Quite often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about hot tubs is soaking in warm, bubbling waters. And it’s true that a big part of the joy of soaking in a hot tub is the warmth and massaging action that occurs. The results are relaxation, soothing of aching muscles, stress relief, and much more. But can using a hot tub help you lose weight? Can you burn calories in a hot tub? In this article, we’ll explore the ability of the hot tub to help with your weight loss goals.
Can You Burn Calories in A Hot Tub?
The fact is that your body will burn calories simply by being alive. It’s similar to how your cell phone will lose its charge even if you don’t use it for several days. The processes that are performed, even while at a resting state, are enough to slowly burn calories or battery charge. For humans, this is known as the basal metabolic rate and it can account for the burning of up to 50 calories per hour. Now, if you’re like most hot tub users, the time you spend in a hot tub is normally very relaxed and sedate. The heat of the water may make you sweat somewhat and cause you to burn a few more calories, but not a whole lot more than when you sit on the couch. And because your hot tub sessions are limited to 15 or 20 minutes, you’d be lucky to burn more than 20 extra calories per session.
How Can A Hot Tub Help You Lose Weight?
Just because you won’t burn a whole lot of calories simply soaking in a hot tub doesn’t mean there are no weight loss benefits by doing so. Weight loss typically occurs when the amount of calories you consume is less than the calories that are burned. But there are other factors that help or inhibit weight loss and your hot tub can play a role.
Stress Relief
Stress is a large factor in the body’s production of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol interferes with weight loss goals in a few different ways. It’s been found to be a trigger for cravings for food with high levels of fat and salt which, of course, aren’t the best diet when it comes to losing weight. Cortisol has also been found to decrease testosterone levels which are important for building muscle. The more muscle you have in your body, the more calories you will burn. And finally, elevated levels of cortisol have been found to stimulate fat storage in the body – particularly around the midriff. However, spending time relaxing in the hot tub can reduce your stress levels, your body’s cortisol production and make it easier to maintain or lose weight.
Sleep Improvement
It’s been found that those who suffer from insomnia or other sleep problems are more prone to gaining weight. Again, this is due to the production of cortisol and other hormones that have been found to be partially responsible for weight gain. Studies have shown that those who are sleep deprived are prone to consume more calories than those who are well-rested. There are several physiological reasons for this increase in calorie intake, but most of them have to do with changes in hormone levels. However, regular use of a hot tub has been found to promote better sleeping patterns and reduce the disturbance in hormone levels which can promote weight gain. If getting a good night’s sleep has been elusive, you might want to consider some hot tub therapy.
To find out more how regular use of a hot tub can help regulate your body’s metabolism, download a free buyer’s guide below today, or visit us at our hot tub store.