Sauna for Weight Loss: What’s True and What’s Not

There are lots of deceptions in the fitness industry. Sauna for weight loss is one area where information gets twisted. Spending time in the sauna gives relaxation and health benefits, but then others overstress the conception of losing weight in a sauna. Some people assert that in 30 minutes of sauna session, it can burn 300 to 1000 calories.

Burning calories at a rate of 14 calories per minute are just tremendously high and difficult to maintain based on the data when exercising on a treadmill or undergoing grueling workout. Hence, why do people believe that by just sitting in a sauna you can burn these many calories?

Some profess that the body needs to make efforts to sustain its ideal temperature, which leads the metabolism to be more active; therefore, calories are used. That is a fact; however, it is not possible to burn calories at such a high rate for just sitting in a sauna or steam room.

Can sauna aid in losing weight?

The answer is yes, but you are not developing muscles and you’re not burning a notable amount of calories. You are only losing water weight. Furthermore, it is more difficult to lose weight if you’re not rehydrating the water that you sweat out.

Hydration is a vital element in losing extra weight. The weight you lose while in the sauna is only water, which is very important to our body. Excessive loss of water can be dehydrating, so it is advisable to replenish the water you lose. Not replacing the water you lose immediately while in these hot rooms is unhealthy and makes it hard for your body to shed pounds permanently.

Sauna for weight loss is not appropriate for even in the most momentary case. For an instance, if you are attempting to lose weight for an occasion or just to fit a certain dress, then going to the sauna is not the answer. Regular and sensible healthy habits, like exercise and balanced diet, are essential in losing weight, and keeping your body off from unhealthy and short-term solution habits will also help.

How many calories can sauna burn?

An average 150-pound woman usually burns about 34 calories every 30 minutes by just simply sitting, like watching TV. When sitting in a sauna, she will burn about 1.5 times that or 51 calories with the same period of time. To calculate the burned calories in a sauna:

The burn calories while sitting (depends on the weight) x 1.5.

What are the different types of saunas?

A sauna is a room that has increased temperatures from 65 to 90 degrees Celsius. However, not all saunas work the same. For instance, Turkish style saunas have plenty of steam while Finnish style saunas are typically dry.

People usually spend 15 to 30 minutes in a sauna.

The effects of saunas to our body are the same even with different temperatures and humidity in the room. Meanwhile, there are also clothes and gears that function like a sauna which encourage your body to sweat. Sauna belts and sauna suits, for instance, can be very useful to athletes.

Final Thoughts

It is true that you can lose weight in the sauna, but it does not burn fats. However, as soon as you rehydrate, you will regain almost the same weight back. This means that the only thing you shed off is the water weight, which what you sweat out during the sauna session. Still, sauna provides a lot of benefits, such as releasing toxins and stress from your body.

In a nutshell, sauna is better for relaxation and relieving stress. It also cleanses the skin, eliminates all dirt, toxins, and grease along with sweat. However, if your target result is to lose weight, then sauna is not the best solution.