Cold water swimming - warming up after swim

[Todayissunny]

I swam a few days ago. The water is about 10 degrees but dropping. Air temperature is much colder (we've got snow). I have the luxury of being able to go into a warm house after the swim, but it took me hours to warm up again properly. I had a hot drink and wrapped up warm. I love the cold water swim but am reluctant to go in again, because I can't warm up afterwards.
Any tips?

Hot bath is the only thing that works for me.

I have a warm bath about an hour after, then get in bed with my electric blanket on. It’s my favourite but!

You need something sugary as well, I have hot vimto and a couple of chocolate brownies.

How long have you been swimming for? The first winter I did open water swimming I felt like you on the coldest days. But the last few years it hasn’t been anywhere near as bad.

I think getting dressed and warm quickly afterwards is key - near me the seasoned swimmers put their feet in washing up bowls of warm water afterwards. I haven’t tried it yet but they’ve been swimming for a long time.

I find every swim different. Are you skins or wetsuit?

Its definitely better changing inside. When you get out pop dry robe or similar on. Get something on your head quickly then for me socks as it’s my feet that feels the worst. When dressed We then do a mile walk around our lake and I really struggle on days we don’t do that. We then have a cuppa and something to eat.

Also listen to you body you can’t stay in the same every time.

if the last time you swam it was 10 it was 2.9 here yesterday so just dip and out that’s a massive difference.

Google The Horse Stance, I went on a Wim
Hof workshop and we were told this is the best natural way to warm up.

Warm water and a bit of powdered mustard in a washing up bowl then dunk your feet in. It heats you very effectively but be careful not to put too much mustard in or you'll self combust.

Not anywhere near as cold but when younger and in (rainy and cold) camping hols in England our parents always got us running up and down the beach to warmup once we had been in the sea. Obv much harder when you have boobs to contend with but could you do this to get your blood flowing again? I’ve not been exercising the past couple of weeks and noticed how much more I’m feeling the cold without doing some
cardio every day

I read you shouldn't have a hot bath or shower but make sure you get dressed quickly and have a warm drink and sweet snack. Last time I did this my friend and I took hot choc in a flask and had a rock bun.
It worked much better than going home and having a hot shower. I would then get cosy at home and have another hot drink.

The lake I swim at has this advice, hot showers are not advised

Get warm clothes (I leave mine in an insulated bag with a hot water bottle in so they are actually warm) on as fast as possible - a onesie, bobble hat, ugg type boots and then a big coat is ideal, no messing around. I then put my hot water bottle between my onesie and coat/changing robe and drink hot chocolate.
Def don't shower/bath for at least an hour afterwards as it can make you faint and messes with your body sorting itself out - it needs to put your core back up to temperature first and then your skin and periphery. The same with putting your feet in hot water, which also has the added risk of chilblains
Gentle walking to generate heat is great as your muscles make a lot of heat, but with temperatures as they are you need to watch that it could make you colder.

This is where I swim too.

They were issuing warnings on the way in yesterday as it had dropped so much

Thanks for all your replies. Great tips here. I don't shower afterwards- I realise my body needs to recover itself.
@Fantina I started last year but the water temp dropped from 9 to 6 degrees very suddenly (heavy snow) and I couldn't face it after that. I want to keep going this year though. Nice to hear it gets better after a few years.
I'll try something sweet with the hot drink and instead of curling up under a blanket I'll try to run around for a while.
@blobby10 we did that as kids too and I've alwaystold mykids the same. No beach here though, but it's a good idea to try to move a bit.
@NoelNoNoel I'll have a look at the website. Thanks for recommending.

As others have said, don't just jump in a hot bath or shower!

Come out of the water before you start shivering (before you think you need to come out really) as your body continues to lose heat for some time after you've left the water. Hot drink to warm you up from the inside, plenty of layers and a hot water bottle to help things along.

I swam in 3 degrees and ice this morning!

Agree with all the Lake 32 advice (swam there a month ago for the first time). Get your trunk warm first by getting the wet costume off and layers on your top - I don't bother with a bra, just a thermal long-sleeved top and a hoodie, then a padded coat over the top.

A woolly hat is always good. Then a sweet treat and a hot drink. I take an insulated food bag with a hot water bottle in which I wrap my thermal top around while I swim. Then it's nice and toasty when you put it on! My towel goes in the bag too. You can also then tuck the hot water bottle into your coat.

I really rate this lady for advice on cold water swimming - especially how long to stay in - now its freezing you really do need to be out of the water as soon as your extremities are cold. She has a great video on the dark art of changing after a swim.

I prefer a hot soup after a swim - a bone broth or similar to hot chocolate - seems to warm me up faster.

Sorry a link would have been helpful
www.everydayathleterach.co.uk/

Get changed asap - I find I get colder wriggling out of wetsuit than just swimming skins, so I swim skins skins 51 weeks of the year.
Star jumps
Hot drink
Warm car or warm house
Something carby to eat
Don't have a hot shower for an hour or so.

Look at some of the Dr Mike Harper videos online/YouTube.

Most of my swim spots have a 10 min walk back to the car. That always helps. I've only ever suffered from afterdrop where there been no walk- hence the star jumps.

I do a fair bit of cold water swimming and suffered a lot from post swim chills. Did a Wim Hof course (ice baths..) course this year and we learned that if you try to get warm straight after a cold swim your blood vessels expand and allow cold blood back in which causes the chills. Best to move (google horse stance), jump around and slowly warm up. Don't take hot shower or bath until you feel warm.
Swam this weekend , 6 degrees, hard to put this into practice but did and didn't have chills/chill blains.