01/01/2025
Happy New Year!
Sharing our morning ritual we do every day. We start in 101F hot tub and then hit the pool at 39F. The hot tub increases the delta of your body temp and the cold water. We call this the morning suck, as it never gets easy and your brain is always trying to negotiate you out of it, but if you do the hard things first, the rest of day is a bit easier 😊 There is actually a part of the brain called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex that grows when you continually do things that are uncomfortable. This part of the brain is associated with resilience, tenacity and the ability to push through challenging situations. This part of the brain can also atrophy in people that continually avoid difficult situations.
Benefit of the cold plunge is to bring your mind into the present moment, not much else you can think about😊 Entering into the cold water causes your liver to release shock proteins which reduce inflammation, improve muscle recovery, potential protection against neurodegenerative disease, enhanced stress resilience.
Cold plunges also increase brown fat production, unlike white fat which comes from overeating. Brown fat improves fat metabolic activity, better blood sugar regulation and better temperature regulation.
There is a breathing technique we do while in the hot tub and continue during the plunge to calm the mind and body from gasping or creating panic.
Dopamine (feel good chmical in the brain) levels become elevated for 2-5 hours after a cold plunge. To put into perspective, a co***ne high will elevate dopamine for about 10-20 minutes.
We end by finishing with cold shower and allow body to gradually warm.
There is nothing better to start the day and improve your overall mood.
Have a great 2025!!
