Can You Use an Infrared Sauna for Weight Loss?
When looking for simple and effective ways to lose weight, you may run across using an infrared sauna. With the use of an infrared sauna in Adelaide picking up in popularity, you may find yourself wondering if it is a good option for you. In order to make this decision, you first have to know the difference between infrared saunas and normal ones. When we say normal ones, we mean traditional steam saunas. At Fast Twitch we do also have steam saunas available, however, no need to book.
What Is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is a sauna that uses infrared light to raise the temperature in the machine. These lights offer a variety of health benefits, including weight loss, stress relief, and detoxing toxins. These lights are then absorbed through your skin, where your body begins reaping the benefits.
How Are Infrared Saunas Different from Traditional Saunas?
One of the most significant differences between infrared and traditional saunas is the temperature that they reach. While conventional saunas reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, infrared saunas are much lower, coming in at around 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. The other significant difference is that traditional saunas use either dry heat or steam to heat the entire space, while infrared saunas use infrared lights to heat your body directly. We offer both Infrared and Finnish Steam saunas at Fast Twitch. If you’re looking for infrared saunas, we ask that you please book in a time.
Can I Really Lose Weight in One?
It may seem too good to be true to lose weight by simply sitting in a hot space, but it can really happen! In fact, one study showed that the average person will lose four percent of their body fat over four months with regular use of an infrared sauna. Regular use means 45 minutes a day, three days a week. If you’re wondering how this weight loss occurs, you’re not alone.
Fortunately, we’re here to break down the variety of ways that infrared rays can affect your body and help you lose weight. The nice thing about using an infrared sauna for weight loss is that it affects many areas of your body, which all work to help you lose weight. Some of the effects are even ones you can’t experience with diet and exercise alone, making it a great option to add to your existing healthy habits.
Heart Rate
One of the most significant ways an infrared sauna can help boost your weight loss is by elevating your heart rate. A study done in 2017 concluded that sauna usage can cause your heart rate to elevate and then stay that way for up to thirty minutes after you leave. This heart reaction is similar to moderate-intensity cardio, and an elevated heart rate can lead to weight loss.
Stress-Free
Stress is one of the biggest reasons why we can’t lose weight. However, infrared saunas have shown they’re here to change that. If you find it relaxing to sit in a warm room a few times away, it can lower stress levels. When you have less stress, your body can focus less on simply surviving and more on losing excess weight. This physical reaction makes infrared saunas an easy, comfortable, and relaxing way to lose weight. Reduce stress today and book in a sauna session.
Metabolism
One of the physical deterrents for weight loss is a slower metabolism. Our metabolisms are part of a more extensive system known as the endocrine system. This system is made up of glands and helps regulate your metabolism and other body parts. When the endocrine system isn’t working correctly, it causes your metabolism to slow down, which will cause you to hold onto extra weight. Infrared saunas can penetrate your skin to reach the endocrine system directly. This stimulation makes your endocrine system more efficient, speeding up your metabolism and helping you lose some of that stubborn weight.
Isn’t It Just Water Weight?
Many nay-sayers will try to tell you that the weight you’re losing in an infrared sauna is simply water weight and, therefore, a more temporary weight loss. While you are likely losing water weight through sweating, your body is doing more than that.
When we sweat, we do release water from our bodies, which is a contributing factor to losing water weight. However, the act of sweating also leads to burning calories. As many of us know, one of the best things we can do for weight loss is burn calories. With the use of an infrared sauna, you’re able to get your (calorie) burn on and relax at the same time. Talk about a win-win!
It's All About Habits
With weight loss being something many people are struggling with, there’s been much research done to help us understand how to make the struggle easier. A lot of modern studies are proving that changing your behaviours is a crucial step to being able to lose weight and then keep it off.
It isn’t enough to go to an infrared sauna now and then when you need to have a relaxed moment. To truly reap the weight loss benefits these saunas offer, you need to make them a part of your weekly routine. Regular use or simply adding the behaviour to your schedule will help you see the weight loss results that infrared saunas can offer.
Summary
Infrared saunas are an excellent tool to use when trying to lose some weight. It’s important to note that the use of an infrared sauna shouldn’t replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, when combined with those two habits, infrared saunas can help you see the results you want to see much quicker.
Infrared saunas likely won’t have you seeing drastic weight loss. Regardless, they’re a great tool to help you shed those pesky pounds that won’t seem to go anywhere. Since the infrared rays penetrate your skin and directly impact your body’s systems and cells, the infrared saunas can give you benefits that diet and exercise often can’t do.
Plus, sitting in an infrared sauna for 30−45 minutes a couple of days a week sounds like an enjoyable way to lose weight. So, if you’re looking for a relaxing, stress-reducing, and safe way to lose some pounds, look no further than infrared saunas.
If you’re looking to book in a sauna session at Fast Twitch, we have plenty of times available at our Adelaide locaiton.
Reference List & Resources
Can Sitting In An Infrared Sauna Really Help You Lose Weight? from Women’s Health Magazine
The Endocrine System and Glands of the Human Body from WebMD