Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Cold showers/Cold water swimming for health

36 replies

GinJeanie · 17/04/2021 21:49

I listened to Michael Mosley earlier talking about the huge benefits of cold water showers (or swimming). Apparently, it's terribly good for your immune system and mental health. I tried it myself and managed 7 seconds! 😬 You're meant to do 1-2 minutes. Does anyone actually do this and does it work? I'm also interested in hearing if anyone would recommend cold water swimming...

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v83f

OP posts:
480Widdio · 17/04/2021 21:52

There is a Facebook Group,Open Water Swimming,I belong to it.Good for advice.

FedNlanders · 17/04/2021 21:53

I try. It helps headaches

aibutohavethisusername · 17/04/2021 22:24

I swim outside all year but in a heated pool. I have swam in rivers before too. I find that the cold air and warm (relative) water temp helps my mental health. I love swimming in the pool when it is snowing.

PickleSarnie · 17/04/2021 22:28

Open water swimming is bloody awesome. You will need to take your time and acclimatise. Never jump into the water, wait until your breathing is under control and only stay in a few minutes at a time (you'll hear people giving a rule of thumb of '1 minute per degree (temperature)' but I actually think you should listen to how you feel and always err on the side of caution.) Always go with someone. Even if they are just on the waters edge keeping an eye on you.

There are a bazillion fb groups - find a local one to discover spots and find swim buddies.

I am always buzzing afterwards.

LemonRoses · 17/04/2021 22:30

I’ve been in the sea today. It’s fabulous. Lovely and sunny on the beach but water still a refreshing 9 degrees.
We do year round but this year it’s been difficult due to lockdown rules.
I’m absolutely convinced it is good for the health in all sorts of ways. I love outdoor swimming, but dislike indoor pools that are full of chlorine with hot sticky changing rooms. They don’t leave you with that wonderfully tingling fresh glow.

I’ve swam most of the year since I was about four. We used to go from start of Easter holidays to at least the end of October half term.

Delatron · 17/04/2021 22:35

I do the cold showers most day and I’m up to a couple of minutes. No idea if it helps my immune system but I feel good afterwards.

I swim in a local lake from about May when it’s open. Would love to to live near the sea. I’d swim in it all year round.

Delatron · 17/04/2021 22:36

Also hate indoor swimming pool with shit loads of chlorine. Would prefer weeds round my feet!

CarmelBeach · 17/04/2021 22:38

I can do a full shower and hair wash in the cold water.

I don't think it makes any difference to me, except on a summer's day.

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2021 22:41

I have tried the cold shower thing (it's good for your hair too apparently) but I last seconds not minutes.
I am not a fan of swimming full stop so there's no way I'd be doing cold water swimming.

MowldyStupidAndAssive · 17/04/2021 22:42

I'd love to start cold water swimming, except I can't swim Sad I think I have a faulty swim bladder because I literally just....sink Confused Staying afloat is really hard work for me, I've even had swimming lessons as an adult where the instructor was baffled and agreed that I do just naturally sink!

lljkk · 17/04/2021 22:44

I don't understand how to stop the terrible pain in one's hands from the cold exposure. I know that neoprene gloves don't work to stop it (open water swimming on summer days).

How long do people shiver for after they get out of the cold shower? Given I normally shiver for a minute or 2 after getting out of our usual tepid shower. (I find it tepid).

A channel swimmer said "Oh you just get use to the cold". But she's a channel swimmer. I know I inherently don't have anything in common with her.

MsFogi · 17/04/2021 22:46

Out of interest should it be a cold shower at the beginning or end of the shower?

weneednopants · 17/04/2021 22:46

There is an old boy in his 80's that lives in my road. He swims in the sea everyday of the year. He has done this for as long as ive known him (30+ years) If you didn't know him and just met him you would think he was 20 years younger than he is.
I would say it's definitely been positive for him. He is much braver than I. I only dare to go in in late August early September Blush

CarmelBeach · 17/04/2021 22:48

@MowldyStupidAndAssive

I'd love to start cold water swimming, except I can't swim Sad I think I have a faulty swim bladder because I literally just....sink Confused Staying afloat is really hard work for me, I've even had swimming lessons as an adult where the instructor was baffled and agreed that I do just naturally sink!
When I was a child, I was told that too. It was nonsense. One day we had a different teacher and she basically had me lift my tummy more. Now I love to float! Not sure I'd enjoy it in cold water though.
Elouera · 17/04/2021 22:48

I sometimes do a cold shower. I start off with a normal, warm temperature shower as usual, then gradually turn the hot water lower and lower. I take a few minutes before it just gets too cold. I can tolerate a gradual change, rather jumping under freezing water!

Delatron · 17/04/2021 22:55

@MsFogi I turn the water to cold at the end. I actually think the best way is to do the whole thing cold but I can’t do that yet. Maybe in summer.

Definitely not cold then hot though.

Original poster
GinJeanie · 17/04/2021 23:19

@weneednopants - your neighbour sounds amazing!
I'm intrigued to try the swimming so thanks all for the tips. Will check out FB group first I think as have no idea where people go in my neck of the woods... will keep trying with the showers too (although I'm a hot bath person usually) 😬

OP posts:
weneednopants · 17/04/2021 23:33

@GinJeanie He really is. I've lived in this street for 25 years and he hasn't missed a day yet. You can set a watch by him. He goes at the same time every morning. I've never known him to have so much as a sniffle in this whole time!! He still went when it was -4 with ice covering the beach! 🥶🥶

spikyplants2021 · 17/04/2021 23:38

I tried it. I had to gradually start the shower at a slightly colder temperature each time and build up (or down rather lol).

I don't think it occured to me to have a hot shower then blast the cold, that would have been the easy way lol.

CarmelBeach · 17/04/2021 23:44

[quote weneednopants]@GinJeanie He really is. I've lived in this street for 25 years and he hasn't missed a day yet. You can set a watch by him. He goes at the same time every morning. I've never known him to have so much as a sniffle in this whole time!! He still went when it was -4 with ice covering the beach! 🥶🥶[/quote]
I really admire that kind of discipline. Not just the cold swim but the whole "you can set your watch" thing.

Stillfunny · 18/04/2021 05:25

I live near the sea and it has become very popular. Also easier now as there are so many aids to make it more pleasant. Wetsuits, boots , gloves and now these dry robes that look like a long duvet for afterwards.
Seems to be the new way to socialise as it is outdoors and easy to keRTp distance.

Original poster
GinJeanie · 18/04/2021 07:12

@Stillfunny - just wondering, it sounds WAY better with a wetsuit 😋, but does it still do the same (apparently) miraculous things I wonder? Mosley was talking about the initial stress response to the low temperature of the water as being key.

OP posts:
Prokupatuscrakedatus · 18/04/2021 07:24

I do not now about cold water swimming (not near a body of water and I can't swim) - but the benefit of cold water has been drummed into me by DGM who in her turn had it from her DM: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Kneipp. Its easier in summer. Grin
And I know people who pick holes in frozen rivers and jump in (in Russia).

Stillfunny · 18/04/2021 07:53

@GinJeanie .Mmm dunno about that. Guess it rather defeats the purpose. I know that I used to use a wetsuit to be able to stay in longer, kayaking, etc. You do still get wet.And there are different grades, all the way up to a dry suit, which means you stay completely dry.
I guess for it to be effective, you should just have to go hard core in just a bathing suit.

LemonRoses · 18/04/2021 07:58

Swimming skins definitely has more health benefits but a wetsuit opens it up to more people. That has both benefits and disadvantages

Most swimmers are accommodating and friendly folk who think it is entirely a personal decision about wearing anything other than a swimmer. Many wear a bobble hat to keep heat in, most have something on their feet to avoid pebble pain and cuts.

Getting warm afterwards and avoiding after drop is important. Dry robes or homemade version are useful. There’s a whole market cropping up but all you really need is your swimmers and a towel.

Many really quite old folk do swim year round, despite nagging from their children who seem to have heightened risk awareness and want to infantilise their parents.

It’s not just mental health through cold water. It brings social contact, exercise getting to the water and swimming, improved core stability from walking over uneven surfaces, it maintains agility and improves cognisance. Everyone talks to you at a point many women are becoming invisible.

Swipe left for the next trending thread