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Surviving the Heatwave – A Fat Person's Guide to Staying Cool ☀️

It's hot, it's sticky and some of us are melting... so let's help each other out!

It's especially hot here in the UK at the moment and let's be honest, heatwaves can be uncomfortable for everyone. As fat people though we often have a few extra challenges when the temperatures start climbing. Whether it's feeling sticky, overheating more quickly, struggling to sleep, or just generally feeling uncomfortable in our own skin, the heat can be a lot!!! Especially if you don't have AC!!!!

So I thought it would be useful to put together a community thread full of tips and tricks to help us all stay cool and comfortable. Feel free to add your own suggestions below as well. The best advice often comes from people who have already figured out what works for them... so please share your tried and tested tips for dealing with the heat!

Eat MORE Ice Cream 🍦
A silly suggestion because I am silly!!! But honestly who needs an excuse? Ice cream is delicious, and it really can help you feel a bit cooler when the heat hits!

Stay Hydrated 💧
This one sounds obvious but it's probably the most important. Keep a water bottle topped up throughout the day and if possible keep one in the fridge so you've always got cold water ready to go.

Ice Packs Are Your Friend ❄️
Ice packs can be brilliant for cooling down but make sure not to put them directly against your skin as they can cause ice burns. Wrap them in a tea towel or pillowcase and place them on pulse points like your wrists, neck, or ankles.

The Frozen Hot Water Bottle Trick 🛏️
Fill an old fashioned rubber hot water bottle with water and freeze it during the day. At night you can put it in your bed before you get in or keep it nearby to help cool you down while you're trying to sleep.

Keep a Cooling Spray Bottle Nearby 🌿
This one is one of my personal favorites...Fill a small spray or misting bottle with cold water and keep it in the fridge. Whenever you're feeling too warm give yourself a quick spritz. Some people also like adding a few drops of essential oils. I personally use mint which feels especially refreshing and cool.

Regular Cold Showers and Cool Baths 🚿
Sometimes there's no substitute for cooling your whole body down. You don't need the water to be freezing cold either. A cool shower can help lower your body temperature and make you feel much more comfortable for a while afterwards.

Portable Fans Can Be Worth Their Weight in Gold 🌀
If you can get hold of one, a desk fan or portable rechargeable fan can make a huge difference. A fan pointed at a bowl of ice can also create a surprisingly effective DIY cooling system. I have a fan that is handless that goes roudn my neck, sort of looks like headphones so I can use it hands free!

Wear Whatever Makes You Comfortable 👕
Whether that's something loose and floaty that covers more skin or shorts and a vest, wear what feels right for you. Light and breathable clothing tend to be more comfortable in hot weather and lighter colours absorb less heat than darker colours. Most importantly, don't let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't wear because of your size. Also chub rub shorts can be a life saver in this weather as it the heat can defiantly cause friction between the thighs.

Take it Easy🪑
If you need to run errands or get jobs done try to do them in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are lower rather than during the hottest part of the day. Make sure you're taking regular breaks, sitting down when you need to and not pushing yourself too hard.

Skin Protection Is a Must 🧴
Seriously folks, don't skip the sunscreen! Even when it's cloudy the UV levels can still be high. Protect your skin and reapply throughout the day if you're spending time outside.

A Few More Tips for the House 🏠
* Close curtains and blinds during the hottest parts of the day.
* Open windows in the evening when the temperature starts to drop.



Those are some suggestions but we'd love to hear yours!

What are your favourite fat person heatwave survival tips? What little tricks have you discovered over the years that help you stay cool, comfortable, and sane when the weather decides to turn into the Mediterranean for a week?

Share them below and let's help each other out!

I just want to give a shout out to the lovely FF member...


LargeHuffer

We were talking about this in the chat room and thought it would be a great idea to put together a list for everyone on the site. We both went away and made a forum post on the topic, so I just wanted to say a big thank you to LargeHuffer for helping get it started!

I’ve been soaking a T-shirt in freezing water before I go to bed for 5-10 mins, wringing it out then sleeping in it. I know people have sensory issues (me included I hate wet clothes) but honestly I did it out of desperation and it works. I’ve also found soaking my feet in freezing water for as long as I can take causes an instant relief for quite a while!

I know this has been a serious problem especially in the UK, where some have told me A/C isn't common there.

A horrifying thought really - A/C is virtually ubiquitous in the U.S. aside from Alaska and some coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest. It's to the point apartments won't rent if it's not available, and houses without it will have a substantially depressed sale price.

However, A/C can fail sometimes so perhaps some of these ideas can help.

But, if I may offer a suggestion - portable or window A/C units, if budget allows. They're often only really powerful enough to cover a single room, but they make a huge difference.

For a few hundred dollars, euros, or GBP it can make a huge difference.

I even bought one because at the time, the central A/C failed, and because of poor communication from the landlord, I had no idea when it was coming back, and it was starting to get uncomfortably warm, and I knew it was only going to get hotter. Little did I know they would finally fix it after 2 more weeks, but it had been 3 weeks, and I had no idea how much longer it would be. I kept it because afterward, you never know.

If you choose to go this route, keep the following things in mind.

Those boxy window units are generally more efficient. However, they can often require a 220-240V power outlet, which at least in the U.S., most outlets are 110-120V. So make sure the unit uses 120V, or a 240V outlet is available (also often used for an electric dryer or stoves). You could pay an electrician to install a 240V outlet and circuit, but that can get costly fast.

Also, if you rent, sometimes the landlord may have rules against boxy window A/C units because they're supposedly ugly or unsightly. Doesn't bother me - seems like snobbery Karen stuff. Sucks, but it is what it is.

However, you still have a solution.

Those portable A/C units with wheels. They often aren't as efficient as the boxy window units or central A/C, but are still effective. They aren't as easy as just plug it in and go, but almost. The hot air has to be exhausted somewhere. Generally, they come with 1 or 2 duct tubes that you direct toward the nearest window. These units usually also come with window inserts so it will fit without leaving a big gap. Even better, at least in the U.S., most of these units are powered by standard 120V power outlets.

Either solution you use, there's one more thing you need to consider. Look at the power consumption. For example, my portable A/C unit will consume about 1,000 watts when the A/C compressor is running. That's around 8 amps on 120V, and 4-5 amps on 240V.

The typical circuit in a typical home will have a 15-20 amp fuse or circuit breaker on a 120V circuit, or perhaps a 10 amp fuse or breaker on a 240V circuit. If you aren't careful, if too many things are plugged in and running, the breaker will trip, which is very annoying.

If you have to, run an extension cord from an outlet on another circuit. It may sound annoying, but it's much better than dealing with a breaker that constantly trips. And it's bad for the A/C compressor if you don't run it for at least 5 minutes once it's started. Make sure the extension cord is rated for enough amps.

But if you keep in mind everything I said, this can help, a LOT.

before sleeping id recommend soaking a towel in cold water, wringing it out, and draping it across your neck as you sleep (also be shirtless). Some people in hot countries do this to stay cool.