Cold Exposure. How much is to much?

[Lorcan]

I want to practice the Wim Hof method into overdrive.

 

I want to attempt to carry a 30lb rock (kind of heavy by my standard) in -1 celsius (30.2 farenheit) only wearing some cotton trousers and shoes 3 miles to my nearest town and back. (3 miles or 4.3km)

The whole journey will take me 3 hours (Under normal circumstances, it is a 1 hour walk to the town, and 1 hour back, but carrying the rock will make it slower)

Is this to much? Should I lose the rock?

What I know how long I can stay out in the cold wearing next to nothing without dying/going unconscious/ or sustaining some sort of injury (frost bitten fingers etc)

 

In the following conditions how long can I remain outside wearing next to nothing:

- The Temperature is -1 degrees celsius (30.2 farenheit)

- 7mph

-Wearing cotton cargo-pants and shoes. 

-Roughly 80% humidity

 

How dangerous is the cold? I tried googling how long you can stay out in the cold. Some study on how long you can stay in freezing water comes up but that is about it.

If Wim Hof can do it. So can I right? What he can do, he trained himself to do, so likewise. I can train myself also.

 

[Adam M]

You're gonna kill yourself.  

Hypothermia is a real thing.

Wim Hoff uses breathing techniques to maintain his inner body temp.  

Start with small steps.  First do ice cold showers/baths. 

I am no expert about wim Hoff method but you should research this more before you do anything too extreme

 

[wavydude]

Lately I've been runing same distance 4-5km in similar condition. I wear t-shirt and sweatshirt  and pants ofc.

I don't realy feel cold except for my hands and maybe head so if you're gonna do it definately wear gloves and cap.

It takes me 25-30min to complete the run so 3h is something much  different. If you have no experience with runing or cold just start smaller dude or you gonna hurt yourself.

[Ugly Wolf]

Do you want to practice the Wim Hof method because you are striving for resilience, health and more willpower?

If you are, you should rather start a daily cold shower morning routine. Getting youself to carry a rock for 3 hours once is way easier than getting into the cold shower day after day when you have a vivid memory of how painful and uncomfortable it is. Besides, that is the way Wim Hof would do it.

Doing an epic 3 hour walk is the reward for building up brown fat tissue over time by sticking to your routine.

It's really hard. I've had dozens of first cold showers ;-)

19 hours ago, Lorcan said:

 If Wim Hof can do it. So can I right?

No.

19 hours ago, Lorcan said:

What he can do, he trained himself to do, so likewise. I can train myself also.

Exactly.

[Max_V]

Start with small steps. Wim hof didn't immediately go jump into ice lakes for 3 hours like he has done  when he just started. 

Implement the habit of taking a cold shower every day. I started doing this and it produces amazing results. Not only on a physical level but on a psychological level as well.

If you want to go deeper with this stuff, check out his website and course. I plan on eventually buying his course as well to go deeper with this method.

[Lorcan]

 

I sleep on a yoga mat with a thin polyester blanket on top of the mat, 2 pillows and my bedcovers. I will slowly wean myself off these comforts as I become tougher and adapt to become more resilient to the cold.

I have my alarm set for 4:30 am every night for the past week. When I wake up. I go back to sleep due to a lack of willpower (me being lazy).

I want to have someway of doing the cold exposure part of the wim hof method without using the shower or bath. Taking on the shower or bath is very loud and we will wake everyone in my house up.

 

So, I have an idea for a compromise.

Cold is cold right? So 15 minutes just wearing trousers and shoes in -1 will do the same thing as a cold shower right?

If not, what I can do is leave two , 5 litre bottles of water sitting outside overnight so they get really cold. So when I wake up at 4:30, I can go outside, strip down, and pour the freezing water onto me whilst deep breathing and perhaps sprinting to increase body heat and deepen breathing even more.

The whole duration of this , in and a around, 10 minutes.

 

Sounds good? Right?

[Ugly Wolf]

That sounds great :-)

I admire your goals and both methods sound very practicable.

The one with wearing trousers and shoes has the benefit that you can move at the same time and get some exercise, so you don't have to muster the will power later.

The one with the water bottles sounds good too. The discomfort is much more extreme and more abrupt. When it gets colder, you could maybe wrap the bottles with towels so the water doesn't freeze overnight ;-) OR just use cold water from the tap. If you stay outside afterwards you'll be freezing anyway.

What do you think, which method would fit your main goal better? I'd love to know which one you decide for and how it's working out :-)

[Lorcan]

I will probably do the one that involves pouring water over myself.

More exposure that way.

If I start getting really cold. I will have a towel handy to dry up and access to go inside my house whenever I want.

 

What about you?

[Ugly Wolf]

I started several times, but I never persevered for more than a month. Luckily it isn't a problem for me to take a shower any time of day, so there were no real hurdles actually....

I've always been a wuss when it comes to being cold. Maybe now that I exercise regularly and have a bit of muscle mass to warm me up afterwads, I should give it another try and I won't freeze as badly.

Ok, how about a deal? Something like a cold shower challenge? ;-)

 

Edited December 1, 2017 by Ugly Wolf
more fitting word

[Lorcan]

What age are you?

[Ugly Wolf]

In my twenties. I'll send you a PM to work out the details ;-)

[Shroomdoctor]

@Lorcan Be careful not trying to overachieve. Having those goals is fine, but sound kind of neurotic. For example taking your sleeping schedule: Wake up at 6 and actually do it instead of going for 4:30 every day and sleeping in again.  

[Spiral]

I suppose sleeping between 20.00 and 04.00 is the most optimal if you preform best after 8 hours of sleep. This way you base your sleep around the sun which should peak at midday. If you are less than 20 you might need more sleep. 9 hours maybe for instance. 

Getting sunlight lifts mood and is overall good for the body.

Edited December 28, 2017 by Spiral

[Mike Rivers]

hello!

I also do the wim hof method. I suggest you treat it like lifting weights. you dont want to walk in the gym and bench press 315lbs right away for you will get hurt. Progressively overload the cold exposure and listen to your body accordingly without hurting your self. you can increase the time of you being exposed, as well as the temperature of the water. Only do this mondays through fridays, do not do cold exposure on the weekends in order to give your body an opportunity to recover and come back stronger. When your body is weak, (like when you are sick or have not slept well) take a break!

in conclusion, take it easy. dont try to become sub zero from mortal combat. humans have not evolved to be exposed to the cold too much and you can definitely harm your body. Good luck brother!