Hot Baths/Showers not good for fat loss

Mr.Pump · 09-May-04, 01:06 PM

I've recently read that taking hot baths will promote fat retention in your body. The heat from the water relaxes your body and puts your endocrine system in a low energy producing state, which causes your body to 1) not use up as much calories and 2) Retain fat for the purposes of preventing damage to the epidermal layer.

HangOn · 09-May-04, 01:09 PM

sounds like an interesting read, got a link?

ChrisH · 09-May-04, 02:42 PM

I have read that cold baths or showers are supposed to be healthy and be good for 'toning the muscles'. I wil look for the link where I read this and post it later. Overall it stated many health benefits of cold baths and showers.

Also, I have read that hot baths are bad for your skin. Apparently is draws the moisture out of the skin.

Andrea · 09-May-04, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisH

I have read that cold baths or showers are supposed to be healthy and be good for 'toning the muscles'. I wil look for the link where I read this and post it later. Overall it stated many health benefits of cold baths and showers.

Also, I have read that hot baths are bad for your skin. Apparently is draws the moisture out of the skin.

Your absolutely right. Hot water dries out your skin.

:

ASS COBRA · 09-May-04, 03:30 PM

Damn! Ive been soaking in the hottub like a mofo while cutting thanks for the heads up.

**Lady C** · 09-May-04, 04:15 PM

But a sauna is great for the skin and it acutally stresses the heart or is similar to aerobics. So soak in the heat but not the H20

ChrisH · 09-May-04, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

But a sauna is great for the skin and it acutally stresses the heart or is similar to aerobics. So soak in the heat but not the H20

Yes. I think that is the issue being brought up here. There is nothing wrong with sitting in a sauna for a while. Sweating is actually good for your skin. When you sweat, apparently it releases a natural 'moisturizer'. However, do not soak in a hot bath. This is apparently what is not good.

HangOn · 09-May-04, 11:02 PM

soo to what extent does this hot water slow down the fat burning process? I love showers and take a 10-15minute shower in the morning and at night...

:edit: which brings me to another question, using a heating pad on a sore muscle would be a bad idea or no?

peace

2Scoops · 10-May-04, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Pump

I've recently read that taking hot baths will promote fat retention in your body. The heat from the water relaxes your body and puts your endocrine system in a low energy producing state, which causes your body to 1) not use up as much calories and 2) Retain fat for the purposes of preventing damage to the epidermal layer.

That's probably true to an extent but I really doubt if it will have a significant effect on weight loss. I'd like to read this if you can remember where you noticed it. Anyway, I'm not going to give up hot baths and showers in favour of cold ones - I'd rather live with my endocrine system being in a 'low energy producing state'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

But a sauna is great for the skin and it acutally stresses the heart or is similar to aerobics.

Increasing your HR alone does not make it equal to aerobics. When I watch a scary movie my HR increases also but it doesn't count as exercise.

Also: this should be in the general fitness forum.

MrsRiley · 10-May-04, 11:09 AM

I'll hafta let my husband know about this..he takes HOT HOT HOOOOOT baths all the time..maybe that is affecting his weight loss.

**Lady C** · 10-May-04, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Scoops

That's probably true to an extent but I really doubt if it will have a significant effect on weight loss. I'd like to read this if you can remember where you noticed it. Anyway, I'm not going to give up hot baths and showers in favour of cold ones - I'd rather live with my endocrine system being in a 'low energy producing state'.

Increasing your HR alone does not make it equal to aerobics. When I watch a scary movie my HR increases also but it doesn't count as exercise.

Answer to your questions Scoops!

:

Saunas boost Your Cardiovascular System... Medical research notes substantial increases in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate with infra-red therapy. Thirty minutes in a radiant heat sauna is the equivalent to a 1 mile run.

Since a sauna also speeds up the chemical processes in the body, it is also a favorite way to help clear the body of accumulated toxins. Not only does it speed up the body processes, but also perks up the working of the skin, which as the largest organ is important for waste removal, and in so doing stimulates the process to sweat, and helps remove waste products. It is with this same logic that body-wraps are used.

Another interesting fact about a sauna is that the heat helps the body to get rid of lactic acid which is formed during exercise, and for this reason it may be a good idea to have a sauna after a particularly heavy training session.

sillyme · 10-May-04, 12:23 PM

What the heck? That is so-o-o weird. I love to take hot baths - it's a totally cool sedative. What's the science behind the assertion that hot baths are bad for fat loss?

**HeroOnFilm** · 10-May-04, 01:23 PM

I don't know about the science behind hot baths and reduced fat loss, but cold showers/baths are said to trick the body into fat-burning/survival mode.

2Scoops · 10-May-04, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

Saunas boost Your Cardiovascular System... Medical research notes substantial increases in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate with infra-red therapy. Thirty minutes in a radiant heat sauna is the equivalent to a 1 mile run.

I don't doubt that 30 min in a sauna will have a HR response superficially similar to exercise but you won't get any training benefits from it - so while it may be the 'equivalent' of a 1 mile run in terms of HR, cardiac output and metabolic rate, there's where the similarity ends. The training effects of exercise include so many more factors than the acute cardiac response. I'd really like to see the medical research that likened the two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady C

Another interesting fact about a sauna is that the heat helps the body to get rid of lactic acid which is formed during exercise, and for this reason it may be a good idea to have a sauna after a particularly heavy training session.

I'm not sure on this either. My understanding is that ice baths and cold showers are far more effective at lactate clearance. Perhaps both can be used but I've yet to see any research to support their (saunas) use for lactate removal.

I don't want to sound too hard on saunas - I love them!

Their benefits are many and varied - most notably it's great for the skin as you pointed out. But no way is it an aerobic workout.

**Lady C** · 10-May-04, 03:38 PM

Well . . . everyone is free to beleive what they want but here are a couple of references. I personally use a sauna frequently. I really enjoy it right after an intense weight session.

sauna
clinical study

A found a few clinical abstracts but I don't have memberships to those sites like this one.

Dig in and read you might find some more interesting facts.