Hell no! Cold showers were a PITA in the military when the hot water was FUBAR in the old Army barracks. Much less frequent aboard ship after I moved to the Navy. Still.... Left that behind eons ago.

Oh and shaving with cold water was even WORSE!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:

It SUCKS, but I feel really good afterwards.

Kind of like banging your head against the wall. If feels really good, when you stop.

We bought a house with a pool back in August and I used it up until mid-November when I got sick. The swims in November took a good while to adjust to the water temperature, but once I did, I felt amazing in the water and had to force myself to go ahead and get out. I was concerned if I stayed in too long, I’d risk hypothermia. I don’t know what the temperature was then, but I doubt it was significantly different than it is right now, at 51 degrees.

I felt great all day afterwards. Wouldn’t guess at the biomechanics or psychology of it, but it had a marked effect on my mood and the general pain levels I deal with.

Well I guess I can put my money where my mouth is, I got a cold pool in the back. What is the temp we are looking for?

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
That is the thing though. It is all anecdotal stuff for the most part not a lot of actual evidence. So when I hear about a focused Olympic athlete who runs a wildly successful business and still gets up early to exercise and is probably still in amazing shape the question is whether it's the chicken or the egg. Is the cold shower doing this to his head or is it all the other stuff, exercise, loving his job, being sharp and focused, etc.?

There is a term for what you're describing. The Swimmer's Body Fallacy. There are people that swim because they see the bodies of Olympic swimmers so they decide to swim for their fitness only to find out it doesn't work. This is because Olympic swimmers swim because of the bodies they have, they didn't get those bodies by swimming. I agree with you and believe you're right in questioning.

Also, I do think there may be a time when our modern amenities may not be available. Hot water may be a luxury that we won't be able to have one day. It's still worth training yourself to shower in cold water, if only to be used to it should it be necessary.

I remember cold showers being suggested to teen age males to ease sexual frustration.

In the summer, I sometimes shower with cool water after a hot shower so that I don't immediately start sweating after exiting the shower.

But I generally don't take cold showers.

However, I like to frequent onsen / sento (hot spring baths) in Japan. They usually have a cold pool and I'll usually alternate hot and cold dips and usually end w/ a cold dip. I'll usually stay in until the pain of the cold water goes away - 10-15 minutes.

After reading the posts here, I took one about an hour ago. Sort of. I started with my regular hot shower, got all cleaned up then turned it to all cold. Little by little I got all of myself under the icy streams. Had difficulty controlling my breathing - will work on this. I didn't last long but after getting out of the shower I felt great. I think I'm going to try this regularly. Need to work on the whole breathing thing.

Son is a retired military aviator and ER nurse as well as a fitness buff. He has a cold tank set up and does 20 minute row and 50 push-ups every non-workout/lifting recovery day. He had a couple surgeries on one of his feet and says the post immersion is the best his foot has ever felt. Also is a fan of the mental clarity benefit it provides. He’s not at all a fitness trend follower. You can look up Hoffs immersion therapy on YouTube for further information if it piques your interest.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
That is the thing though. It is all anecdotal stuff for the most part not a lot of actual evidence. So when I hear about a focused Olympic athlete who runs a wildly successful business and still gets up early to exercise and is probably still in amazing shape the question is whether it's the chicken or the egg. Is the cold shower doing this to his head or is it all the other stuff, exercise, loving his job, being sharp and focused, etc.?

There is a term for what you're describing. The Swimmer's Body Fallacy. There are people that swim because they see the bodies of Olympic swimmers so they decide to swim for their fitness only to find out it doesn't work. This is because Olympic swimmers swim because of the bodies they have, they didn't get those bodies by swimming. I agree with you and believe you're right in questioning.

Also, I do think there may be a time when our modern amenities may not be available. Hot water may be a luxury that we won't be able to have one day. It's still worth training yourself to shower in cold water, if only to be used to it should it be necessary.

Y'all are piss poor guessers.

The Sigforum motto is "Quality Discussion, Quality Firearms". Which approach leads to quality discussion?

Making an assumption as long as the post you're commenting on and then someone piling on with an additional assumption?

Asking an inquiring type question seeking further explanation?

I've been to many oil & gas conferences and this is the first time that I've taken notes during a key note speech as they're usually just entertainment or preaching to the choir. I've also never seen other attendees digging through briefcases/purses for note pads.

A portion of his keynote speech was dedicated to keeping at peak mental health. He shared that he was initially an alternate for the US National team but a suicide opened up a spot that he ended up holding for many years. Additionally, the speaker had experienced a few periods of depression (e.g. end of his college track career, end of his Olympic career, etc.), and was sharing what he'd learned from therapy as well as US Olympic coaches and doctors.

I didn't get open the notepad feature on my iPhone soon enough and only managed to capture 3 of 4:
1 find the things you like
2 do the things you don’t like. The cold showers in the morning were an example of this.
3 own your choices

The cold shower was targeting dopamine release which is good for regulating mental health. Cold showers were an adaptation of a peer reviewed European Journal of Applied Physiology immersion study where there was a 250% increase in dopamine.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

This is the first I've heard of "the benefits of taking a cold shower". Add another one I've learned here! I'll give it a try for a week or so but the water's pretty cool here now so I'm not sure how long I can take full cold.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
I do know that taking cool/cold showers after diving is protocol. Hot showers/hot tubs are a no no.

While that's true for immediately jumping into a hot tub or hot shower straight from a dive, PADI and DAN recommend waiting a mere 30 minutes after diving before taking a hot shower or getting into a hot tub.

In most situations, it's going to take more than 30 minutes after you surface before you even make it into the shower. So at that point, taking a cold shower is unnecessary.

Sorry I wasn’t clear - there is no requirement to take a shower after diving, but if you do, most dive doctors indicate cold showers are a better choice and not to take hot showers or hop into a hot tub for a while after diving. Naturally, we all want to. I’ve been diving since the 90’s, and I’ve been to a number of dive facilities where as soon as we get out of the boat there’s a shower right there that we can hop into -suit and all. I can say from personal experience and consulting with a Padi dive doctor that hot showers are frowned on post diving. That would’ve been one of the first times I got the skin bends, about 4 hours after I took a hot shower when we returned to our room after an ordinary 2 tank dive.

All that aside, I prefer to start the day with a hot shower, then cool rinse after I’ve washed up.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
That is the thing though. It is all anecdotal stuff for the most part not a lot of actual evidence. So when I hear about a focused Olympic athlete who runs a wildly successful business and still gets up early to exercise and is probably still in amazing shape the question is whether it's the chicken or the egg. Is the cold shower doing this to his head or is it all the other stuff, exercise, loving his job, being sharp and focused, etc.?

There is a term for what you're describing. The Swimmer's Body Fallacy. There are people that swim because they see the bodies of Olympic swimmers so they decide to swim for their fitness only to find out it doesn't work. This is because Olympic swimmers swim because of the bodies they have, they didn't get those bodies by swimming. I agree with you and believe you're right in questioning.

Also, I do think there may be a time when our modern amenities may not be available. Hot water may be a luxury that we won't be able to have one day. It's still worth training yourself to shower in cold water, if only to be used to it should it be necessary.

Y'all are piss poor guessers.

The Sigforum motto is "Quality Discussion, Quality Firearms". Which approach leads to quality discussion?

Making an assumption as long as the post you're commenting on and then someone piling on with an additional assumption?

Asking an inquiring type question seeking further explanation?

I've been to many oil & gas conferences and this is the first time that I've taken notes during a key note speech as they're usually just entertainment or preaching to the choir. I've also never seen other attendees digging through briefcases/purses for note pads.

A portion of his keynote speech was dedicated to keeping at peak mental health. He shared that he was initially an alternate for the US National team but a suicide opened up a spot that he ended up holding for many years. Additionally, the speaker had experienced a few periods of depression (e.g. end of his college track career, end of his Olympic career, etc.), and was sharing what he'd learned from therapy as well as US Olympic coaches and doctors.

I didn't get open the notepad feature on my iPhone soon enough and only managed to capture 3 of 4:
1 find the things you like
2 do the things you don’t like. The cold showers in the morning were an example of this.
3 own your choices

The cold shower was targeting dopamine release which is good for regulating mental health. Cold showers were an adaptation of a peer reviewed European Journal of Applied Physiology immersion study where there was a 250% increase in dopamine.

I’m not exactly sure what i said that raised your ire. Apologies.

I cold plunge in the pool this time of year. 3 minutes 3-4 times a week. Water is low 40’s right now.

F That, I'll die happy

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
Usually when something is all the rage no one does it in two years. I could see some anti inflammatory benefits if you can get it cold enough.

I work with a fellow of Scandinavian descent, based in Minnesota, and this is not new to them at all.

Different strokes for sure, but I would say try it if you are curious, the price is right(if you live in a cooler climate). It SUCKS, but I feel really good afterwards. If there were no other benefits besides that, I'd still do it. For what it's worth.

That’s hilarious I’m Scandinavian and from Minnesota.

If anyone wants to try it, could it be not without risk depending on health conditions ? If the dopamine release science is true, that's great, unless you die of a heart attack after immersion or showing in cold water. Is this not a thing, maybe a question for an MD or a Nurse.

quote:

I’m not exactly sure what i said that raised your ire. Apologies.

I’m not either for what it’s worth…seemed like a lot of unnecessary rambling or an AI generated response to a question that was never asked.

<Shoulder shrug>

quote:

Anyone here follow that ritual?

Yes.

Everyone should do what's best for them, but it is amusing that some will take whatever drug the doctor dictates or spend all manner of money - just to avoid the discomfort of doing what is natural and free to get the same results.

"It's not about the nail" ...if you get the reference.

Yes, and when I lived in Germany or go home to visit. At least 3x a week. its Sauna with the ice tank or pool right outside in the snow. Its really a big social thing also, yes mixed group and everybody naked. Really clears your head and helps me feel better.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
This is the first I've heard of "the benefits of taking a cold shower". Add another one I've learned here! I'll give it a try for a week or so but the water's pretty cool here now so I'm not sure how long I can take full cold.

My brief research shows that shower water less than 60* is considered “cold”, so full cold may not be necessary if it’s less than that. Even going lukewarm vs hot can have some benefits, and you don’t have to go straight to ice cold you can work your way down. I will say the feeling you get after exiting a cold shower/rinse is completely different than after a hot relaxing shower.