Hey guys, Nate here. I'm proud to announce that I'm now the Program Director of Scrawny To Brawny. From now on all of my blogs and articles will be posted on the brand-new Scrawny To Brawny Blog. So if you enjoyed what you read here, please go check it out. (It's awesome, if I say so myself.) I'm keeping the NGE website alive for resource reasons, but will no longer be actively updating it. The best way to get in touch with me is through leaving a comment on the Scrawny To Brawny blog or by posting on the S2B Facebook page. See you guys over at the new blog!
5 Steps For the Perfect Bath (Yes, Really.)
I didn’t take a shower till I was 12 years old.
I wasn't a hippie child or even that stinky. In fact, I washed the cooties off my body every night. (You can never be too careful. Girls lie.)
It's just my family has always taken baths.
I don't really know why. I've never asked my parents. I just assume the Green family prefers to bathe horizontally rather than vertically. Which is fine, because I love baths.
While the shower is the "hurry up, I got shit to do" option, a bath isn't rushed. It's a process, like making the perfect cup of coffee or preparing an awesome dinner.
Even the way you get into a bath is a series of steps, especially if you're like me and enjoy your water damn near boiling.
First I put in one foot. Then the other. Then I stand there for a while. Then I squat down, hoping my balls don't spontaneously combust once they're lowered into the water. It takes me a good ten minutes just to be in a lying position, and another ten minutes before I dunk my head.
But man does it feel good.
A lot of guys I know don't take baths. Maybe they think they're somehow emasculating or "girlie." (To those guys I say: Really? Really?)
Or maybe it's because they've never taken one as an adult. Perhaps it's been two or three solid decades of vertical bathing.
I get it. I take a shower every day. But guys, this no bath thing is unacceptable. Which is why I'd like to share my five steps to the perfect bath.
5 Steps to the Perfect Bath
1. Set aside at least 30 minutes
Anything less and it's not a bath -- it's sitting in hot water for a few minutes. By the way, I almost never take baths in the morning. Instead, I take one in the early evening once or twice per week to "wind down".
2. Make sure the water is hot enough to last
I often heat an extra pot of water on the stovetop and pour it into the bath. I like the heat to last for the entirety of the bath, not just the first five minutes. It takes some time to get used to (which is also why it takes me a while to get into the water), but I think it's worth it.
3. Pour in Epsom salt
Forget the scented bath salt. Epsom salt—which you can buy in a huge carton at the grocery store, gas station, and even the hardware store—contains magnesium that soaks into the skin and helps speed up recovery and can even promote sleep. (I know John Berardi has UFC Champion Georges St Pierre do this the night before a fight.)
Add 2 cups to your bath while the water is running to help dissolve it.
4. Get yourself a drink
Always water. Sometimes beer, wine, or whiskey. Never milk. It's just weird.
5. Grab a magazine or book
Books I recommend:
Magazines I recommend:
Esquire, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Outside, The New Yorker, INC
A Final Note and a Quick Article on Ice Baths
Remember: A bath doesn't have to consist of lit candles or lavender salts (unless you're with a date in which case those things are completely acceptable.)
Try taking a bath tonight to relax and help your muscles recover. But please, no rubber duckies. They're evil.
Bonus: To see what I say about ice baths and learn how they can help with muscle recovery, check out my latest article in Men's Fitness, The Benefits of Cold Therapy.
Comments for This Entry
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Couldn't agree more Nate. I love baths, but being a girl, I also like the smellies. A few drops of essential oil in the bath is great.
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Love baths Nate. So under rated. I train MMA fighters and baths are indispensable. Using epsom salt helps with recovery on a huge scale. I even use it to help them cut water weight for a fight.
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i love epsom salt baths too, but i must say i do prefer the lavendar scented ones. makes my whole house smell nice.
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Wow, you're absolutely right. I'm 23 and I can't remember the last time I layed down in a bath. I guess I just subconsciously thought that the shower head rendered the bath tub obsolete. But tonight, I think I might just pick up some Epsom salt and give this a try.
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Hahaha, awesome post Nate. Not much is more relaxing (for me) than a hot hot bath, up to the neck, a dark beer, and a little country music. My ability to fall asleep in the tub makes any kind of reading material impractical.
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I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't use the great quote on bathing versus showering.
"Why stand when you can sit?"-Winston Churchill. Cheers Nate. -
Dude, you just changed my mind towards baths...tks mate will do that this week...another one of those gems you put out..cheers
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Good advice! From time to time I'll take a hot bath with Epsom to soothe the ol' muscles... works great. Honestly, though I prefer my hot tub!!!!!! Although, a bath tub is probably more affordable. lol
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Ehh, I agree with you on a lot of things but not this one.
I guess I'm a "green" guy. I take ice cold showers navy style. I'm in and out of the shower in 3-5 minutes.
I don't think I could ever see myself in the bathtub.More power to you, man. I don't think I could ever take a cold shower and enjoy it. :)
Nate Green
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It's funny that some people would think that taking a bath would be a bit emasculating.Even though shower systems have been around since the days of the ancient Greeks,in the western world, until around the mid 20th century taking a bath was the preferred choice of bathing, for Women and Men.
And for a lot of people taking a bath was probably the only option, like maybe back in the days of outhouses and no indoor plumbing 100 years ago and such. I would have a hard time imagining a Cowboy or Lumberjack perhaps in the late 1800's dirty after a long day of work not wanting to take a bath because it was too girlie. Unless of course they went and bathed in a lake or river, but that's pretty much the same thing. -
^^^^^^^^^^
I forgot to write that even though in the late 19th early 20th century there was indoor plumbing, it was considered a luxury which only few had. In those days to take bath usually meant drawing water from a pump or well, carrying it to the house, heating it up, and pouring it into the tub.
Quite a bit of work, that's why back in those days, at least in the US, taking a bath was a once a week event, usually on Saturday night. -
Industrial epsom salt for horses, brought of ebay, is the only way to wind down in the evening from a max effort squat day!
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Nate, as kids we didn't know what a LONG tub was until about age 14(most farm families didn't have them) We bathed in a #2 wash tub, usually the older ones first then down the age line to the youngest, usually all in the same water.(sounds gross huh) Hense the saying "don't throw out the baby with the wash water"Water was heated in a large outdoor pot and poured in the washtub, and some hot water added after each bathed. Usually a saturday treat. Otherwise in summer we just jumped in the pond. Felt great with mud squishing with between our toes. So, as a result I seldom bath in a tub, but when aching I do the epsom salts thing. GOOD POST
So that's where the saying comes from! Interesting.
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Baths are great, its an awesome way to soothe all your joints too. If your an avid bather you should try a seaweed bath. Head to a local natural foods store, or a place that carries herbs in the natural form. Get yourself 2ounces of Kelp and 2 ounces of Dulce. Mix the two together in a stocking, or legging (Yes, I'm being serious) that allows for the nutrients to make their way out without clogging your tub. Now boil for about 15 minutes (during this time you could start the bath water) and then let it steep for 10 or so. Then toss the stocking in the tub along with yourself!
Not too long after your body will be covered in a film, at it will feel weird at first, but don't be afraid! Once the film dissolves off you'll be ready to get out! That's when the nutrients have been absorbed into your skin.
Be sure to dispose of the stocking properly, not in the toilet! -
A really hot bath is one of life's great pleasures. It should be so hot as to be almost unbearable when you first tip your toes in. If you happen to be vising Japan check out the hot springs (onsen) for a truly spectacular bathing experience.
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I've taken to cold-showering lately, in light of some of the recovery stuff. The bath I'll have to give a try when I get back to Vancouver.
Thanks buddy! -
Interesting topic Nate. I'll definitely have to start giving this a try. I remember taking baths when I was a kid, but grew out of it like most guys and just did the ol' shower and shave routine. Lord knows my muscles could probably use some type of therapy.
Also, I liked the article on cold baths for recovery as well. I don't know if I'll be so bold as to try the full on ice baths just yet, but it could be useful no doubt. Hey, I know you're also familiar with Tim Ferriss' discussion of cold baths and whatnot for a fat loss aid. Have you had any experience using them for that purpose as well?I've never used the cold baths for fat-loss though I found the section in Tim's book very intriguing. I do like the idea of ice baths for inducing sleep. But it certainly doesn't sound like fun.
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Nate... This has been a thought of mine for a while - I need to take a bath. Not because I stink but to let myself relax and put everything to rest. All the stress and strains of work, rugby, the Mrs!, savings, holidays, bills..... Tonight is the night -haha.
Also, you have to thank the guy who thought "i want a TV in my bathroom"Good man. Just make sure to watch something relaxing.
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Well this could make sense if you have a bath as illustrated in this column. Typical of more upper middle class homes. And as a bonus, great significant other to spend time with.
My bathtub is just your typical kind found in an everyday middle-class american bathroom, definitely not the kind that evokes romance, much less spending 30 minutes in the thing.
Plus I have no reason to stare at my body for that long. I'm not really that good looking. -
While the idea of relaxing in a bath sounds nice, I've yet to find a bath tub that my 6'2 self can lay in comfortably. Any ideas?
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Good post! I'll definately have to give the salts a try, i've always been a fan of baths myself too and I always do the make it so hot it takes 10 minutes to get into thing haha
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I hate to be debbie-downer here, but having just stepped out of my bath I wanted to say a few things. Tim Ferriss points out in his new book (The 4-Hour Body) that hot baths reduces sperm count (and possibly quality of sperm) in men and can be dangerous for pregnant women. Just wanted to make sure everyone was aware in case they are trying to reproduce! Otherwise, I am TOTALLY a fan of Epsom Salt (thank you Costco), a glass of red wine, and any novel. (I had to give-up books like yours, Tim's, and Chris's because my 3-hour baths were getting out of control. It's like an addiction! Now I can read a novel and be out in 30 minutes.) Enjoy all!
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I think it depends on the goal.
If I want to feel clean and invigorated, I take a shower.
A nice hot bath can be relaxing, but it's also like soaking in your own juices.
Do you at least rinse in the shower after a bath? -
Nate, first time long time. Im a burned out personal trainer who has followed your blog for a couple years now. You've inspired me to start my own blog. Thanks for inspiring me. Ok, im done boostin your ego. ttyl
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I guess this hot bath will be much more time on my agenda than ice bath ;)
Btw, what kind of salt is the Epsom salt? There is no such brand in Europe.
And please tell me the magnesium % in that salt, so I can buy similar product. -
Only time I've taken a bath is 2 ice baths the week before Tough Mudder to prepare my body for the cold. At least that's the only time in the last 10 years.
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Love Epsom salt baths! Quick question for you Nate- is your hero workout suitable for a woman? It seems geared towards guys but I know there is little to no difference in how both sexes should train. Thanks!
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Awesome soak I just had per your directions above! Laughed to myself though when I realized that my muscles were starting to feel 'fork-tender' much like my Thanksgiving turkey does when I put it in a brine before roasting. Wonder if a salty bath denatures our proteins like it does the meat I eat? In either case, the process does certainly yield more succulent results. :)
Thanks!
J. -
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COMMENT RULES: Critical posts are fine, but if you're rude I'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your personal name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. But most of all, have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Tim Ferriss for the inspiration.)
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