Author Topic: Cold Showers (Read 1070 times)

Alec Furtado · « **on:** January 31, 2012, 09:51:15 PM »

Take them.

If how awesome they feel (especially after a workout) isn't good enough for you, here's some scientific research about them:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3883460
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877%2807%2900566-X/abstract
- stress relieving
- increase pain threshold
- increased mobilization of fatty acids
- increased noradrenaline (assuming you desired this)

The result is more of a hormetic effect. Obviously from an evolutionary perspective, we've never had access to hot water in the way we do now. If you're new to the concept of hormesis, basically it's that our body improves when we push it's limits (in a controlled way). Just like when we push our muscles and/or our lungs in a workout, we see improvements. When we don't stress our body, we start to look, feel, and perform worse. Hormesis, however, tends to focus more on the smaller things that stimulate a positive response from our body.

Best benefits can be found at 10-15C (50-59F). Unfortunately my water only seems to get as low as 16C (fill a cup with water while showering and measure that), but whatevs. I can tell you that I feel great for the rest of the day. They sucked at first, but now I actually crave a cold shower every once in a while.

At first, just start with the temp up and lower it slowly. Eventually, you'll be able to just start it at the lowest point.

Jordan Strybos · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2012, 09:55:35 PM »

Estoy de acuerdo. Cold showers are the best. Good post.

Joe Brock · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2012, 10:01:55 PM »

It's pretty much impossible for me to elaborate without some off-color humor.

Good post, though. I like contrast showers myself.

John George "JG" · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2012, 12:04:14 AM »

+Mental toughness

Jason C. Astor · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:16:54 AM »

I polar Bear plunge Every year (Last Saturday was plunge day). I prepare by taking cold showers and it's true they do make you feel better and it saves your Utilities Bill lots of $. Good post

Ryan Sannar · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:40:47 AM »

I used to do this after lifting. I really think it helps. I need to get back into the habit though.

Joseph Landholt · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:51:48 AM »

Yeah, they're great.

But I'm not manly enough to get back to them until the weather warms up again.

alxsmpgmr · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2012, 10:09:46 AM »

Great post! I'll be starting this myself soon!

Alec Furtado · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2012, 10:27:06 AM »

Quote from: Joseph Landholt on February 01, 2012, 09:51:48 AM

Yeah, they're great.

But I'm not manly enough to get back to them until the weather warms up again.

I know what you mean. They still take a while to get into straight up, but I've found that doing them after a workout is completely different. I'm not sure where the research goes on that one, but I do know that it feels like heaven. PWO cold showers are the only ones I could do without even a bit of shivering. It's gotta be something tied to the thermogenesis from the workout. You feel the cold, but it's like it can't touch you... it's just there. Feels good.

Quote from: Joe Brock on January 31, 2012, 10:01:55 PM

Good post, though. I like contrast showers myself.

I've done this every once in a while so far. I know they should be helpful for refreshing your skin (hot water) and then making sure you close the pores (cold water).

Joe Brock · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2012, 03:02:01 PM »

Alec,
My reasons for preferring contrast is that from what I can tell, the circulation improves with a contrast as opposed to straight cold. It might be all in my head, but the effects are like a massage rather than just squeezing the sore spots.
I have NO research to back this up, rather than doing them after 65 rep squat days and being able to walk the day afterwards without limping majorly. Al Caslow does it this way. Vincent DiZenzo does it this way. It's perhaps a cult mentality, but when something can convince me and a guy who benches #850 that it's got some science or voodoo, I tend to apply it.
Feels good...so I do it.

Nick Fernandez · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:06:57 PM »

Quote from: Joe Brock on January 31, 2012, 10:01:55 PM

I like contrast showers myself.

What are contrast showers, exactly? So far it basically sounds like you go on and off hot/cold in the shower

Joe Brock · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:44:01 PM »

That's the concept. You start with cold, then in about 15-30 second interval, go hot...then cold, then hot, then cold.

As long as you start with cold and end with cold, you've got the basic concept. I cannot begin to explain how wonderful it feels when your upper thighs are radiating heat from 5x10 sets of front squats to do them. I'm sure that if there was a video of my face during them, it would look rather awkward, for both me and the viewer.

"Why is that guy with all of the chest hair making those faces from turning the hot water on and off?"

Ryan Sannar · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2012, 08:16:23 AM »

hahahahahahahahahahaha

Alec Furtado · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2012, 09:34:16 AM »

Quote from: Ryan Sannar on February 02, 2012, 08:16:23 AM

hahahahahahahahahahaha

QFT

Nick Fernandez · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2012, 06:10:29 PM »

Hahahaha, I remember when I first started exercising I pretty much only did it to get that super-fresh feel from a post-workout shower. Now that it's winter, instead my skin just dries up 'cause of exema (spelling?)