To think everyone should accustom themselves to cold water

[silverystream]

It has been quite fashionable in certain circles to take ice baths / cold water baths or showers. Stuff about health benefits and autophagy and reducing inflammation etc.

But beyond this I think it is a really good idea because most drownings occur due to cold water shock. Yet people can get accustomed to sitting baths full of ice cubes! I just watched a thing about Alaska wherby someone fell in icy water and was pulled out pretty quickly. They said if they didn't act quick he would lose his fingers! Yet Wim Hof dove under the ice and swam underwater and I think holds a world record for this. Isn't it a good idea to start taking cold water baths in order to build up resilience?

I think so and take a cold water bath everyday. Cold tap water doesn't even feel that cold after a while.

What do you think?

I think I'll take the risk. I'll enjoy my hot showers each day and accept that if I fall into icy water my bad odds will be slightly worse. I'll also accept that some (but not all) of the health benefits I enjoy from not smoking will be negated by my lack of cold water tolerance.
I'll probably survive, but if I don't at least I'll be comfortable before I die!

Bold fail. First sentence of last post was quoting, lazylinguist.

I doubt having a cold bath or shower acclimatises for cold water shock.
if you fall into icy water accidentally it will be a shock.
wim hof is an extreme sports person and trains a lot for his adventures.

Eskewed that's a really good idea.

Maybe there will be some more tips on the thread.

trying not to laugh out loud reading this thread

I've spent the last 15 years building up an immunity to iocain powder

Drive a car into a brick wall at increasing speeds until you've learned how to relax into the impact to cause minimal injury.

If I dressed it up as an anti-aging "Spa" experience I bet some would do it....It always amazes me what people will pay in spas...

Anyway I think it's fab. Makes me feel very Viking!

Cold showers have helped generations of public school boys to occupy the upper echelons of business, politics, the military etc etc - must be something in it.

wim hof is an extreme sports person and trains a lot for his adventures

Anyone can train. Where do you think the training starts? He shows it is possible. He's just an ordinary man not superhuman.

I like to practise diving down my stairs. I've broken most bones but perfected my landing now. 👍

I'm not sure I have time to add regular ice-baths to my routine.

I already climb up to the roof and back down again on Mondays in case I ever find myself slipping down a mountain and need to be good at catching myself. On Tuesdays I drip hot wax on myself to build up heat-resistance in case of a fire. On Wednesdays I eat small amounts of toxic berries and the like to build up resistance in case someone tries to poison me. On Thursdays I hold my breath for ever increasing periods of time in case of accidental suffocation. On Fridays I go out and provoke the local wildlife and then fight them off with a stick in case I'm ever attacked by a wolf or bear or lion.

I suppose I could do it at the weekend...

Laughing out loud at people earnestly asking about the Dorothy Perkins story not realising it was a joke 😂😂😂

I'm guessing that Hof guy doesn't do it on a wim?

I'm not sure I have time to add regular ice-baths to my routine.

Just take a cold bath or shower instead of a warm one. Simple. And very environmental friendly

I think it is a good idea to do this - I love open water swimming and wild swimming - live in the Midlands though :(.

Thing is, I think you should subject your body to extremes in controlled circumstances - it primes you and keeps you alert on a fundamental level which is so lacking in modern life. Plus cold water resistance could save your life.

There is no accident that sedentary people who never physically challenge themselves will be the most vulnerable to depression and anxiety. It is not a complete cure all but you cannot have a healthy mind without a healthy body.

Plus during my last bout of depression I could think ' I might be an unemployable freak but I can swim 1km in 30 minutes in open water and crank out a cluster of pull-ups.'

I regularly jump off objects, starting with pavements & low walls, moving on to more ambitious items like garage roofs & trees. Soon, I will be able to withstand a fall from a plane.

I'm guessing that Hof guy doesn't do it on a wim?

Sadly, no. Look him up. After a tragic event it saved him from losing his mind and made life worth living for him. Gave him something to focus on.

I expose my body to the effect of chocolate every day. Those islet cells aren't going to train themselves.

Ffs 🤣

Ah yes, I agree OP. I heard a lot of people die of anaphylactic shock due to nut allergies, so I've taken to sitting in a bath of mixed nuts every night to build up a tolerance, just in case.

John, thank you. That's along the line of my thinking.

I expose my body to the effect of chocolate every day. Those islet cells aren't going to train themselves.

Just remember you've got to build up slowly! Don't want them to go into shock!