Infrared Sauna and Weight Loss?

mithion

Has anyone had any experience using an infrared sauna specifically for weight loss?

I just learned about this from the Joe Rohan Experience podcast when he interviewed TJ Dillashaw.

It sounds pretty interesting.

There are plenty of articles available with a google search, I’m just curious if anyone here has first hand experience using one.

https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/infrared-sauna-health-fitness-benefits

Muscleflex79

first, you probably shouldn't be getting your life advice from Shape magazine!

second, if it were as easy as sitting in a sauna wouldn't everybody do this instead of exercise/calorie deficit/etc.??

Dilvish

Any weight you may lose in a sauna is going to be water weight.

It's true sauna's raise your heart rate but in order for you to sustain it you have to sit in there for 30 minutes or more and again you won't lose much weight other than water. You'll gain it all back when you have a drink....

a 10 minute brisk walk would burn more calories than 15 minutes in a sauna.

Like the poster above said, if it made you lose weight, why wouldn't everyone be doing it? It's like any other "gimmick"...Apple cider vinegar, Mangosteen, potato starch, Lemon Juice+ cayenne pepper, rasberry keytones the list goes on...if these things actually worked they would be flying off the shelves faster than stores could stock them!

A caloric deficit and exercise are the only ways to effectively lose weight and keep it off.

TerranandKaylynsmommy

I like the sauna because it relaxes me, sooths my muscles, and I feel like my skin is clearer. I don't believe that the sauna has anything to do with my weight loss.

ms_true

The sauna is good for muscle recovery and heart health in men. It's a soothing ritual and can help lift depression. If it helps in weight loss that's a bonus, but I don't think weight will fall off. I used one regularly when I was a member at the leisure centre and didn't notice a weight loss effect.

Cahgetsfit

I have a portable infrared sauna. a long time ago when I was prepping for a competition my coach prescribed sauna twice a week and I couldn't afford it at the salon so I bought a portable thing from eBay.

Now, as for it helping with losing weight? I doubt it, except for maybe water.

It is, however, nice, and does help with muscle recovery. I don't regret my purchase and should actually use it more often. I tend to use it more in winter coz now in summer last thing I want to do is go boil in a little cubicle with my head sticking out.

AnnPT77

Things that burn a significant number of calories often raise heart rate. Not everything that raises heart rate burns a significant number of calories. If it did, people would lose weight watching scary horror movies. Up to 600 calories in half an hour sitting in a sauna? Not likely, not likely at all.

quiksylver296

TJ Dillashaw was cutting water weight to compete. He said in that podcast that he weighed in 24 pounds UNDER what he walked into the cage at. That means he gained 24 pounds once he reintroduced water.

Does this really sound like a sustainable weight loss technique???

SCoil123

SassypantsMeow wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Things that burn a significant number of calories often raise heart rate. Not everything that raises heart rate burns a significant number of calories. If it did, people would lose weight watching scary horror movies. Up to 600 calories in half an hour sitting in a sauna? Not likely, not likely at all.

Sitting in a cedar box with radiation-like light at 145 degrees not only raises your heart rate considerably, it maintains the raised heart rate for the duration of (and a few minutes after) the treatment. No, going to an infrared sauna once a week isn’t going to effect a weight loss change. But medical studies have shown that this does effect metabolic rate and if used every day, body fat percentage would lower. See attached.

You’ve gone through and found three old threads to resurrect so that you could post this same thing. I’m assuming you work for a company selling the beds or treatment

AnnPT77

SassypantsMeow wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Things that burn a significant number of calories often raise heart rate. Not everything that raises heart rate burns a significant number of calories. If it did, people would lose weight watching scary horror movies. Up to 600 calories in half an hour sitting in a sauna? Not likely, not likely at all.

Sitting in a cedar box with radiation-like light at 145 degrees not only raises your heart rate considerably, it maintains the raised heart rate for the duration of (and a few minutes after) the treatment. No, going to an infrared sauna once a week isn’t going to effect a weight loss change. But medical studies have shown that this does effect metabolic rate and if used every day, body fat percentage would lower. See attached.

OK, I'll bite.

For the purpose of argument, let's believe what my BIA scale told me this morning, which was 136.4 pounds and 26.1% body fat, so 35.6 pounds of body fat. I waste spend 45 minutes of time 3 times a week for 4 months in a sauna-like thingie. Over that period, I have a 4% drop in body fat. 4% of 35.6 pounds is a whopping 1.424 pounds of body fat in 4 months. Whoop-ti-do.

If, instead, I had spent that 2 hours and 15 minutes weekly walking at a very manageable 3.5mph, I'd burn 322 net calories extra per week, which is also a loss of 1.47 pounds, plus I'd be fitter than if I'd sat around in a sauna. (Betting the sauna isn't free. The walking is.)

Or, I could just eat maybe 3-4 slices of bread less per week, or 1.5 portions of pasta less, or skip a venti vanilla latte once a week. That way, I save both time and money.

In phase 2, 0.5% a week is a fabulous 0.178 pounds of body fat per week, which I won't even be able to see on a home scale amongst normal fluctuations.

It's a miracle of science, innit?