Up Your Stamina with Cold Exposure

Ok, ok, now don't jump to conclusions. I am not a fan of frost bite or anything like that.

But lately I've been pondering Tim Ferriss' and Tony Robbins praises of "cold plunges" followed by "hot/warm plunges"....Both Tim and Tony are motivational "Type A" men
and they are BOTH HUGE fans of cold plunges. They use cold plunges into icy waters to "reset" something within themselves.( see Tony's blurb about the power of cold plunges HERE.)
( see Wikipedia's description of Contrast Bath Therapy HERE as Tim Ferris podcast suggests on his
("The Random Show")

So, since we are still in the thick of our wonderfully convenient CHILLY Ontario, Canada winter, I've decided to give my two cents about my experience with similar phenomena.

For the record, I have not yet done a professional "cold plunge" into icy water.
And No, I have not gone to the store to buy ice and thrown it into my bathtub to create my own indoor "cold plunge tank".

But what I have done, is simply RELAX more as I do force myself to go out for 20 minutes walks into the chilly winter air that currently surrounds my home.I used to hate the cold, and blamed my middle age on my lack of "cold tolerance". But lately I've been tweaking my perspective. Cold can be good. Cold can help me live better and feel better. 

So, before I go outside I bundle up; I wear a fab coat with excellent winter protection. Occasionally I wear a hat or hood  to combat falling/blowing snow, because there are some days that are just sooo cold that my big hair no longer is sufficient to insulate my head ....lol.

Growing up in Ontario, tobogganing and building snowmen was part and parcel of being a kid.
My recent ponderings of "pro cold plunges" brought back to my remembrance how I felt when I would come back home from a raucous afternoon of tobogganing.
 I remember rozy red cheeks.... feeling pumped and on top of the world. Perhaps there was some kind of internal "resetting" going on then too.
I recall feeling so refreshed and energized. I recall icy blue skies and seeing our breaths as we plodded back home dragging whatever was left of our dented toboggans. Back then, we actually had a steel toboggan. I don't think I've ever seen a steel toboggan since I was a kid.

So what's my point? Maybe Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins are simply restating an obvious fact that I did know experientially to be true. I experience it again, whenever I do force myself to go outside for a very chilly winter walk. After only 20 minutes of walking in the frigid winter outdoor air I come inside and find myself feeling renewed, refreshed and yes, a definitely delightful boost of stamina and exhilaration.

Is that adrenaline? Is that my body's response to the outdoor air's attempt to lower my body temp?
Is that simply the affect of fresher outdoor air replacing stale indoor air in my lungs?
I have no idea.

All  I know, is that, being out in the cold even for a brief 20 minute walk, while fully dressed in winter garb, gives my stamina a great kick in the pants. I simply feel better.

Thank you to Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss for making it "cool" to get cold ")

How 'bout you? What gets you feeling better in the winter months?

Ttys,
Carla.

DISCLAIMER: Note that the author and publisher of this blog does not accept any liability for the ideas discussed in this blog post or any other post on this blog. This post is intended for conversational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as advice or medical advice. Medical advice should always been sought from licensed medical professionals. Before undertaking any new or unusual activities seek advice from a licensed medical practitioner.




Tweet

Changing State a la Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins

So, are you familiar with Tony Robbins teaching about "Changing State"?

Well, in a nut shell, Tony studied many different methods we mere humans can utilize to
quickly and easily "change our state". His reasoning is that when we are stuck in a mental funk, the easiest thing to do is to change our physical state and that state change will result in an improvement in our mental and emotional state.

So, one of the habits that Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss have in common is the method  of
"cold plunges" into freezing cold water. It is said that this will reset us internally and result in a more energetic and positive mind set. ( Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice, and should not be perceived as any kind of suggestion. Please consult your licensed medical practitioner.)

Well, I've never tried a cold plunge, other than jumping into a cold Ontario lake in early summer.....or perhaps an unheated pool. But recently I did go for a walk in probably minus 10 degrees weather. The wind was so cold, I could feel my cheeks turning bright pink and the wind whipped the cold air into an even stronger burst of icy air current.

But once I got over the shock of it all, I did find that I actually felt terrific after my subzero walk.
Hmmm, maybe I'll do this again.

You see, Ontario winters can be long and dreary and  it can be easy to slip into a mid-winter funk, simply because if you aren't into any winter sports, it's easy to spend virtually all of your time indoors and without fresh air and sunshine.

So, my brief 20 minutes walking out into the subzero cold Ontario winter, DID do something cool for me mentally and emotionally. It took a while to kick in, but it almost felt like a burst of adrenaline...similar to a "runner's high.".

Well, that's it. Have you tried anything lately to boost your mood and/or energy in the wintertime?

Looking forward to reading your comments below.

Peace,
Carla.



Tweet