Cold Showers and Fat Loss?

Over the years the fitness industry has become so saturated in millions of weight loss methods. Some claim they can make your drop 30 pounds in a month. The fact of the matter is that all of these weight loss methods are not methods for long term success. They all have flaws and sometimes even cost you hundreds of dollars. There has to be a better way right? In my opinion there is.

Over the recent years there has been a lot of hype around the idea of cold showers.Some stating that they can even help you lose weight. I have personally been taking cold showers for two years now and have noticed a significant difference in my ability to keep fat off and be more alert and focused in my workouts.

Cold showers can aid weight loss in an unexpected way. The human body contains two types of fat tissue, white fat and brown fat. White fat is accumulated when we consume more calories than our body needs to function, and we don’t burn these calories for energy. This body fat piles up at our waist, lower back, neck, and thighs, and is the one we all struggle to eliminate. Brown fat is the good fat, which generates heat to keep our bodies warm, and is activated when exposed to extreme cold, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center, a Harvard Medical School affiliate. Thus, cold showers can promote brown fat activity. Which causes an increase in the calories burned by making your body work harder and use more energy.

This extra energy expenditure is not that significant however... But it is on average around seventy calories being burnt. Which if you add up over the days, weeks, or even months starts to become significant.

On top of this cold showers also give you sense of greater alertness and reduce soreness. A 2009 study analyzing 17 trials involved over 360 people who either rested or immersed themselves in cold water after resistance training, cycling, or running. It found that 24-minute cold water baths were effective in relieving sore muscles one to four days after exercises with a water temperature of 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit according to Borreli (2016).

By decreasing muscle soreness and increasing alertness yous set yourself up for greater success throughout the day and in your workouts. So, why not tryout cold showers?

Reference

Borreli, L. (2016, June 07). Benefits of Cold Showers: 7 Reasons Why Taking Cool Showers Is Good For Your Health. Retrieved February 18, 2018, from http://www.medicaldaily.com/benefits-cold-showers-7-reasons-why-taking-cool-showers-good-your-health-289524

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