Cold water swimming

[Dominique]

There’s a public beach on a lake 2 km from where I live, where I like to go during the summer:

This year (for the first time), I have decided to continue going there after the summer season. Indeed, I’ve made it part of my daily routine: it takes me about 20 minutes to walk there (same on the way back) and I spend 2-3 minutes in the water.

I’ve been following the water temperature via this link that monitors major lakes in Finland. The one with the red arrow is not my lake, but it’s the closest:

+2°C (35.6°F) is quite close to the freezing point, but most of the lake is still open. This is what it looked like today:

I plan to continue going there until the lake starts to freeze for good.

Various health benefits are being reported, like boosting the immune system etc., though the article in the link says evidence is inconclusive. Nevertheless, I’ve found it an invigorating experience and I haven’t experienced any adverse effects so far. Anyone else living in a cold country doing the same?

[WendyB]

You are brave. I dont think I could do it Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Michaelss]

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Live-Mindfully/Cold-Showers/m-p/2536132#M1948 

Hi, there is such a topic, they have already talked about the feelings that walruses have)

Well done, don't stop doing it!

[WavyDavey]

Beautiful photo, @Dominique. It looks very peaceful..

[Pacers68]

There are a ton of health benefits to cold water swimming -check out the health podcast called Found My Fitness - Rhonda Patrick  MD interviews Wim Hof who is the guru of cold water therapy! 

[Dominique]

Mid-December update on cold water swimming. This is what the lake looks like before I enter it:

and after I’ve been in it:

There are three types of ice on it. The first part (covered with snow) is strong enough to carry my weight (footprints can be seen). The next one is not, so I have to walk into the water (it’s still quite shallow), breaking and pushing the ice aside with my hands. The third one has a very thin layer of ice (easy to swim through it) and after that, it’s open water.

I was able to borrow neoprene boots and gloves from my neighbour (he’s a scuba diver) and they helped quite a bit, especially for feet.

[Baltoscott]

Perhaps if I added a neoprene body suit to the boots and gloves you use, I would give this a try, but I'm convinced that the reason the purported health benefits are 'inconclusive' is because all the participants have frozen brains.  

Though I guess I shouldn't cast snowballs ... I engage in my own version of winter crazy by continuing to bike commute in well below freezing weather.  I have made some safety concessions by putting studded tires on my 'snow' bike, and last year I also got some battery powered glove liners after my fingers became so painfully cold over a 1/2 hour ride to the train station that it took at least another half hour for the pain to go away after I got inside.  

[Swimming-groups]

Hi Dominique.

I love what your doing. I recently took the plunge with a group I found in my local area. I've been doing it since the end of February. I love everything about it and how I feel during and after my dip. 

Do you know of any cold water exposure groups on Fitbit? 

I have recently created a group on the App in the Fitbit community as I never saw one on it before. It's called "Wild Dippers :water_wave:🏊🏻:water_wave:".  Feel free to join. Would love to see more of your cold water swims🤗

This is a swim I took part of a week ago. The wind was wild but the waves were fun 🤗  Water temperature was 8.3°C.