Are there guys who don't take cold showers?

[AmsterdamAssassin]

I've been doing cold showers since I was 5 years old, I had no idea it was actually a 'thing' now.

I always thought everyone took cold showers, but seems like I was wrong.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Nope, I don't. Never have.

Did you grow up with no hot water?

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

If I can wear shorts outside in the morning, I'm doing cold showers though.

Well, at least you do them sometimes, but they're actually most effective in the cold.

 

[Westminster]

I like hot showers and hot baths. I wouldn't have a cold one if I could avoid it. I hate being cold.

Sorry if that's hugely unfashionable.

 

[Reincarnated]

I'm pretty sure the better question would have been are there any guys that DO take cold showers. I'll take one to get the edge off of a hangover or if I really need a quick jolt, but not regularly.

 

[CAPSLOCK BANDIT]

If I'm in my routine I'll go to the pool early, use the steam room and then once I'm hot I'll go turn on the shower to the coldest temperature, then just kind of rotate between the 2.

In general though I'm a hot water guy, I don't even drink cold water usually, either tea, hot water or coffee.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

Hey everyone look at me, I take cold showers, I'm a super alpha wolf hoooraaaaaa

Sometimes, you're such a child, Gainz. Only a wuss could think that taking cold showers is an 'alpha' thing.

 

[Ricky]

Ive always found it tough… with the exception of a short time when i has covid

when i had covid for a week or two i had a real foggy brain and my head felt a little numb. I found i could stand in a cold shower for minutes without it bothering me so i kept doing it for days until eventually i started to feel normal and reacted to the cold again.

in the book dopamine nation they talk about a guy who loved cold showers so much that it helped him beat a cocaine addiction

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

in the book dopamine nation they talk about a guy who loved cold showers so much that it helped him beat a cocaine addiction

Did they mention any downsides to cold showering?

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

Hahaha, for real, there is a trend going on that masculine man shower with cold water and that makes them more manly, its the new identity for lost men.

That's why I was wondering about this. I've been doing this for fifty years, I thought it was a normal thing (women also take cold showers here) so I was kind of amazed that something so ordinary is considered masculine, or even 'alpha'.

When I was young, our family used to go for two weeks camping on Terschelling at a camping that didn't have hot water at all. Everyone showered cold only. Nobody considered that 'tough' or 'manly' at all.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

Yesh its new, everything that our ancestors did now is considered alpha, cold showers, sleeping in caves, hunting with a bow, eating raw meat, not using A/C or heater in the house. Bunch of bs

Wow.
Most Dutch houses don't even have air-conditioning.

My current house is the first with central heating, my previous apartment had a gas stove in the living room, but no heating anywhere else in the house:

I had a Zibro Kamin heater for the bedroom in winter, but we didn't use it much.


And when I was vagabonding across the UK, I killed rabbits with a slingshot / catapult, because I couldn't walk around with a longbow like Robin Hood.

 

[obelisk]

I'll be honest, cold showers in the winter are not it for me.

If I can wear shorts outside in the morning, I'm doing cold showers though.

^^this. I get it and I like them (but don't always do them relgiously) but have very little desire to have a cold shower during the coldest months of the year.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

^^this. I get it and I like them (but don't always do them relgiously) but have very little desire to have a cold shower during the coldest months of the year.

Like I said, that's when you benefit most.

 

[obelisk]

Yeah you're right. Thanks for saying that. I should reevaluate my habits regarding this.

 

[Ricky]

Did they mention any downsides to cold showering?

No I don’t recall any. I think the one guy progressed from cold showering to ice baths. With ice baths there are some risks of course.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

The most prevalent information I'm aware of (a la "cold plunge/ice bath") is that they help with stress management via cortisol response. This leads to a dopamine baseline increase for hours afterwards. In this regard, they are best done early in the morning.

Yes, in the morning is best.
Apart from the points you mentioned, cold showers also wake you up better than coffee and stimulate your blood circulation.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

No I don’t recall any. I think the one guy progressed from cold showering to ice baths. With ice baths there are some risks of course.

Risks like?

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a Dr. that tell someone "oh those cold showers that you're taking is what's keeping you fit and healthy, and not the healthy life style, healthy food and exercise that you do"

One reason you should take cold showers, Gainz, is to get a clear head so you don't confuse 'health benefits' with 'replace the gym with cold showers'. Nobody in this thread implied that you can counter unhealthy living with cold showers. Get a grip, dude.

 

[Pierce Manhammer]

I think cold showers are barbaric.

1. "Cold water immersion (CWI) may reduce body adipose tissue": Medical News Today - [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...calnewstoday.com/articles/cold-water-therapy)

2. "Mental Health Benefits":
- Medical News Today - [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...calnewstoday.com/articles/cold-water-therapy)
- Healthline - [https://www.healthline.com/health/c...w.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits)

3. "Improved Circulation": Medical News Today - [https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...calnewstoday.com/articles/cold-water-therapy)

4. "Less Muscle Soreness": Men's Health - [https://www.menshealth.com/uk/healt...nefits-of-cold-showers-according-to-science/)

5. "Activation of the Vagus Nerve": Healthline - [https://www.healthline.com/health/c...w.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits)

6. "Reduced Inflammation and Stress Management": Men's Health - [https://www.menshealth.com/uk/healt...nefits-of-cold-showers-according-to-science/)

7. "Potential Cardiovascular Benefits": International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021) study mentioned in Healthline - [https://www.healthline.com/health/c...w.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits)

These URLs will lead you directly to the articles and sources where you can find more detailed information on the benefits of cold baths.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Wow.
Most Dutch houses don't even have air-conditioning.

My current house is the first with central heating, my previous apartment had a gas stove in the living room, but no heating anywhere else in the house:
View attachment 11984
I had a Zibro Kamin heater for the bedroom in winter, but we didn't use it much.
View attachment 11985

And when I was vagabonding across the UK, I killed rabbits with a slingshot / catapult, because I couldn't walk around with a longbow like Robin Hood.

It's hard to upgrade 500 year old buildings sometimes haha