My Gym has a "Weightloss Pod"

Has anyone else used a weightloss pod? I've also seen one called 'Slim Capsule.'
So basically, you sit in a spaceship and it gets really hot.
Before you start your session they enter your weight and there is a Kcal counter on the machine. I went in today and it said I burned 400Cals... Whoa! Not to bad considering I probably could have taken a nap lol... I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how accurate (or inaccurate) that is?
Asking out of curiosity and also not sure if I should log it.

Not sure if this matters but I'm 5'3" 152lbs and the pod averages 180 degrees F for 45 min

Thanks!
~Luna
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Replies

  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I......uh....a pod you say?
  • LunaGreen
    LunaGreen Posts: 118 Member
    oh yes... a... pod
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I wouldn't....log calories burned while in....a.....pod.
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    ...never heard of it... but I wouldn't log it... :/ if you lose extra, cool?
  • onefortyone
    onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
    I imagine that if you caught all the sweat that dripped off you and drank it back, you'd weigh the same as when you went in.
  • ChristineRoze
    ChristineRoze Posts: 212 Member
    just sounds like it makes you lose water weight from sweating haha
  • Karissa_Clohan
    Karissa_Clohan Posts: 126 Member
    ""Back in the 60s, they did a lot of research to show that heat causes weight loss but it's water loss, and this is because, like wrestlers and jockeys who have to meet weight goals, this is what they often, they go in a sauna and they sweat that extra weight off. But the minute they rehydrate, obviously that weight comes back on. And this is not new. This so well documented," said Dr. Melinda Sothern, a clinical exercise physiologist and professor in the School of Public Health at LSU Health Sciences Center."

    (-http://www.wwltv.com/news/Makers-say-you-can-lie-in-space-capsule-and-lose-weight-117289923.html)

    I wouldn't log it, OP
  • LunaGreen
    LunaGreen Posts: 118 Member
    I get the "water weight" aspect of it but the heat part. Being SO HOT though, I have to think that some of the Calorie burn has to be similar to the Cals you burn on something like a thermogenic. I sure felt like I ran 4 miles lol. If nothing else I'll continue it because of how relaxing it is, but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?
  • MizMimi111
    MizMimi111 Posts: 244 Member
    Sounds similar to a sauna.

    180 °F for 45 minutes? Doesn't sound all that safe, imo.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I wouldn't....log calories burned while in....a.....pod.

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ^This.

    It sounds like they just put you in a personal sauna thing. I highly doubt you actually burned 400 cals in this pod. I think you lost some water weight, but no. Don't log this as actual exercise.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I get the "water weight" aspect of it but the heat part. Being SO HOT though, I have to think that some of the Calorie burn has to be similar to the Cals you burn on something like a thermogenic. I sure felt like I ran 4 miles lol. If nothing else I'll continue it because of how relaxing it is, but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?

    Your body is so stupidly efficient that the difference in fuel required in hot weather vs. cold weather is next to nothing. You burn a few extra calories in the cold weather to keep your body warm, but the extra burn can probably be counted on your hands per hour. Only in extreme temperature changes over longer than the time you spent in the pod would really have an impact on calorie requirements/burn. Otherwise, you could just take a really hot shower for 45 minutes instead of doing a 4 mile run...
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?

    Yes, they can!

    Just like they put a bogus body fat percent reading on the digital scales.
  • ritan7471
    ritan7471 Posts: 99 Member
    I get the "water weight" aspect of it but the heat part. Being SO HOT though, I have to think that some of the Calorie burn has to be similar to the Cals you burn on something like a thermogenic. I sure felt like I ran 4 miles lol. If nothing else I'll continue it because of how relaxing it is, but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?

    I think calorie counters on most exercise equipment are bogus-they can't possibly tell accurately how much weight you've lost.

    I wouldn't count that calorie burn if I were you.

    The sauna in my building is usually about 180F by the time our hour comes up. It's kind of nice to think that we might be burning calories while we relax. But we don't sit in there for 45 minutes. The think at your gym sounds almost like endurance sauna. We get in ours, throw some water on, sit there for about 5-10 minutes and then get out and shower. Repeat once. I can't imagine sitting there for 45 minutes straight, even without steam.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    and you pay money for this gym? Like, real money?
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    and you pay money for this gym? Like, real money?

    I think I would pay more if I could sit in a pod. Think of the amazing excuses! "Yeah bro, I'd come do a leg workout with you but today is pod day. Sorry."
  • Everburg16
    Everburg16 Posts: 101
    That happened on an episode of Sailor Moon. The girls join a gym and they have these "pods" they get into.

    It was draining their energy for the DARK KINGDOM.

    Please stop aiding Queen Beryl.

    ;P
  • Honestly NEVER heard something like this....it's so strange haha

    Sure your body does burn calories, even if the weight you lose is water weight. I wouldn't log something like that, just because it's the same as sitting in a steam room or sauna. Better to actually work out and burn fat for 45 mins than sit on your butt.

    If you want to get in shape and get toned, way better off actually exercising (:
  • Keepcalmanddontblink
    Keepcalmanddontblink Posts: 718 Member
    That happened on an episode of Sailor Moon. The girls join a gym and they have these "pods" they get into.

    It was draining their energy for the DARK KINGDOM.

    Please stop aiding Queen Beryl.

    ;P
    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    They should make a cold pod!! Like freezing cold! I bet if you are shaking cause you're so cold, you probably burn more calories! :laugh:
  • LunaGreen
    LunaGreen Posts: 118 Member
    Thank you to those of you who answered my honest question even though it was a little hokey sounding.
    <3
  • Keepcalmanddontblink
    Keepcalmanddontblink Posts: 718 Member
    Thank you to those of you who answered my honest question even though it was a little hokey sounding.
    <3
    What gym do you go to?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    You do burn more calories trying to stay cool. Just as you do trying to staying warm.

    Your heart rate should go up too since blood flow helps in cooling, which in this case there was none - so body just spends energy trying to cool down and it doesn't work.

    Interesting stress idea. Wonder what health safeguards are on it - or just a sign with some warning you have to pay attention to?

    It would be interesting to know how exactly they would calibrate how many calories you burned.

    Same as some people don't sweat when they exercise, or it takes a whole lot more effort and time to start. Their bodies take longer to feel the need to.
  • Keepcalmanddontblink
    Keepcalmanddontblink Posts: 718 Member
    What I'd like to know is, what makes it different than a sauna? Other than the fact that its a pod...Is it like crazy oven temperature hot?
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    So its a sauna. Yeah you dont burn calories sitting in a sauna, you sweat. If you want to burn calories sitting in a room may I suggest a walk-in freezer, I imagine the shivering and struggle for your body to maintain its temperature would likely burn a few calories. Maybe not as many calories as going for a nice walk but at least you get to sit at an uncomfortable temperature.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?

    Who would stop them the calorie police?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Was trying to find the references to the fact metabolism is higher when warmer, but unless that machine is doing what a HRM or machine readout or exercise database are doing - including your resting calorie burn in there too (and to be fair, the others do also).

    So in total if you burned 200 calories in there, you'd burn around 100 anyway, so not as great as claimed, but not nothing either.

    This was interesting part of this study though. Now, they are talking during exercise, where say ratio of fat : carb burn is perhaps 40: 60.
    Whereas at rest fat burn is probably 90-95% of energy source. So does this mean it shifts it to even more carb burn?

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11219501

    "When exercise is conducted in very high ambient temperatures, the gradient for heat dissipation is significantly reduced which results in changes to thermoregulatory mechanisms designed to promote body heat loss. This can ultimately impact upon hormonal and metabolic responses to exercise which act to alter substrate utilisation. In general, the literature examining metabolic responses to exercise and heat stress has demonstrated a shift towards increased carbohydrate use and decreased fat use."
  • November_Fire
    November_Fire Posts: 165 Member
    That should be illegal. Telling people they burned 400 cals sitting in a pod? There are sideshow magicians who aren't allowed to do that.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    That should be illegal. Telling people they burned 400 cals sitting in a pod? There are sideshow magicians who aren't allowed to do that.

    Seen magazines at the checkout line at grocery store? Why aren't those illegal with those claims?
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    That should be illegal. Telling people they burned 400 cals sitting in a pod? There are sideshow magicians who aren't allowed to do that.

    Hate to break it to you but sideshow magicians arent breaking the law either. There is no law against fooling people.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    but can they really put a TOTALLy bogus calorie counter on there?

    Who would stop them the calorie police?

    I'm the calorie police, you are all under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say about calories can and will be held against you.
  • jennifries227
    jennifries227 Posts: 113 Member
    They should make a cold pod!! Like freezing cold! I bet if you are shaking cause you're so cold, you probably burn more calories! :laugh:

    They've actually done a study recently that shows shivering burns a ton of calories.
    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140211-shivering-cold-exercise-brown-fat-white-fat-irisin-metabolism-weight-loss/

    Interesting stuff. I seriously doubt you could burn 400 calories in 45 minutes just sitting in a hot pod, though. I wish it were true, though!