Cold Showers

J72FIT
J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
edited December 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Read up a bunch on the benefits of taking a cold shower. Who knows if any of it is true but I will tell you, I felt amazing afterwards. All I did was set a timer for 5 min to make sure I was in there long enough. The first 30 seconds were brutal, the next 30 were tolerable, the next minute I adjusted, the final 3 minutes were fantastic.
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Replies

  • PWHF
    PWHF Posts: 221 Member
    I've been thinking about trying this, was going to have one this morning but forgot...
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    PWHF wrote: »
    I've been thinking about trying this, was going to have one this morning but forgot...

    I highly recommend it. It will definitely be part of my morning routine. Bonus, you don't have to wait for the water to get warm...
  • lx1x
    lx1x Posts: 38,330 Member
    I do it at the end of the shower.. turn off the hot water slowly..

    Just dont do it during winter.. 😆
  • mrsabror90
    mrsabror90 Posts: 11 Member
    Generally, during the summer I only take veeeerry cool showers. Not ice cold, but definitely not hot. I don't know about any crazy benefits, but I have heard it is better for your skin and hair. My husband on the other hand likes his scalding hot.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    I can only speak for myself... I loved it. My wife on the other hand thinks I'm nuts.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    mrsabror90 wrote: »
    Generally, during the summer I only take veeeerry cool showers. Not ice cold, but definitely not hot. I don't know about any crazy benefits, but I have heard it is better for your skin and hair. My husband on the other hand likes his scalding hot.

    Neither do I, nor do I care honestly. I just wanted to see if I could do it. I was surprised not only how easy it was, (once you get past the first minute) but how enjoyable it was.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    lx1x wrote: »
    I do it at the end of the shower.. turn off the hot water slowly..

    Just dont do it during winter.. 😆

    I have tried that in the past. I find it harder to do it that way. I adjusted so much easier by going right in cold. Kinda like jumping in the ocean or a pool...
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    Kinda like jumping in the hot tub then getting into a cold pool maybe? Makes me feel like straight jello... in a good way.😮
  • lx1x
    lx1x Posts: 38,330 Member
    psychod787 wrote: »
    Kinda like jumping in the hot tub then getting into a cold pool maybe? Makes me feel like straight jello... in a good way.😮

    This.. 👍
  • watts6151
    watts6151 Posts: 905 Member
    Only when confined to barracks
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Even on full cold, my shower doesn't get all that cold. I do take ice baths from time to time...I did them much more frequently when I was training a lot harder with my PT.
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,024 Member
    Hot shower for relaxation....If I am taking a shower right after working out, then COOL not cold is what I do.
  • ExistingFish
    ExistingFish Posts: 1,259 Member
    Now see someone was just telling me yesterday about studies that showed people who used a sauna 3x a week for more than 20 minutes were significantly less likely to suffer from a myriad of diseases.

    What is cold supposed to do?

    Maybe it is just that humans are not meant to live in climate-controlled environments throughout or lives. Or being uncomfortable makes us healthier. One or the other.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    Now see someone was just telling me yesterday about studies that showed people who used a sauna 3x a week for more than 20 minutes were significantly less likely to suffer from a myriad of diseases.

    What is cold supposed to do?

    Maybe it is just that humans are not meant to live in climate-controlled environments throughout or lives. Or being uncomfortable makes us healthier. One or the other.

    I have no idea... lol! I just know I feel great afterwards...
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    It's so hot in the summer that I basically turned the faucet to almost all cold anyway. I like getting out and not needing a fan to cool me off.
  • vanityy99
    vanityy99 Posts: 2,583 Member
    duskyjewel wrote: »
    J72FIT wrote: »
    I can only speak for myself... I loved it. My wife on the other hand thinks I'm nuts.

    I agree with her. Hot showers are one of the main benefits of living in a first world country and I, for one, intend to continue appreciating my good fortune. ;)

    Now, as I live in Phoenix Metro I can tell you I have definitely taken cool showers, but never cold. But do you! If it feels invigorating and you like it, stick with it! Can't hurt and you might even burn a calorie or two as your body works a little harder to keep itself warm.

    That part.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Now see someone was just telling me yesterday about studies that showed people who used a sauna 3x a week for more than 20 minutes were significantly less likely to suffer from a myriad of diseases.

    What is cold supposed to do?

    Maybe it is just that humans are not meant to live in climate-controlled environments throughout or lives. Or being uncomfortable makes us healthier. One or the other.

    I remember ages ago when someone was promoting the idea that a cold shower would encourage your body to store "brown fat" rather than regular fat. Haven't heard much about that since, so I'm guessing it didn't stand up to further study :wink:
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    you can take my hot bath from my cold dead hands. the only time i shower is if i am exceptionally sweaty and gross and the only time i take a cool (not cold) shower is if ive been laying out in the sun or pool and am ....sweaty or gross.
  • scottyaus2732
    scottyaus2732 Posts: 67 Member
    It has something to do with stimulating your mitochondria.

    Read a book by Dave Asprey called headstrong.

    Lots of crazy ways and not so crazy ways to make you feel and perform brilliantly. Cold showers is one of them.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    edited September 2019
    It has something to do with stimulating your mitochondria.

    Read a book by Dave Asprey called headstrong.

    Lots of crazy ways and not so crazy ways to make you feel and perform brilliantly. Cold showers is one of them.

    Lol Dave Asprey...

    I just did it to see if I would like it. I loved it. End of story for me...
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    I mean I'm sure I could do it, but that doesn't mean I have any desire to do so ;)

    That said, I bet 5 minutes of a cold shower and then turning the temperature up would make the warm shower feel amazing. I might be willing to try that tomorrow...
  • ExistingFish
    ExistingFish Posts: 1,259 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Now see someone was just telling me yesterday about studies that showed people who used a sauna 3x a week for more than 20 minutes were significantly less likely to suffer from a myriad of diseases.

    What is cold supposed to do?

    Maybe it is just that humans are not meant to live in climate-controlled environments throughout or lives. Or being uncomfortable makes us healthier. One or the other.

    I remember ages ago when someone was promoting the idea that a cold shower would encourage your body to store "brown fat" rather than regular fat. Haven't heard much about that since, so I'm guessing it didn't stand up to further study :wink:

    I heard at some point sleeping in a 63-65 degree room would help you store your fat as brown fat.

    We keep the house on 72 and I freeze some nights, I know partly it's because there are two vents in the bedroom so it is probably below 72, but 63? I'd shake myself to sleep.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,009 Member
    One thing I have noticed is my skin is not dry. Have not had to moisturize at all...
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    it cools me down after a workout. which is nice
  • kds10
    kds10 Posts: 452 Member
    Started to implement this by having a tepid shower then at the end blasting it to cold for 15 seconds or so...lots of benefits supposedly. I think it is better for your hair/skin than hot.
  • magnusthenerd
    magnusthenerd Posts: 1,207 Member
    It has something to do with stimulating your mitochondria.

    Read a book by Dave Asprey called headstrong.

    Lots of crazy ways and not so crazy ways to make you feel and perform brilliantly. Cold showers is one of them.
    Yeah, like tanning with no bottoms so the boys get some sunlight to increase testosterone.... If cold showers are advise he gives that works, I'd imagine it is only because "spray and pray" still hits the right target sometimes.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    Hormesis. It's a toxicology term I've seen applied to cold showers. No idea if it has been studied or if there is any evidence.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    I love cold showers. Clean with hot ( it's ingrained) , then shock myself with the coldest setting. It gets tricky with desert living, as it turns to lukewarm or warm around 10am to 8pm. I need a shower thermostat to be honest, as I favour bone chilling cold.
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