The FastDay Forum

I recently read about some reports that cold showers actually had some health benefits. Fat burning, immune defense, testosterone increase etc. Nonsense? Possibly.

So, I've been washing away the soap in cold water the last week, standing under cold water for about two minutes or more every morning, a bit of a shock at first, but after one minute the water starts feeling warm, and it certainly wakes you up and makes you ready for the day. I feel warm for hours afterwards.

Anyone else trying it?

it is certainly firming the skin but I've no idea if it has other benefits as well.

No thanks

That would be cold water torture

Well, apparently there are measurable effects on your immune system. The effects on fat burning seems more speculative, but I wouldn't be surprised if they actually are there, considering this pleasant feeling of warmth for hours after a long ice cold shower. The theory was the cold shower activates "brown fat" and and produces more heat.

And of course, it makes me feel very manly.

Yes, lots of info on this in the 5:2 labs! Look for my posts on brown adipose tissue and cold hormesis (includes lots of links to original papers)!

This is also one of the hacks Tim Ferriss mentions a lot. I saw an episode of Dr Oz where they demonstrated on a poor audience member. I believe you can find more information on his blog and by searching him or 4 hour diet. After seeing that episode I did a lot of googling and read up on it...but, it was a good while back. AND, I'm not especially fond of the cold shower. Especially wasn't back in winter when I was already freezing constantly as a side effect of this WOE.

My DD 16 insists that cold rinses make your hair shinier, too. It seems many online peeps agree with her.

This morning I stood in the shower until I started to shiver and my teeth started to chatter after three to four minutes. But it wasn't really stressful except for the first minute. Seems to get easier, and the pleasure for hours afterwards definately makes it worth it.

This brown fat is similar to muscle cells, contains lots of heat producing mitochondria, the same type of fat cells that keeps bears warm during hibernation, and small mammals during winter. Interesting, it might have an effect.

Anyway, probable health effects beside, I do feel it builds character and self discipline, a bit in the same way as exercise.

We all need will power, a limited resource, and it seems will power is very similar to a muscle. We regularly experience "ego depletion" http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower.aspx" and fall for temptations against our long term interests. Probably you can train your willpower and resilience by exerting yourself to increasing stress levels under controlled conditions.

So, who knows, now that you mentioned this Tim Ferris, with time I might even try out 10 minute ice baths, ouch..

If we get cold like that, didnt our mothers tell us we would "catch a cold"? or is that a myth.

Juliana.Rivers wrote: If we get cold like that, didnt our mothers tell us we would "catch a cold"? or is that a myth.

Myth, colds are caused by virus, however, you're immune response can be effected by long periods of stress making it easier for the virus to get through.

I think what Michael may be doing is strengthening his immune system just a tad by gradually adding a bit of stress with the cold water. People that spend many hours in a pool or ocean are subjected to water temps much lower than body temps and as far as I can tell don't suffer any more colds than general population.

Michael H wrote: I recently read about some reports that cold showers actually had some health benefits. Fat burning, immune defense, testosterone increase etc. Nonsense? Possibly.

So, I've been washing away the soap in cold water the last week, standing under cold water for about two minutes or more every morning, a bit of a shock at first, but after one minute the water starts feeling warm, and it certainly wakes you up and makes you ready for the day. I feel warm for hours afterwards.

Anyone else trying it?

Me too but I'll pass on that thanks.

Portion control seems to make more sense to me.

David F wrote:
Portion control seems to make more sense to me.

Yup, so it did for me before I began this daily water torture, but perhaps portion control becomes easier if you manage to develop better self control? Anyway, crazy as it seems, I actually enjoy it, so...

43tweaker wrote:
My DD 16 insists that cold rinses make your hair shinier, too. It seems many online peeps agree with her.

Shinier, less frizzy and it works miracles for oily hair.

There are a lot of ways to learn "self control." In the end, at least for me it isn't all about learning self control. (Although I think 500 calorie days and walking 7 miles every day will teach self control just as much if not more than a cold shower.) Willpower, discipline and self control will come and go in waves over time. The real key to weight loss is finding what sacrifices you personally are willing to make and then sticking to it. Perseverance is more important than self control in my opinion.

I got tons of will power. If I tell myself "you will eat two kilos of ice cream" I will do it no mater how cold my tongue gets!!!

I bet you don't let brain freeze get in your way, either.