body builds and temps...

[Philippine Mango]

I've noticed that I'm fairly good at adapting to cooler climates unlike my mother who apparently can't get her self to heatup when it's cold and gets cold easily. I mean I was just out on friday at 11pm in 29*F weather with pants and a T-shirt, sure it was cold but if you're out there long enough it isn't that bad.. In 50*F weather I can get used to it fairly quickly and be completely comfortable. My mother's hands become ice cold in about 60*F weather while mine are fine, I believe my hands are good in cold temperatures up until 40*F maybe 35F where if I'm there long enough they'll start to get 'hurt' easily. (like if I'm doing things w/hands) In 50F weather, my hands aren't cold to the touch at all.

I have a medium build.

So now I'm wondering, did nature design it so that people with larger builds are meant for more colder climates? I'd imagine if I was of a large build that my hands wouldn't be cold in 30F weather.

 

[beemercer]

I'm pretty sure that this is the case.

Neanderthals were exceptionally good at living in cold climates had very short, stocky builds (5'5 150bs average for male Neanderthals, 5'9 170lbs for modern Humans males).

"Neanderthals had many adaptations to a cold climate, such as large braincase, short but robust builds, and large noses ? traits selected by nature in cold climates. Their brain sizes have been estimated to be larger than modern humans, although such estimates have not been adjusted for their more robust builds. On average, Neanderthal males stood about 1.65 m tall (just under 5' 5") and were heavily built, and muscular due to their physical activity and robust bone structure. Females were about 1.53 to 1.57 m tall (about 5'?5'2")."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthals

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: beemercer
I'm pretty sure that this is the case.

Neanderthals were exceptionally good at living in cold climates had very short, stocky builds (5'5 150bs average for male Neanderthals, 5'9 170lbs for modern Humans males).

"Neanderthals had many adaptations to a cold climate, such as large braincase, short but robust builds, and large noses ? traits selected by nature in cold climates. Their brain sizes have been estimated to be larger than modern humans, although such estimates have not been adjusted for their more robust builds. On average, Neanderthal males stood about 1.65 m tall (just under 5' 5") and were heavily built, and muscular due to their physical activity and robust bone structure. Females were about 1.53 to 1.57 m tall (about 5'?5'2")."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthals

you're pretty sure the explanation is that he's a Neanderthal? 😕

 

[HamSupLo]

i bet the OP looks like a neanderthal

 

[beemercer]

Hahhaha, i didn't mean to suggest the OP was a Neanderthal, just give an example of how a larger build helps in the cold weather ...
but whatever run with the Neanderthal jokes 😛.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
sure it was cold but if you're out there long enough it isn't that bad

That's some backwards logic for you. Your body can only do so much to maintain it's core temperature. The longer you're out in freezing weather, the more susceptible you become to detrimental effects.

 

[CKent]

Probably has more to do with circulation, which in turn would benefit from regular exercise. Also I remember reading that some ethnic groups (such as Inuit) are less prone to the body's tendency to limit circulation to the extremities in cold weather. It's a natural reaction and why our hands & feet get cold. A stocky build would definitely help - lower surface area to mass ratio, more mass.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: beemercer
I'm pretty sure that this is the case.

Neanderthals were exceptionally good at living in cold climates had very short, stocky builds (5'5 150bs average for male Neanderthals, 5'9 170lbs for modern Humans males).

"Neanderthals had many adaptations to a cold climate, such as large braincase, short but robust builds, and large noses ? traits selected by nature in cold climates. Their brain sizes have been estimated to be larger than modern humans, although such estimates have not been adjusted for their more robust builds. On average, Neanderthal males stood about 1.65 m tall (just under 5' 5") and were heavily built, and muscular due to their physical activity and robust bone structure. Females were about 1.53 to 1.57 m tall (about 5'?5'2")."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthals

Right...But what about those with a large build and are around 6'5?

 

[beemercer]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango

Originally posted by: beemercer
I'm pretty sure that this is the case.

Neanderthals were exceptionally good at living in cold climates had very short, stocky builds (5'5 150bs average for male Neanderthals, 5'9 170lbs for modern Humans males).

"Neanderthals had many adaptations to a cold climate, such as large braincase, short but robust builds, and large noses ? traits selected by nature in cold climates. Their brain sizes have been estimated to be larger than modern humans, although such estimates have not been adjusted for their more robust builds. On average, Neanderthal males stood about 1.65 m tall (just under 5' 5") and were heavily built, and muscular due to their physical activity and robust bone structure. Females were about 1.53 to 1.57 m tall (about 5'?5'2")."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthals

Right...But what about those with a large build and are around 6'5?

I think CKent has the full answer.

Originally posted by: CKent
Probably has more to do with circulation, which in turn would benefit from regular exercise. Also I remember reading that some ethnic groups (such as Inuit) are less prone to the body's tendency to limit circulation to the extremities in cold weather. It's a natural reaction and why our hands & feet get cold. A stocky build would definitely help - lower surface area to mass ratio, more mass.

 

[Toastedlightly]

I'm not fat, I'm just wearing a natural blubber coat.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
I'm not fat, I'm just wearing a natural blubber coat.

*stores for future use*

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
I'm not fat, I'm just wearing a natural blubber coat.

*stores for future use*

My hands stay useable at ~10F outside no problem (bare hands). Sure, they get a little numb, but my body has enough insulation and pumping ability to keep them nice and warm.

 

[Yossarian451]

You are also missing an important fact in his post. Your mother like most women get cold because their bodies direct much of their heat to keeping their abdomens warmer as a method of protecting babies. Its is why women always have cold hands and complain about the temperature, kinda just a fact of life.