she hit the menopause and now she’s evened out temperature - wise. I’m praying for the same!

Dry socks!

Even if you think your feet aren't sweaty, they will be a bit. So socks get slightly damp. Changing into dry socks early afternoon will genuinely stop you getting yet colder.

OP, for the outside, you need to look into footwear and parkas that are produced by companies for the proper North - Canada, Norway, etc. From the top of my head I remember Pajar (Canada). Look into brands that manufacture for the arctic.

Another tip is to have a wind-proof layer. Proper wind-proof thin jacket worn under a warm coat completely changes how you feel. Patagonia, Norrona do wind proof layers/jackets.

A word of warning that in Britain, you might find yourself to be simultaneously sweaty and cold, because the cold is real + wind but it is not the arctic cold. I don't have your problem, but I don't like being cold (my personal opinion is that British culture normalises cold and people are used to being cold / and also ill half the time with coughs/running nose, etc) My own personal schema now is traditional British clothing, i.e. wool jumpers, tweed coats, large scarfs + modern technology (merino wool base layers top, bottom and socks) + wind-proof layers. This is both warm and not too hot (for me).

Rather than a balaclava, a snood. I have several, all from individual at-home makers, so I can co-ordinate to outfit. If it's chilly out - pull up over lower face, if dire can go over nose just leaving eyes, if not so bad leave round neck.

On other threads about heating cold houses dehumidifiers are often mentioned. Even if your house isn't of the permacold type, removing moisture from the air should make it feel less cold. I think the damp makes the cold quite brutal.

Also camelhair/camelwool sweaters are very warm but breathable.

That's right, but despite them being completely different it is possible to go from hyper to hypo or vice versa if you have thyroiditis. Either way, OP needs more in-depth testing and preferably referral to an endocrinologist.

I feel the cold, although probably not as much as you.

It’s all about the base layers and natural fibres. Decathlon is great for long johns and base tops if you’re on a budget. Northface is expensive but obviously good.

If you want to look smarter, go for wool knitwear. A full-length down coat is a must.

While fleece is cosy, it’s not as warm as natural fibres. Wool will always be warmer.

I can recommend perimenopause, I have gone from being a cold person to being permanently boiling hot.

I lived in Australia for a few years .
When I returned here I was slimmer and really felt the cold ..kept turning heating up so the radiators were mostly on .
I wore cashmere and merino wool and always wore layers underneath that .
i would wear tights and socks with my slippers .
eating enough and having hot food helps a lot
i did acclimatise after 2 winters though .

Levothyroxine!

I'm guessing you have a big open fire?
You're not without heating at all, surely?

That’s for hypo