RE: Brown Fat
A cold shower every morning. I think they've been referred to as Bond Showers (like James Bond).
Cold water exposure increases your resiliance to drowning too. You lessen your 'gasp' reaction when you come into contact with cold water, so the odds of drowning are much lower. Add to this the fact that you can reduce subcontaneous (below the skin) bodyfat, and you have a brilliant exercise friend. Let's not mention the benefits of reducing swelling and increasing the body's ability to heal...meaning you can train harder more often (think of the number of ultra-endurance athletes, pro fighters or rugby players that use ice baths).
One word of warning, if you are having cold showers, don't get your head wet and cold. The shower should be from your shoulders down, and don't have your head submerged either. You will have a headache for around 3 days if you do. Oh, and it can really [insert F word] you up!
Best to stick with a warm shower, then make it gradually colder, slowly. Or a luke warm bath, then start adding the odd icecube...ice pack, and a little cold water.
I remember my first ice bath. The water was freezing cold, I got to the point where I was kneeling in the water, and I had ice bobbing around me. I figured it was more fun to trick my mind into thinking I was in a warm bath by slowly making it cold. The thermogenics worked a treat.
Also, you might want to check out GLUT-4 for the fat loss science behind cold exposure.
I think there's a norse guy (might be in Amsterdam actually) that runs marathons in just shorts and shoes in the snow.
WIM HOF
The Iceman. You'd be interested in his workshops Binnie.
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