Comments on: 5 health benefits of cold water swimming

By: Tim Moss

Tim Moss — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:13:06 +0000

Super comment Matt, thank you.

I got into it in a similar way when I had no option but to wash in glacial melt water for a month. It started off as a novel trial of endurance and ended up being the highlight of my day.

May all your showers be cold, sir!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:59:34 +0000

I am so glad that I am not the only one who has experienced the addictiveness of the cold water endorphin rush. Years ago in Tasmania, the coldest state in Australia, I took a cold water bath every night for about a month to test a claim I had read that cold water boosts the immune system and prevents colds and flus. I did not look forward to the first few baths but I was surprised by how good I felt after the shock of the first few minutes of freezing water had worn off, and a state of what I can only describe as post-coital well-being settled in. After about two weeks I started to look forward to the bath, and by the end of the month the expectation of feeling good started as soon I ‘hit’ the water. The main outcome of the experiment was that I developed am amazing tolerance to the cold, wearing shorts and T-shirts throughout winter, shocking people who were rugged up in coats and scarves. The other effect was that I did not get sick for two years. I also lost quite a bit of weight. In retrospect I should have at least taken a few every month to keep my immune system boosted but I stopped at some point. Anyway, I was reminded of these effects yesterday when my hot water service went off and I had to have two cold showers in a row. Initially I hated the first shower but then that old endorphin rush happened, and it was like being reacquainted with an old friend. I looked forward to the second shower. Now that it is the weekend and I can relax I am hungering for a nice, long cold bath. I am sure that I must some kind of endorphin junkie!

By: Tim Moss

Tim Moss — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:03:43 +0000

Hi Laura

Thanks for your comment. I’m not a specialist on the subject, I just compiled some information for the article. Here’s what I’d suggest…

If your sole aim is to lose weight then a gym may work for you as it’s nice and controlled with a read out telling you how many calories you’ve burned.

However, aside from the myriad other wonderful things about swimming the great outdoors, I think the enjoyment of it can encourage you to go more frequently and to stay in for longer (rather than groaning at the thought of another gym session and shooting off as soon as you’ve hit your target distance in the pool/ or on the treadmill).

For length of time, I imagine anything from a one-minute shower upwards would give some benefit. As for your heart, I am afraid I am not in a position to advise.

Enjoy the water.

Tim.

By: Laura Forde

Laura Forde — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:07:32 +0000

Having just tried cold water swimming I am interested in doing it again- there seems to be a lot of conflicting evidence however, does the cold really speed up your metabolism as some say you burn equal calories to warmer sports and generally eat more afterwards CAUSING weight increase??

Should I just pack it in and hit the gym? Also, how long do you advise doing it for in order to get the health benefits you mentioned?

Also, if my heart was not a problem in my braving the icy waters, can I assume that it is relatively healthy?

Thanks.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:49:32 +0000

Great stuff. I haven’t made the effort to do any cold water swimming but I really should, as it would complement the cold shower nicely. Managed to stick to the ‘no hot showers until 2011′ target so far – I don’t even think about it any more.

And it’s good to read a longer article

By: lee hughes

lee hughes — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:26:52 +0000

Cold water is addictive!

I am lucky to have a power shower with very cold water.. So cold it hurts!

I find myself sometimes like a crazed drug addict thinking it’s not cold enough!

Need ice!!