5 Rounds for reps
Max reps body weight bench press
Supine ring rows
rest 3 minutes between each round
*Score is total reps for the bench press and supine ring rows scored separately.
Post reps to BTWB
Most of us, at least I hope anyways, take showers in the morning. It’s part of our daily ritual, helps us wake up, and it’s just hygienic really. How many of you take a cold shower in the morning? I’m not talking you turn the cold water on a little to cool the hot water, I’m talking about turning the dial to the C or if you have a two dial system, not even touching the H one. Joe Rogan had a great podcast a few episodes back about cold water immersion and cryotherapy and the benefits to the body for recovery and energy.
I’ve been reading and hearing more and more about the benefit of a cold shower in the morning, I’m talking mountain spring water from melted snow cold too. Ice baths are common during CrossFit competitions and many professionals athletes in major sports also utilize ice baths to help relieve sore muscles and reduce inflammation. But what about a freezing cold shower first thing in the morning? An article on the FastCompany website dug a little deeper in the benefits. Here are a few of the takeaways from the article and the link can be found at the end of the blog.
In the simplest terms, cold water can flood the mood regulating areas of our brain with happy neurotransmitters. Separate studies have show that winter swimmers, people that swim in cold water, have a decrease in tension and fatigue as well as improved mood and memory.
Here’s a way to give it a shot yourself and see if you experience the benefits. Instead of jumping into a cold shower, start with a hot one and slowly lower the temperate until the water is cold to the touch and the skin. Once it’s at the cold to the touch temperature, stand under if for 2 – 3 minutes. This was the template the participants that reported the above results followed.
I am very adverse to temperature whether hot or cold. It takes me forever to get in a hot tub and cold tubs or ice baths are just as bad. I’ve been trying the above formula of starting warm and lowering the temperature gradually and I’ve been able to make it up to 1 minute. I’m hoping to be at the recommended 2 – 3 minutes in the next week or so.
Has anyone else tried cold showers or use them regularly? Click HERE for the full FastCompanyarticle.
