Can a Hot Tub Help with Weight Loss?
With more and more of us striving to improve our wellness through increased exercise and an improved diet, people think of many creative ways to lose weight. Many of these techniques are not scientifically proven and some can even be dangerous. Sitting in a hot tub does not give much direct weight loss benefit, in fact only 3% more calories are burnt in a hot tub vs sitting on the sofa but the wider benefits can compliment your fitness regime, recovery and improve your wider wellness to indirectly support your weight loss journey.
Muscle Recovery
Physical activity and exercise will be at the heart of the majoirty of weight loss regimes. Whether this is spin class or taking up a new sport, your muscles are bound to feel the effects, especially if you are new to a certain exercise or haven't excercised in a long time. A Study from Swedish Scientists has proven that hot water can be a great way to recover from exercise instead of the more traditional and known recovery methods of icing or cooling muscles. Hot water also increases bloodflow, which can stimulate recovery and relax muscles. An article from The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research in 2015 highlights that heating and cooling after exercise both offer great benefits to muscle recovery but heat actually offers small advantages over cooling. This debate and study is ongoing as we all look for the best way to recover our muscles but the great news is that there is evidence to support strong muscle recovery from hot water therapy, meaning a hot tub can be a great way to support your physical activity or weight loss regime.
Reducing Stress To Assist with Weight Loss
Whilst hot tubs don't offer too much direct weight loss, another great indirect supporter of weight loss is de-stressing. There is a hormone in our body called Cortisol, which has been labelled the "stress-hormone" and it can really impact a person who is trying to lose weight. High levels of cortisol has been linked to stress eating, a reduction in muscle building and it can lead to increased body fat. A hot tub can be a great way to de-stress with the immersion in hot water and targeted hydrotherapy jets relaxing your muscles, slowing breathing and therefore reducing cortisol levels in your body.
Improved Sleep
Being tired can significantly impact a weight loss routine, as training times may decrease due to a feeling of fatigue as well as some studies suggesting that tired individuals are more likely to opt for fattier foods. Lots of Happy Hot Tubs customers find a 15 minutes soak helps them improve sleep. By relaxing muscles and relieving pain for a period before bed, you set your body up for a long nights sleep, which rests your muscles and helps aid physical exercise and eating habits. This does not work for everyone but is certainly worth trying if you are a hot tub owner.
A Welcome Reward
During a weight loss journey, a reward goes a long way and what better reward than a soak in a hot tub! A hot tub can really change your routine by reducing the time spent in front of the TV and using devices. After a hard fitness session or a long week at work, rewarding yourself with a long dip in your hot tub will help your muscles recover, de-stress you and promote general wellness.
Hot Tub Exercise or Yoga
You may wish to use the buoyancy of hot tub water to perform some physical acitvity and this is a great idea! Buoyancy reduces the impact on your muscles, helps increase blood flow and also works as natural resistance. For those reasons, Yoga is a great form of exercise in a hot tub - check out this infographic to see some of the poses you could perform in your hot tub. You could also try the following exercises:
- Calf Raises - Stand in the middle of your hot tub and raise yourself up on to your toes, a great way to tone your calves.
- Bicycle crunches - With both legs straight out from your seat, bend one leg and bring the knee in toward your chest as far as you are able. Return it slowly to straight, and do the same with the other leg.
- Flutter Kicks - Sit on the edge of a seat in your hot tub and kick as if you were swimming, trying to keep your legs striaght. Try and do this for 30 seconds.
As with any exercise, check with your doctor and make sure you stay hydrated, especially in a hot tub to replace the fluids lost to increased sweating and a raised body temperature.
Even if they are not directly beneficial, hot tubs are a great compliment to your weight loss journey or fitness routine. For ultimate fitness in the comfort of your own home, our range of Endless Pools Fitness Systems offer swim capability and even extras like an underwater treadmill to really put you through your paces. If you are looking for a great quality hot tub to improve your general wellness routine then check out our range of Hot Tubs.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
