The fitness industry as a whole is riddled with false information, and saunas are one of the main sources of this disinformation. Although spending time in the sauna is enjoyable and has health advantages, some sites greatly exaggerate the claim that doing so will help you lose weight. So does sauna burn calories?
Some people assert that a 30-minute sauna session can result in calorie burns of anywhere between 300 and 1000.
That sounds good, doesn’t it? You get to relax on your butt for 30 minutes in a warm environment while burning between 10 and 33.3 calories every minute? You or we hope!
If you’ve ever worked out with high intensity interval training (HIIT) or observed the readout on a treadmill, you know how difficult it is to maintain even a burn rate of 14 calories per minute. So what gives individuals the impression that using a sauna burns calories at such a high rate?
They contend that when your body struggles to maintain its ideal temperature, the metabolism goes into overdrive and burns calories. Although this is true, it would never result in you using more than twice as many calories as you would if you were simply sitting in a sauna or steam room.
In a sauna, how many calories are burned?
You can use the following equation to get approximately how many you are burning:Calories burned in 30 minutes of sitting, multiplied by 1.5 (perhaps by 2) according to your body weight.
For instance, a 185-pound healthy male burns 42 calories when sitting for 30 minutes. Multiply those calories by 1.5 and 2 to obtain an idea of how many calories this same person might burn while relaxing in a sauna. In this situation, the person would expend between 63 and 84 calories. Comparing it to the 300 to 1000 estimate is a tremendous difference.
Sauna sessions might cause you to lose a little weight, but it’s probably simply water weight from all the sweating, which will come back once your fluid levels are back to normal. It doesn’t make sense physiologically for people to experience sustained weight loss only from spending [some time] in the sauna.
It’s difficult to determine whether infrared saunas can truly be credited for making people look younger.If you frequent a spa, you presumably also take care of other things like your skin and mental wellness.
It would therefore be difficult to claim that [a sauna] specifically makes you look younger, but taking care of yourself always improves your appearance.Of course, as long as you are not pregnant and otherwise healthy, there is no reason not to use an infrared sauna if it helps you feel better in any manner.It seems like an enjoyable experience.
Can Weight Be Lost in a Sauna or Steam Room?
Yes. However, you are just actually reducing water weight and not gaining muscle or burning calories at a considerably higher pace. Additionally, failing to replenish the water lost through sweat can actually hinder your body’s ability to shed weight.
Water makes up all of the weight you lose while sitting in a hot environment, and you should replace it as quickly as you lose it to avoid severely drying your body. Being in one of these hotboxes without drinking enough water is unhealthy and actually makes it harder for your body to lose weight permanently because hydration is a key element in doing so.
Really, even in the shortest-term circumstances, you wouldn’t want to utilise a sauna for weight loss. For instance, if you were to use a sauna to lose the last few pounds before an event without rehydrating your body after the sweat session, you would feel (and possibly even look) terrible.
This is especially true if you were trying to lose weight quickly for an occasion or to fit into a particular dress. To lose weight and keep it off, you must develop consistent, moderate healthy behaviours; try to steer clear of extremes and quick cures, which are frequently either dishonest, unhealthy, or unsustainable over the long term.
The reality is…
With actual exercise, you will fare far better. When you push your body into intense physical activity, your metabolism is stoked as it attempts to regulate body temperature, AND all of your muscles are required to function in unison, and your heart rate is elevated.
This results in a true temperature regulation/metabolic boost effect on your body. That uses up calories! much more than simply relaxing in a steam or sauna. Strength exercise and high intensity interval training (HIIT) are two good, scientifically supported ways to boost your metabolism. These effects are gradual and incremental, but they pile up over time.
There is nothing wrong with joining the ranks of those who make using a hot box a crucial component of their regular exercise routine; in fact, there are health advantages to doing so. I can attest that it ultimately feels really soothing to me. Only be sure that your primary goal is not just to reduce weight, as sitting for long periods of time does not result in significant calorie burn, fat loss, or muscle growth.
After a particularly challenging workout, using a sauna or steam room appropriately (and with your doctor’s clearance) is not a negative addition to a fitness regimen. It may be fun and serve as a little pleasure. Just don’t mistakenly think that it will add much to the number of calories you’ve burned or that it will cause you to lose weight that you won’t gain back after drinking again in an hour or two.
