Congrats on the weight drop, TNDad!
I really hope someone comes along willing to summarize the Cold Adaptation - it's more than my meager mind can process. Mostly what I (think I) got out of it, is that Jeanne, who lives in Ohio and keeps her house temp at approximately freezing (55-60 degrees F; 13-15 C) just might live forever.
Thanks, Moon!
Here's my 2-cent summary:
Mammals are programmed to have two metabolisms - one for the warm season, one for cold. When in "winter mode", a mammal burns fat for energy, not glucose/carbs.
Most modern humans never switch from warm adaptation because:
1. we control the temperature of our (what should be seasonal) environment
2. we control the amount of light in our (what should be seasonal) environment.
Dr. Kruse's method is basically to trick our nervous system to switch into cold adaptation.
From:
Evolution of the Leptin RX (2/12/12)
Step 1: get your diet right (Paleo) + O6/O3 less than 10:1
Step 2a: eat a big protein/fat meal
Step 2b: drink 16-32oz (no more) of ice cold water
Step 2c: sink/pot full of ice water, (50ºF to 55ºF). Hold face in water as long as you can stand it. If you can tolerate the cold long enough to have to come up for air, graduate to step 3.
FYI: Skin temp should never fall below 55ºF; (rosy pink = ok, pale pink = time to stop).
Step 3: wearing a compression shirt, hold 20-40lb bags of ice on your torso...starting at 5min, working your way up to 60min over the course of a couple weeks. (again, important to monitor skin color).
Step 4: In tub with cold tap-water...working up to 60min per session
Step 5: same as step 5 but add bags of ice as in step 3. Wear gloves/socks/knit cap at first. Stop if ever lightheaded, skin color, etc.
Looks to me that this process would take a month or two. Dr K says he maintains by doing cold-training 3-4 times a week for 45-60min.