Cryogenic Chamber Therapy / Cold Adaptation

[dugdeep]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

On a side note, when I wash dishes which have to be done with warm/hot water, my body really starts to heat up and the sensations of eww come on. ;)

That's funny - I'm getting that "eww" sensation from taking warm showers now. Even though I'm not at the point where I'm using only cold water, if the water is too warm I don't enjoy the sensation. The other day I decided to take a break from the cold showers and tried to take a warm/hot one. I really didn't like the sensation! This from a guy who used to take hot showers only! I generally am starting my showers with luke warm water and will gradually turn the water colder as my shower progresses. By the end the water is cold, but still not full blast cold :)

 

[Approaching Infinity]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

On a side note, when I wash dishes which have to be done with warm/hot water, my body really starts to heat up and the sensations of eww come on. ;)

That's funny - I'm getting that "eww" sensation from taking warm showers now. Even though I'm not at the point where I'm using only cold water, if the water is too warm I don't enjoy the sensation. The other day I decided to take a break from the cold showers and tried to take a warm/hot one. I really didn't like the sensation! This from a guy who used to take hot showers only! I generally am starting my showers with luke warm water and will gradually turn the water colder as my shower progresses. By the end the water is cold, but still not full blast cold :)

Same here. Hot water just feels icky. Even just too warm water. Just right is where it's a very slight shock of cold, then turning down from there.

 

[seek10]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

On a side note, when I wash dishes which have to be done with warm/hot water, my body really starts to heat up and the sensations of eww come on. ;)

That's funny - I'm getting that "eww" sensation from taking warm showers now. Even though I'm not at the point where I'm using only cold water, if the water is too warm I don't enjoy the sensation. The other day I decided to take a break from the cold showers and tried to take a warm/hot one. I really didn't like the sensation! This from a guy who used to take hot showers only! I generally am starting my showers with luke warm water and will gradually turn the water colder as my shower progresses. By the end the water is cold, but still not full blast cold :)

Same here. Hot water just feels icky. Even just too warm water. Just right is where it's a very slight shock of cold, then turning down from there.

When a week of cold baths, when I took a break from it, I observed intense skin drying including Lips and body. I never observed that much uneasiness with dry skin ( though dry skin is part of me for decades )and discomfort with hot water before. Once I took cold bath , I could see the difference immediatly.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

I also feel "icky" if I stay under warm water now. It has to be at least body temperature, preferably less (when it starts to feel colder that body temperature). And I also noticed better digestion and tend to agree that it's (as well as other benefits) probably connected to improved circulation. My favorite part of the cold showers is when I turn the totally COLD water off after the last few minutes and just stand in the tub for about 5 minutes. During that time, the furnace kicks in, and the alertness is at a maximum (although it tends to last for a few hours after the shower, as well).

 

[Ollie]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

...
When a week of cold baths, when I took a break from it, I observed intense skin drying including Lips and body. I never observed that much uneasiness with dry skin ( though dry skin is part of me for decades )and discomfort with hot water before. Once I took cold bath , I could see the difference immediatly.

That's an experience that I can relate to, too.

The only time I use (have 'body' contact with) hot water now is to wash dirty dishes, cutlery and cooking utensils.

 

[bngenoh]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

When a week of cold baths, when I took a break from it, I observed intense skin drying including Lips and body. I never observed that much uneasiness with dry skin ( though dry skin is part of me for decades )and discomfort with hot water before. Once I took cold bath , I could see the difference immediatly.

Yeah, my skin basically stays hydrated and supple by itself, I never really like smelly lotions and such, so I had to endure the dry skin, but now it's not a problem anymore.

 

[bngenoh]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxto4YQRndw

Is pretty interesting especially in light of ketosis, the pertinent part starts at 2:33 so skip to it if you don't wanna go through the intro because it's basically saying you can take a drug and achieve x. The most fascinating thing about it is that they link endurance, to burning of fat in humans, and what is cold adaptation, but endurance to the cold?

Since fat contains more energy at 9kcal/joule, protein & carbohydrate = 4kcal/joule, it makes sense that endurance would be predicated on a mechanism that uses a more energy rich source, osit. Learning is FUN.

 

[Alcarohtare]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

Hi, i haven't got that lucky chance to try cryogenic chamber but
i'm practicing exclusively cold showers/baths for about a month now, after a long time doing warm/cold showers which i did for a better circulation of my own accord before. Now i rarely wish to do my body wash in warm water 'cause it makes me nervous and just dries my already dry skin. I even wash my hands in cold water in most cases!
As Paleo metabolism just needs cool environment for effectively fat depletion, it's not hard at all!
The calm feeling after it is indispensable. :)

 

[dantem]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

My favorite part of the cold showers is when I turn the totally COLD water off after the last few minutes and just stand in the tub for about 5 minutes. During that time, the furnace kicks in, and the alertness is at a maximum (although it tends to last for a few hours after the shower, as well).

5 minutes with the Total-Cold switch? That's freezing to think about!

At least, if only I can achieve that this summer, maybe I'll be better ready for winter times

There's really that feeling of having the body so hot while taking a cold shower, that 'Furnace Effect' I can only endure for a minute or two at max by now, yikes!! Just tried once to do it after a fatty breakfast, and effectively my endurance was extended a bit, so I'll have to try more. And just don't think about it, or my hand will automagically switch that lever off after a few seconds, like it or not.

The idea of having a gym club in your tub isn't bad at all, thanks bngenoh!

 

[SeekinTruth]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

dantem, sorry if I was not clear. I meant standing for 5 minutes AFTER turning of the water before putting on my bath robe. I'm up to about 3 to 3.5 minutes of totally cold water at the end of the shower now. Since the water is REALLY cold here in the mountains, I haven't reached 5 minutes of cold water only yet. I'm slowly working my way up. But following Kruse's advise, I don't towel off / dry myself right away, and within 5 minutes is when the "furnace" kicks in. I actually feel most of my body as HOT during this time.

 

[Regulattor]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

Just brief CT report from me.
Started with face dunks and felt really great after. My tap water is around 13 degrees Celsius (55 F) so I didn't use ice, at least for now. After 10 days of face dunks, started with cold showers, gradually lowering shower temp from 30 C (86F) to full cold that is 13C, every time showering, this way I can adapt to cold more easily. First few times I showered my legs only, then after few days whole body till my skin is light pink and that's usually after 10-11 min. going full cold. After cold showers so far I've done 2 cold baths, 10-11min. both. Felt good, but rapidly loosing core body temp. so I'm back to showers, until I increase my cold tolerance.

My experiences so far are:
Very dry skin on arms and legs, especially lower legs, few moderate headaches (it could be from toxic dump), few nights of poor sleep, some pain in knees and right hip, generally feeling ok, but yesterday felt great with much energy and wish to run, jump, doing exercise. I had just few of these, since going keto, and boy that's something I wish I could retain. Body composition still same, male 39y, 175cm 62kg (5,7ft, 137lbs), that's skinny. I think I'm going to do some labs to check my electrolytes because of some heart thumping I've experienced last 2-3 nights, I'm suspecting because of low Mg in spite of regular supplementation. Digestion seems to slow down even more, yesterday I took my last meal at 16:00h (it was big thou) with digestive enzymes and 600mg of HCL and didn't digest it till going to bed around 22:00h. So I'll focus on this issue as well. I'm somehow thinking that going keto and adding cold could dramatically lower food intake demand and adjusting body biochemistry to new regimen, of course individuality plays here much.

So I'm going for face dunks after waking up and cold showers further on and trying to gradually increase time of cold exposure and report news.

Cheers.

 

[dantem]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

dantem, sorry if I was not clear. I meant standing for 5 minutes AFTER turning of the water before putting on my bath robe. I'm up to about 3 to 3.5 minutes of totally cold water at the end of the shower now. Since the water is REALLY cold here in the mountains, I haven't reached 5 minutes of cold water only yet. I'm slowly working my way up. But following Kruse's advise, I don't towel off / dry myself right away, and within 5 minutes is when the "furnace" kicks in. I actually feel most of my body as HOT during this time.

During the cold shower I feel the most hot spots are the back of the joints, armpits and behind the knees. Then the throat and, any spot that isn't 'coated' with muscles. It feels like when you are walking around in winter times and then you go inside a hot place like a bar or a shop, and have your ears turning red like chili peppers. At least the sensation lasts as long you receive the first shot of really cold water, then I have to move around under the jet of water, trying to burn out those very spots.

 

[Psalehesost]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

I have often been feeling uncomfortably warm in the evening just after eating dinner, and now usually take a cold shower both just after breakfast and just after dinner. And after a cold shower I always drink iced water. Somehow, it all seems to aid digestion - I feel better eating more at these times. And have begun skipping lunch more often, often not being hungry, and not seeming to need it.

Sometimes the cold showers are very easy and comfortable from the start. At other times they take long, on-and-off, but are eventually completed; as my body cools down it gets easier and easier, and I feel better in general.

Sometimes I may end up feeling cold and shivery, sometimes feeling not-cold and shivery, and sometimes feeling warm and shivery - when I also felt "too warm" before the shower.

 

[bngenoh]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

I have often been feeling uncomfortably warm in the evening just after eating dinner, and now usually take a cold shower both just after breakfast and just after dinner. And after a cold shower I always drink iced water. Somehow, it all seems to aid digestion - I feel better eating more at these times. And have begun skipping lunch more often, often not being hungry, and not seeming to need it.

I do iced water as well, it kinda just happened that cold water didn't do it anymore and I literally have to drink water that's almost frozen. ;)

 

[Timótheos]

Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy

I recently returned from a trip to a spa where they had a Zimmerman 3-chamber Cryo machine. I did ten full 3-minute sessions over 5 days. I was a little nervous before going in, but the instructor was knowledgable and explained the process and what to expect while inside. The first 2-3 sessions were quite uncomfortable, with a feeling considerable aching pain in my wrists, forearms, neck and shoulders around the 2 minute mark. Near the end, I found myself actually looking forward to the sessions, with little or no discomfort and hardly any shivering after exiting the machine.

I slept quite well most days after the sessions, and noticed a subtle overall increase in energy levels. Not having any significant joint or muscle problems prior to going in, I can't say I feel much different now, a week after the process. But, I'm glad I went and I'd do it again if ever given the opportunity. Next time I'd like to try the nitrogen chamber as a comparison.