Working out w/ a fan?

akb2006

Does working out with a fan impact calories burned or the workout itself? It has been really hot here so I put a little fan next to the elliptical in addition to the fan that is on the elliptical (which you can bareley feel). The fan next to me works but the second I get off of there I am bursting into flames with sweat. Is the fan making my body not working out as hard? My body was still sweating but not like it was when I get off of the elliptical. Any help would be great!

DarcieC2389

In all essence, probably the more you sweat the better, but I still run a fan while exercising, so I don't get so hot that I feel sick.

Happyguy

When its very hot your body will shunt more blood to the surface and away from your muscles in order to provide fluid to your sweat glands so you can sweat enough to maintain normal body temperature.

When it's cool and your body doesn't require much sweat to keep from overheating it can supply more blood to your working muscles.

Overall I would say it's better to keep as cool as possible. With more blood available to your muscles you can work out harder and longer.

Nobody ever set a marathon world record in eighty degree temperatures.

sonjavon

I'll be interested to see what other people say since I wouldn't consider myself to be an expert... but honestly, I don't see how it would impact calories burned.... swimmers burn a lot of calories and they're in cold water. Cross Country Skiers burn a ton of calories and they're outside in the cold. How would working out with a fan be much different than running outside with a breeze blowing at you?

It seems to me that it wouldn't make a difference....

DanOhh

The job of sweating is to cool the body. It is NOT calories burned. When you sweat and loose weight that weight comes back as soon as you drink more water and the body soaks that up. Just because you're sweating does not mean you are burning more calories than if you weren't.

akb2006

I guess my thought process was your body had to work harder to cool it back down so it would burn more calories or make your workout more efficent. I'm glad thats not the case though! So I can enjoy that fan!