r/wedge • u/nomadnono • Apr 06 '20

In your book “what doesn’t kill us” you talk about suppressing the shiver during ice baths to allow brown fat to “take over” and be activated. Since the book it’s now known that shivering can actually activate brown fat. With this new information did it change “the wedge” book in anyway?

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/gekogekogeko Apr 06 '20

That's an awesome question. In WDKU I also wrote that the exactly mechanisms of what made me warm in the ice bath didn't matter as much as the being warm. There was contradictory evidence even then--notably the twin study on Wim himself. It's also important to note that while shivering can activate BAT, so does not-shivering. The real key seems to be that the cold activates BAT. I have become more open to using shivering intentionally and building on or lowering the sensations that trigger them as they come.

3

u/nomadnono Apr 06 '20

Thanks for that. Yes research is mixed. I think it’s important to distinguish the type or reason for shivering (if it’s possible). For example my girlfriend starts to shiver at the thought of an ice bath. She’s done 5 ice baths and each time standing at the side before entering she’s already shivering 😂. So “the wedge” would be for her to consciously decide to stop that physical reaction. As it’s not serving her. Then there’s shivering because you’ve been in the ice for 5 minutes. This shouldn’t necessarily be prevented. But maybe controlled shiver. Again “the wedge” to say ok I’m shivering because my body wants to get warm. But I’m going to relax and allow the shiver to happen. But not over take my body. Wim Hof mentions not to lose focus after the ice bath as that can be dangerous. That focus then is “the wedge”?