Brrrrrriliant idea to take an Ice Bath

in Reflections7 days ago

Ice Bath

Herself got me this for Father's day. It was a very thoughtful present. She knows I went through a phase of having a cold shower every day. I did it for a year and I felt great during this time.

Lately I have my normal run of the mill shower and for the last two or three minutes, I put it on full cold.

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This present means that I can do a full cold plunge out the back of my house, which is exactly what I've done a few times now.

I add loads of ice packs including the ones shown below.

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It gets icy cold in there.

I put on some tunes.

Take a dip and stay in for approximately fifteen minutes.

It feels great in there if I'm to be completely honest, although when I eventually get out, it does take a good while to warm up.

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I accidentally made this ice art when I was in there and stayed in there until this and all the other ice cubes and ice blocks melted.

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As I said it felt good and here's what Chat GPT says about why it's a good idea to have Ice baths:

  1. Reduces Muscle Soreness & Inflammation
    Cold water constricts blood vessels, which helps flush out metabolic waste and reduces swelling, easing muscle soreness after intense exercise (especially DOMS — delayed onset muscle soreness).

  2. Speeds Up Recovery
    By reducing inflammation and improving circulation, ice baths can help muscles recover faster, allowing you to train more consistently and effectively.

  3. Boosts Circulation
    The cold causes your blood vessels to constrict, then dilate afterward, promoting healthy blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body.

  4. Enhances Mental Toughness
    Sitting in freezing water requires serious willpower. Regular exposure can build resilience, discipline, and grit.

  5. May Improve Mood & Reduce Stress
    Cold exposure triggers the release of endorphins and norepinephrine, which can elevate mood and reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

  6. Improves Sleep Quality
    Some people report better sleep after ice baths, likely due to lowered inflammation, reduced cortisol, and a drop in core body temperature.

  7. Supports Immune Function
    Cold exposure may stimulate the immune system by increasing white blood cell count and metabolic rate, helping your body better fend off illness.

  8. Boosts Alertness & Energy
    The shock of cold water can increase oxygen intake, heart rate, and alertness, providing a natural energy boost — especially in the morning.

  9. May Help Burn Fat
    Cold exposure activates brown fat, a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat, which may support weight loss and better metabolic health.

  10. Enhances Skin & Hair Health
    Cold water can tighten pores, improve skin tone, and make hair appear shinier and stronger by flattening hair follicles.

Thanks as always for stopping by everyone

Peace Out

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Holy sheets, I don't think I could stick 15 minutes but the benefits are sure impressive. I used to take a cold shower after a work out...for about 30 seconds and even that nearly killed me.

It's all habit and to be honest it's not pure freezing either

It's far colder than coldest setting on shower but not as cold as a plunge pool

You definitely feel better after it though

That's such a thoughtful present. I was reading the news today that the England women football team have been having some sort of freezing cryo treatment to help relax their muscles, so the ice bath must be good for you. Can you relax and lean back in there as it looks like it might topple over and a little cramped for a tall guy.

BTW, love your large garden!

Ya I thought it was a very thoughtful myself.

That Freezing Cryo treatment must have done the trick for the English women's team!?

You can actually sit down quite comfortably inside. I'm around six foot and had plenty of room tbh

Thanks for nice comment about thd garden, it's one of the advantages of living outside the city I suppose

That's funny, I do the same thing with my showers. I'm going to have to try one of these ice baths.

So good for you. You should definitely give it a try.

I have always wanted to try one of these, but then I remember I swim in a hole cut into the frozen lake every winter. Though, it is not for 15 minutes!

Do you feel the difference?

Oooooooooh I'd love to try that cold lake swimming!

I bet that you feel amazing and revitalised when do that..

Ya I'm definitely in better form on the days I take an ice bath 👍🏻

May Improve Mood

I'm not feeling it 😂 great to hear it works for you.

Ha ha

Definitely not for everyone

My wife thinks I'm a nutter!