A case for the less sexy cold option

Cold exposure is amazing. The benefits include increased metabolism and fat burning, reduced inflammation, shorter recovery time, increased collagen synthesis, better skin, fewer wrinkles, improved mood, and on and on.

You may have seen the hype around these cold-hot cycling places, like contrast studios, and cryotherapy places are popping up everywhere. There is no question this is a positive trend. If you aren’t doing cold exposure already, you should be.

But here’s the rub. A lot of these trendy places have friction involved. By ‘friction’ I mean there is a cost or there is inherently something about them that make it hard to build a habit around. They are expensive, you must drive somewhere, and they take up precious time out of your day. So, when you get busy, or tired, you simply won’t go. If you are keeping a budget, or trying to save money, these places will seem exorbitant. Sure, you could reduce some of the friction by setting up your own cold plunge or ice bath at home. Cold plunges start around $5000 so there is a big upfront cost. Or, you could just drop ice into your bath tub, but getting that much ice every day requires effort too. If you must drive to the store to buy ice of course you won’t do that very often. So, all of these options have friction. And when something has friction you are less likely to do it.

Here's the answer. Eliminate the friction and take a cold shower instead. Sure, it isn’t as sexy as that video of you sitting in the cold plunge or ice bath, but you know what? It works just as well, if not better, and costs almost nothing. It adds just seconds or a minute or two to your daily shower routine. And especially right now where I live in Ohio, my water is in the low 50’s F which makes the benefits of a cold shower greater than a cold tub or cryo. That’s because when we sit still in cold water, or stand in a cryo chamber, a thin layer of heat develops around our body that shields us somewhat from the cold water of the tub or the cold gas in the cryo chamber. In a shower, the layer of heat is constantly swept away.  

But perhaps the biggest benefit of the cold shower is that it takes away ALL OF YOUR EXCUSES. I don’t have time to go to the cryo place. I don’t feel like driving there. Cold plunging is too expensive. I ran out of ice for my tub.

If you don’t yet have a cold exposure routine and are anything less than 100% satisfied with your energy level, your body composition/weight, muscle soreness, recovery time, overall health, or motivation, then you need to start doing this.

Start here. At the end of your normal hot shower today, or tomorrow, turn the water ALL THE WAY COLD. Let the water hit your face, forehead, and chest directly. Stand there for just 10 or 15 seconds the first time. I promise you won’t die. Your brain will say you are going to die. Don’t believe it. If your brain is saying ‘But I don’t like the cold’ or ‘I’m not a cold person’. Too bad. Do it in spite of those things. Who actually likes the cold or is a ‘cold person’ anyway? You don’t do it because you like it. You do it because you DON’T like it. Because it is HARD. Because you, your body and mind, will get stronger for doing it.

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