7 ms·
This is anecdata. I am also not a bird. Inspired by Wim Hof, I've started doing short barefoot snow walks. Within days, even between multiple walks on the same
by forgotmypw17 6y ago
This is anecdata. I am also not a bird.
Inspired by Wim Hof, I've started doing short barefoot snow walks. Within days, even between multiple walks on the same day, my feet became more cold-tolerant.
They now recover from the cold faster, stay warm in the snow longer, and when I'm indoors, my feet are no longer cold without socks.
My feet used to be cold to the touch and feel cold subjectively without socks.
- goblin89 6y agoInteresting. From my experience, coldness of feet is correlated with blood circulation. There are periods when my feet are cold (going together with the restless legs syndrome at night), and I think it goes away when circulation improves. My theory is that exposing feet to elements is another trick to improve blood flow to them, I’ve been meaning to try that.
- forgotmypw17 6y agoIf you don't have any snow to walk through, just give 'em an ice water dip. You can do your whole body, too, with similar benefits. It's uncomfortable, but what isn't... In my experience, and I've not found any studies to support this, restless legs correlates with oxygen levels vs carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide levels. Check your air.
- goblin89 6y agoMaybe oxygen then? Worse circulation or carbon monoxide could be involved, then. I don’t think there’s anywhere for CO to come from, however air quality varies (CO2 levels easily reach 1000 ppbv at times).
- forgotmypw17 6y agoYes, that's what I meant. I've edited my comment.
- trhway 6y ago>restless legs correlates with oxygen levels yep, my RLS has pretty much gone since i started iron&B12 supplementation after i discovered anemia on my blood test (i have a condition affecting B12)
- girvo 6y agoIt’s also highly correlated to issues with dopamine, which is why it’s an extremely strong symptom in opioid withdrawal
- forgotmypw17 6y agoYes, are bodies are wonderful and still mysterious miracles of spaghetti code.
- alexilliamson 6y ago+1 for ice baths. I used to do them regularly when I ran cross country. Invigorating.
- rapnie 6y agoI have this with cycling. In the winter I never wear gloves (hate to carry these around), and when going about in the first cold days your fingers quickly go numb. By wriggling them and with body heat generated after a while they become warm, and you can even place them comfortable on the iron parts of the steering wheel. After some days in cold weather like this they don't go cold at all anymore.
- brnt 6y agoI wear gloves for the first 3 minutes of cycling. After that heating has booted up, circulation has made a first full cycle and unless its very windy and snowy, I take my gloves of and my hands stay warm for the rest of the ride. Nice feeling actually.
- kayoone 6y agoUnfortunately doesn’t work for me. I have (self diagnosed) what is called raynaud syndrome where my body sends a signal to immediately draw the blood out of the hands when it’s very cold. They literally turn white. I need to cycle really hard and stop for a couple of minutes so that there is less cold airflow to get them back and usually they get cold again over longer rides. This is only a problem at below say 5-6 degrees but it’s very annoying.
- __s 6y agoYou should specify which Winter you're experiencing. I'm assuming you aren't in sub zero temperature
- DoreenMichele 6y agoHot and cold treatments were used to kill infection before we invented antibiotics. Not sure how pertinent that is to your experience, but it's the first thing that comes to mind.
- forgotmypw17 6y agoYep, immunity strengthening is a nice bonus.
- DoreenMichele 6y agoWell, what I was actually thinking was that cold treatments could be killing off unrecognized, low-grade chronic infections and that may be leading to improved circulation and improved homeostasis. Feet are notorious for being impacted first and worst by any circulation (blood) problems, which is why diabetics sometimes lose one or both feet to it (have them amputated, cuz reasons). And oxygen is a known means to kill certain kinds of infections (a la HBOT for Gangrene).
- forgotmypw17 6y agoI think it's more likely a circulation workout. But, sure, anything is possible.
- brnt 6y agoI used to never be cold. Could sit in open below 0C air after a shower without cooling down. I never really wore thick sweaters, where some would insist in them. Then I moved to a Mediterranean climate. When I go back now, I find I've become a wuss. Can't handle cold at all anymore.
- unixhero 6y agoWool my friends. It is the only way.
- 74d-fe6-2c6 6y agobut wool is so itchy and scratchy, isn't it?
- kofejnik 6y agomaybe they mean "grow wool", not "wear wool"
- dreamer7 6y agoHave you tried pashmina? If there existed a real invisibility cloak, it would be made of pashmina! Soft, thin and magically warm
- globular-toast 6y agoIt depends on the wool. Finer wool like Merino wool tends to be nicer to wear directly on your skin. But you don't have to do that. You can and should wear cotton underwear. The extra layer keeps you even warmer and means you won't have to wash your outer wear all the time (wool should not be washed more than is absolutely necessary and ideally not at all). You'll also find heavier garments encase the wool in an outer material like cotton. You can get cotton duvets like this and they are wonderful. You can use them all year round. I will never go back to polyester again.
- m463 6y agoWool socks are amazing. Warm and more importantly dry. In a similar way down comforters are wonderful (get the right weight).
- simonebrunozzi 6y agoI don't have a proper opinion on Wim Hof and his methods. On one side, he seems a nice, genuine person. On the other, I've read things that didn't necessarily add credibility to his methods. Plus, his appearance on Gwyneth Paltrow's show (considered by many non scientific) was a bit of a downer for me.
- DeusExMachina 6y agoI have friends who followed a workshop with him and had good results. He also claims to have studies that support his method. I don't know if that's true, but I would look there more than the shows he's been on. If he wants to reach larger audiences, he will surely accept any invite.
- forgotmypw17 6y agoOne can spend all of eternity forming a "proper opinion", based on third-party information ten times removed, and end up having not moved an inch... -or- actually take a leap of faith and try it, and have a real first-hand experience and information knowledge.
- prox 6y agoIf you see him speak in person, like in a documentary, he always seem high on adrenaline. Don’t know whether thats a good or bad thing.
- forgotmypw17 6y agoWhat if it is neither good nor bad?
- prox 6y agoIndeed! I just don’t know anyone who is this hyped all the time.
- forgotmypw17 6y agoI think it is just a matter of functioning at one's peak efficiency and health. I have experienced that state when I abstain from all the things which tend to drag down my state, including but not limited to processed foods including anything with added salt and sugar, coffee withdrawal, dehydration, inadequate sleep, lack of exercise, unchecked negative thinking.
- globular-toast 6y agoAcclimatisation is real. I've noticed a trend in the UK over the past 20 years or so. Previously many people, like my parents, used the central heating minimally. It would come on in the morning just to take the edge off in the winter. But that was pretty much it. Nowadays people are trying to keep their house the exact same temperature year round. That means it's warm in the winter and (if you have ac) cold in the summer. But people never acclimatise to the outside temperature as a result. So outside always feels way colder than it really should, or way hotter. This winter I've reduced my study temperature (where I work every day) from 21 degrees to 19 degrees. It didn't take that long to acclimatise and now I'm not only saving money, I'm more closely acclimatised to the outside temperature. I think ideally we wouldn't use thermostats, but instead use a system that adjusts inside temperature some percentage towards the ideal. So in winter when it's 0 degrees outside it's 17 degrees inside, and in summer when it's 30 degrees outside it's 25 degrees inside. Just think of the savings and how much nicer it will be to go outside when you're acclimatised.
- owlmirror 6y agoThe problem with that is that modern houses are very well insulated and unfortunately the insulation also traps moisture. If it gets too cold water condensates in the walls and mould can form. 17° in my experience is too cold and poses a risk.
- aembleton 6y ago> 17° in my experience is too cold and poses a risk. Interesting, I have my thermostat set to 17° and the house is only 15 years old. What temperature should it be set to?
- owlmirror 6y agoIf you have no issues with mold than it's totally fine. It really depends on lot of variables, like outside temperature, humidity in your region, the quality of the insulation and building materials. But given the right (wrong) circumstances too little heating can become a real problem.