In recent years, ice baths and the benefits associated have become a popular trend in fitness and wellness circles. Some may see cold therapy as a brutal and painful practice, many athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and health buffs swear by its benefits which including increased motivation. In this article, we’ll dive into the science behind the hype of ice baths and explore how they can help boost your motivation.
I originally heard about the concept from the Huberman Labs podcast. I do an ice bath at least 5 times per week and know increased motivation is directly correlated.
What is an Ice Bath?
First, let’s talk about what ice baths are. As the name suggests, ice baths involve immersing your body in a bathtub filled with cold water and ice. The water temperature should be around 40-59°F (4.4-15°C), and the duration of the bath should be between 3-15 minutes (depending on temperature). The idea behind this is to expose your body to cold temperatures, which can trigger various physiological responses. Products that make Ice Baths easier can be found here.
Benefits from Ice Baths
Check out this blog post for more cold exposure benefits!!
One of the most significant physiological responses is an increase in norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the body’s fight-or-flight response. When you expose your body to cold temperatures, your nervous system releases norepinephrine. Norepinephrine triggers a chain reaction that leads to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. This response prepares the body for physical activity and can help you feel more energized, alert, and motivated.
Ice baths can also help improve mental toughness and resilience because of the norepinephrine release. Exposing your body to cold temperatures challenging experience and overcoming that challenge can help build mental toughness and resilience. This, in turn, can help you become more motivated and confident in other areas of your life.
Ice baths have also been shown to help with muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. After intense exercise, your muscles can become inflamed. Depending on the type of workouts you are performing you may want to consider waiting for 4 hours before any cold exposure because cold exposure can limit the muscle hypertrophy and the muscles ability to adapt to inflamation. The cold temperature of the ice bath can help reduce inflammation and speed up recovery, which can help you feel more motivated to hit the gym or engage in physical activity again.
In conclusion, ice baths can offer numerous benefits that can help increase motivation. Boosting norepinephrine levels and reducing inflammation. Improving mental toughness and resilience, ice baths can help you feel more energized and ready to tackle your goals. Remember that ice baths are not for everyone, and it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before trying. If you decide to give it a go, start slowly and gradually increase the duration and frequency of your ice baths over time. Also check out Wim Hof’s book “The Wim Hof Method”. This is a great resource!