21-Day Cold Shower Challenge

[resilient]

What started from @SeymourCake's thread on Testosterone Crisis and @QuadDeuces mention of Wim Hof (aka Iceman) Method, I thought this deserved its own thread. There's YouTuber who took Hof's 21-day cold shower challenge earlier this year. This guy (HealthyGamer) combined the challenge with power breathing technique seen in the video below.

Benefits of cold shower/bath according to Jack Jones aka HealthyGamer:

• Improve circulation
• Strengthen the immune system
• Improve sleep
• Improve cold tolerance
• Improve your mood
• Increase testosterone
• Stimulate release of growth hormone
• Improve hair and skin
  Source: http://www.thehealthygamer.com/2017...ozen-lakes-iceman-wim-hof-method-documentary/

I'm sure many of these benefits are debatable as usual, so as a skeptical Don Juan, I'm going to give this 21-day cold shower challenge a shot.

On the 21st day, I think I'll either A) fill a bathtub with cold water and a 20 lb bag of ice B) go into an ocean sans wetsuit early in the morning or late at night (I'm on the west coast ).

Any takers?

I'll report my progress/findings in this thread.

Here's @Kamrank's experience with cold showers for a few years ago.

 

[resilient]

I took my first cold shower tonight. Day 1-7 recommended turning the dial in the shower all the way to cold (temp just before the off switch on my shower). I was able to last longer than 30 seconds. I went for 1min+. I think because it's summer, I might not be experiencing the "max" cold temp factor in the shower. In any case, I'll keep the cold temp finish earlier and earlier until it feels more "normal".

I noticed a boost in energy levels after I got out. Good stuff.

 

[QuadDeuces]

I've been doing this for a month, a cold shower every day and the power breathing/controlled hyperventilation with few minutes breath retention about 10x a day.

The increase in mental and emotional clarity and stability is insane.

It's proven to alkalize the body and balance hormones and I can feel it.

 

[Building_and_Loan]

I just started taking cold showers, and I wish I had started sooner.

I only shower at night after I work out or run, so it's a lot easier for my body to handle. I actually start out with warm water and gradually decrease the hot water, and by the end of the shower I can withstand something I didn't think I'd be able to.

I love the feeling after a cold shower. Can't speak to all of those benefits but I definitely think there's something to the lactic acid buildup that cold water helps alleviate. I feel a lot better after a cold vs warm shower.

 

[resilient]

Almost a week into this. I'm starting to turn the dial to its lowest cold setting up from 30 secs to 60 secs+. It feels great and my body conforms to the temperate.

I did power breathing toward the end of last night's shower and felt the weirdest sensation. My body was tingling and pulsing all over. My heart was pounding like hell when I went into rest mode standing still. I need to do more researching of the method so I'm practicing it safely and not just blindly letting myself hyperventilate.

Power breathing is performed by taking a slow deep breath through the nose about 75% of your lung capacity. Breathe in to the stomach using the diaphragm don't just raise the chest. Exhale through the mouth plugging your teeth with your tongue and hiss while tensing the abs until a full contraction has been obtained. Source: DragonDoor
​

@Building_and_Loan, you're correct on reducing lactic acid after a workout. Source:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/men/hygiene/should-man-take-cold-shower-after-workout1.htm

 

[switch7]

Hey.

I've been doing this since December 5th 2016. I do 3 minutes every morning after I've had a warm shower and washed everything. For the first month I changed the temperature gradually but after that I decided to go to from hot to cold in one quick turn of the tap.

I started in the winter so it was pretty hellish haha. Now it's the summer it doesn't bother me, but I can feel the water starting to get colder again.

I'm not really sure I've seen any benefits from the cold showers. Maybe some willpower increase... but still not sure..

 

[Building_and_Loan]

Resilient are you jumping right into a cold shower? I'm not there yet haha, I tried to psyche myself into it last night after a workout heavy on squats and deadlifts but even then I just couldn't.

It usually takes me about 3 minutes to get clean from lukewarm water, then a gradual turn of the dial to colder water. I love it, and it's pretty amazing how your body adjusts to cold water after that first couple of seconds blasts you with cool water.

 

[switch7]

Resilient are you jumping right into a cold shower? I'm not there yet haha, I tried to psyche myself into it last night after a workout heavy on squats and deadlifts but even then I just couldn't.

It usually takes me about 3 minutes to get clean from lukewarm water, then a gradual turn of the dial to colder water. I love it, and it's pretty amazing how your body adjusts to cold water after that first couple of seconds blasts you with cool water.

Just a heads up you shouldn't go cold after a workout, heart rate is too high and you can collapse.

 

[resilient]

Resilient are you jumping right into a cold shower?

No, I turn the dial to the coldest setting after I put conditioner in my hair and let it rest for 60 seconds+.

Just a heads up you shouldn't go cold after a workout, heart rate is too high and you can collapse.

Yeah. That's quite a shock for the body. I generally don't jump straight into the shower after my general workout time 5:30-7:30: pm. I immediately have dinner. I save the shower for the last hour before bed time.

Check out this article: Shower After Workout.

 

[Building_and_Loan]

Just a heads up you shouldn't go cold after a workout, heart rate is too high and you can collapse.

Hmm well I don't go shower immediately after, as I have to drive home, slam a protein shake, then take a shower. So it's about 15 minutes after I stop working out.

But that seems to go against every other piece of information I've found online, that it's good to go cold after a workout or endurance training. I've never felt lightheaded since I've started doing this.

It's not like I would actually classify the water I use as "cold" though, it's more "cool" to be honest.

 

[Çharismo]

I've been taking cold showers for years and usually just jump right in. It feels very invigorating, I feel energized and motivated on top of that. A couple of years ago I worked about 60 - 72 hours a week for about 10 months and the showers helped out big time in waking me up and getting rid of lethargy. I have been waking up with regular morning erections as well so I'm going to assume that it's boosting my testosterone levels on top of everything else. From some of the information I've read cold showers are very beneficial to the body and the overall circulatory system as well, reduction in weight-loss etc.