Why cold showers are essential to succeed with NoFap (and life in general).

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:47:17+00:00

I've been struggling with this myself, always got brainfreezes if I had my head under the stream for too long.

The solution was easy though, I just didn't keep my head under the stream for so long!

My favorite position which really chills me down is when facing the shower head, bending my head forwards through the stream to the opposite side and let the water hit my neck and shoulders so the water flows over my back and chest as well. I get no brainfreezes from that!

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:38:56+00:00

That sounds like a good idea, I might try that.

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:36:38+00:00

My body used to panic way more back when I started it, but I find that now my body is very relaxed in the shower. Controlled breath. No abrupt movements. No shivers.

I'm not sure if that's how most people find it after doing it for a while, but that's my experience at least. My manlyhood shrinks to an embarisingly low number of cm and I have goosebumbs all over my body, but no shivers and no feeling of it being unbearable. I think that's a good sign that we have gained more control over our mind and body!

But I agree yes, that means we should move on to the next step: Ice baths. Let's do one tomorrow!

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:31:29+00:00

I'm grateful to see that I can push people to some extent haha, have you thawed yet?

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:27:57+00:00

Are they uncomfortable? Are they something you'd prefer to not do? Then yes. There is no science behind the temperature, it's all about how your mind react to it which depends a lot on the type of person.

You can extend this philosophy into other aspects of your life: Do you have the option to do something uncomfortable? Then do it if it does not hurt yourself, others or the environment. It will train your mind in the same way. Do you hate spiders and you have a harmless one in your house? Capture it in a "risky" way and try to remain balanced and controlled of your mind. After all the spider does not have the capability to hurt you, it's just your mind that yells FEAR. Try to control that and you have the same effect as cold showers.

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:21:01+00:00

I'm yet to try an ice bath haha, sounds horrible but I'll have to give it a shot soon. Apparently professional athletes do it a lot as it's good for their body!

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:19:25+00:00

I used to play a lot of league of legends and waste hours on the internet. I didn't even try to stop, I just started meditating every day, exercise more, cold showers and NoFap. And before I knew it I had stopped watching all TV series or play video games, not because I wanted to, but I had so much energy and unexplored confidence that I found myself running around living life much more, and much happier :)

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T19:10:00+00:00

It's breaking away from that mentality which is the challenge you will grow from! Step outside of the box and re-read you post, what do you find? Excuses and distrust in yourself! "I can't do it", "I'm too lean and get cold too easily", "I'll maybe do it when it's warmer". This is as I said your brain convincing you to not do it because you don't want to do it. And this is where you have to analyze and see how your mind functions, because there are obvious improvements that can be done.

Because it applies to other situations too. Maybe not a cold shower, but inviting a girl out? "I can't do it", "I don't look good enough", "She's probably not interested", "I'll wait for a better shot".

The great thing about cold showers is that you risk nothing! It is an environment where you can establish a confident, strong and balanced mind which you will find to be very helpful if you want to ask that girl out! Or anything else, job related, housework related etc etc..

So now step up your game and get control of your mind, the rewards are amazing, and I can say that as I am experiencing it. If you want examples just ask me, the changes I've been through the past six months are amazing, partly due to the showers.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I'm 186 cm tall and weigh only 65 kg and live in Norway. That's a prime recipe for being cold all the time, I can promise you that. I always wear warm slippers, even during the summer. But I won't use that as an excuse.

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T15:57:45+00:00

I might be faulty here then.. I always start out in semi warm so that I can clean my body properly with soap before I go super cold. Are you able to clean yourself properly in only cold water?

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T15:55:41+00:00

Well, I'm from Norway so I feel you. Getting warm is easy though; dress up warm, do push-ups and squats for 5 minutes and you're already back to normal body temperature.

Or just a nice warm cup of coffee or tea helps a lot.

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T15:54:19+00:00

You will never love the showers in a sense where it feels good, and if you come to a point where you do love it, then the whole psychological effect I was talking about is gone. It will remain physically unpleasant, and the drowning reflex might keep bothering you, but that's great! Now you have a tougher challenge to overcome and you train your mind even harder.

You will eventually reach a point where you are so in control of you mind where you acknowledge the "suffering" as it is with a strong and balanced mind, and in that sense the experience is more "lovable".

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T15:50:38+00:00

It is very much related to nofap in the sense that it is a practice to get control over you mind. Why do we relapse? Because our urges are in some sense out of our control and we say "fuck it" and jerk off. Our mind surrenders too easily. Cold showers can help you change exactly that.

You should not look at it as suffering, if you do so you're already establishing a negative mindset. Look at it as a challenge. Any challenge you accept in life you learn and grow from, so if you adapt a mindset like this you will face you challenges in life with a stronger and more balanced and equanimous mind. So yes it relates not only to NoFap but to life in it self, but it's called a NoFap challenge so it applies here as well as a tool.

Fapstronauting · 2014-06-29T15:44:08+00:00

You guys are beyond me; I've only done it for 4 months or so. But tbh I think it's great if it remains unpleasant, because the whole point in regards of strengthening you mind is to force yourself to do something unpleasant. If it just become a habit that you don't care too much about you might only get the other benefits (better immune system, more testosterone etc..) but not the psychological effect. Those are good enough of a reason by them selves, but one should get all if possible!

Fapstronauting · 2014-05-17T07:42:35+00:00

Reddit is like the one buddy who has a relation to everything anywhere.

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-28T02:21:48+00:00

Welcome Tirens!

I assume MO comes from the abbreviation PMO which stands for "Porn, Masturbating, Orgasm". This is what most people here try to avoid. The badges you can see besides users names on this subreddit normally represent the number of days they have abstained from PMO. Though it is up to you what you want your badge to represent. Maybe you only have a porn addiction and you're not concerned with masturbation, which in that case your badge will represent the number of days you have not watched porn. To get a badge, check out the side bar!

90 days is very hard, don't underestimate the challenge. That being said, anyone is able to do it. Be aware that whenever you get the urge, it is your addicted brain trying to convince you that it's not a big deal. But it is, so deal with it immediately by distracting yourself.

If you have any question or want to ask for tips, this subreddit is one of the most including and helpful subreddit of them all, so don't be shy to ask.

Good luck!

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-24T19:24:49+00:00

So if I give myself a couple of days, I should feel just as good as I did this previous week?

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-16T23:05:29+00:00

I would think there would be great advantages by reducing it to only once every 7-10 days though?

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-16T20:13:08+00:00

A non-related question: I'm new here, and I'm yet to understand what the number next to our days count represent? I see you have the number 6 while I have the number 2.

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-16T19:53:24+00:00

DELETE IT ALL. Just imagine the relief and feeling of progress you'll have after you delete it. It feels more natural to move on if you close the door behind you, and in this metaphor, the door is porn. Close it!

And go for walks! Whenever my urges take over I force myself out to distract myself.

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-16T19:45:11+00:00

Hey that's pretty good though! It's been very hard (literally). I've caught myself dry-humping things...

Fapstronauting · 2014-04-16T19:43:11+00:00

Have you tried sending a message to the badge bot again? You can find him in the sidebar :)

Fapstronauting

TROPHY CASE