Eat to live, sleep to eat

I was trading stories with some friends on a fitness forum that I frequent, when I learned something new. Those of us who are always cold and always want to turn the heat up, may have slow metabolisms. We already know that a slow metabolism can lead to weight issues. But apparently it can also cause fatigue, low blood pressure, and feeling cold. As my friend SM put it "I don't burn enough [calories] at rest to generate heat!"

I have always been cold. I grew up in New Hampshire, where summer lasts 3 weeks in late July/early August. I always wore a jacket to games when I was on the softball team - because you don't burn many calories sitting on the bench, and that wind was cold. I keep a sweater, a lap blanket, and now fingerless gloves in my desk at work. I huddle under a blanket and a warm laptop every night. And I have been known to wear a parka to watch a football game.


Inside my house.


In August.



On the other hand, when I'm sleeping, it's like turning on a furnace. When the kids were babies and I would fall asleep holding them, we'd wake up drenched in sweat like we had run a marathon. So, does this mean that my metabolism works best when I'm sleeping?

And does this mean that I need to sleep more? "Sorry honey, Mommy needs to sleep a couple more hours to burn off last night's pasta."