The cold warrior has a meat shield instead of a back
Are you ready to become a cold warrior? Do you even know what a cold warrior is? A cold warrior is somebody who’s able to handle the cold better than most people. Most people will wear 10 sweaters and tons of jackets when it’s freezing but the cold warrior dresses pretty light. He does that to prevent sickness. Wait? What? That’s right you become less sick when you’re able to handle the cold. Warning: you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone to do it. It’s not easy I can guarantee you that.
Today I tried something new. It was -3 °C outside (26.6F) and I wanted to train with my heavy bag. I went outside in shorts, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. I ditched the sweater after 30 minutes and the t-shirt after 45 minutes. Towards the end, I even trained barefoot. I decided to do meditation for a second time today. So I did it shirtless in the cold for 10 minutes and I was okay.
I had one point where it was getting tough (I assume after 8 minutes or so) but I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone big time.
Remember that I’m not a doctor so be sure to consult a doctor if you’ve got any medical conditions. Watch out for hyperthermia, the symptoms are intense shivering, lack of coordination, trouble speaking, confusion, or any loss of consciousness.
A cold warrior has a stronger immune system
Most people will think that I’m crazy and maybe delusional as well. They’ll claim that I’m going to be sick but the opposite is true. The combination of meditation and cold exposure boosts your immune system (study) so why would I become sick? !Besides, I trained to be sure that I could do it. Don’t try to be a hero who goes outside shirtless without the proper preparation.
I may sound like a badass but Wim Hof is the real badass. He climbed the Mount Everest wearing only shorts and shoes. Now that’s what I call a badass. He’s the real cold warrior. His book Becoming The Iceman is a must-read if you’re serious about becoming a cold warrior.
A cold warrior is less prone to stress
The cold learns how you’ve got to breathe properly when you’re facing a stressful situation. At first, you’ll breathe at a fast pace because you’re not used to it but you need to control the breathing. Just breath in and out at a normal pace. Suddenly you won’t feel the cold anymore. Stress is a silent killer but you can kill it by breathing in the right way.
So how do I become a cold warrior?
Well, you start by approaching life-like martial art. You can’t expect to go outside and conquer the cold if you haven’t trained for it yet. You’ll be inside after 30 seconds. You’ll be swearing and claiming that it was a stupid thing to do.
A cold warrior starts by taking a cold shower
Take cold showers for 30 days and you’ll be able to handle the cold a lot better. Your first cold shower is the worst but you will get used to them. It’s more a mental thing, to be honest. You can’t handle the cold because you’re not used to it. You have to realize that this is just the first step to becoming a cold warrior.
The first time you’ll hold on for about 30 seconds but slowly build it up until you’re able to do them 10 minutes without a problem.
A cold warrior goes outside when it snows but…
He goes outside in shorts and that’s it. It doesn’t matter that it’s snowing. You’ll get used to the outdoor temperatures. You can either walk or do some calisthenics (here’s a free 20 min program). You could practice the muscle up (here’s a guide on how to do it). Or you could also meditate like me but you’ve got to build up to that point. Try doing it for a minute and build up from there.
Alex that sounds great but what if it’s not cold outside? Easy fill your tub with cold water (don’t add ice) and try to build it up as well. My longest attempt was 15 minutes and that was my first and only attempt so far (I did that last week). You could also use these cold baths to train yourself until it’s cold enough outside.
The final last move of the cold warrior: get icy
You could start taking ice baths once you’re familiar with the previous two. Don’t forget to build it up slowly, start with a minute and work your way up. Remember that it’s all about breathing right. Take deep breaths, in and out. Relax and it will be over before you know it.
Wim Hof’s advice is helpful
Wim Hof said that you should take 20 to 50 deep breaths before you’re going to try cold exposure. This is a way of preparing yourself for the ongoing war with the cold. He also urges that you visualize that you’ve got a burning fire inside of you (this helps). You may think that it sounds silly but who did climb Mount Everest in his bare chest? Not you if I recall correctly.
Good luck with becoming a cold warrior. Consult a physician if you’ve got some health concerns before you start the cold training.
Enjoy the cold and…
BREATH MOTHERFUCKER BREATH.
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Till next time
Alex
Great article man! I enjoyed it
thanks man, glad you enjoyed it