The Way of the Iceman: How the Wim Hof Method Creates Radiant Long-term Health—Using the Science and Secrets of Breath Control, Cold-Training and Commitment

by Wim Hof

Your body is using energy all day—even when at rest or engaged in little activity. Free ATP and CP are of little use for a whole day’s work or for physical labor. Glucose and glycogen will keep you going for an hour, two at the most if you are a top-level athlete. As we have seen with people on hunger strikes, our bodies have enough fat to keep us alive for several days. A healthy body first burns the fat stored in the muscles and later taps into the subcutaneous fat reserves. When an intense activity stops, the fat in the muscles is replenished from fat tissue. The greater the effort, the more the body calls on its glucose reserves.