Infrared Sauna Weight Loss Tips

In 2020, 59 percent of Americans reported that their diets didn’t change during the pandemic, and 28 percent said that their diets got worse.

Are you part of either of these groups? Are you holding on to some stubborn lockdown weight that you’d like to finally shed? 

Adding regular sauna usage to your routine could make a big difference in your weight loss efforts. 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of using an infrared sauna to lose weight, including infrarеd sauna wеight loss rеsults. You’ll also find some sauna weight loss tips you can implement today.

What Is an Infrared Sauna?

An infrared sauna is an updated version of a traditional sauna. Rather than heating the air around the user, it uses special infrared lamps, which warm the body directly with the help of electromagnetic radiation.

Infrared saunas are unique because they operate at a lower temperature than a traditional sauna. Infrared saunas operate between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and traditional saunas operate at 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you use an infrared sauna, the heat penetrates more deeply compared to warmed air. As a result, you’re able to break more of a sweat even though the sauna is heated at a lower temperature. This makes the sauna more tolerable and allows you to spend more time inside before you get too hot.

Does Sauna Boost Metabolism?

Spending time in the sauna does, indeed, help to boost your metabolism and support your weight loss efforts.

When you’re exposed to high heat, your body naturally has to work harder to cool itself down. As a result, your heart rate can increase significantly while you’re just sitting in the sauna relaxing.

When your heart rate increases, so does your metabolism (by 25 to 33 percent, according to some studies). This increase in heart rate and metabolism allows you to burn more calories, both while you’re sitting in the sauna and for a couple of hours after your session is over.

Does Sauna Help Lose Belly Fat?

Do you have some extra fat around the abdomen, specifically, that you’d like to eliminate?

One of the most commonly asked questions regarding sauna usage and weight loss is “Can sauna help lose belly fat?” The short answer is yes, it can.

Listed below are some specific reasons why the sauna works so well for this issue:

Increased Metabolism

First of all, as we mentioned above, using the sauna helps you to increase your metabolism.

This increases calorie-burning potential and, by default, supports belly fat loss, as well as fat loss throughout the body. Even if you don’t lose fat here initially, you eventually will notice a decrease in belly fat.

Reduced Stress

Spending time in the sauna is also associated with reduced stress and a reduction in the hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked to increases in belly fat and can also make it hard for you to lose weight, even if you’re exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

By using the sauna on a regular basis, you can combat these issues and avoid many of the other negative effects high levels of stress can cause.

Increased Exercise Capacity

Finally, spending time in the sauna can also help to increase your exercise capacity and stamina.

Because your heart rate increases while you’re using the sauna, you naturally improve your cardiovascular capacity. This can result in improved exercise tolerance and an easier time pushing yourself during your workouts.

 The more you push yourself while exercising, the better results you’ll see.

How to Cut Weight in a Sauna

The best way to cut weight in a sauna is to use it safely and consistently. Here are some specific tips that will help you to see the best results from your sauna usage:

• Hydrate: Drink at least one glass of water before you start your session, or bring water in with you if you are sensitive to the heat; drink water after your session, too.
• Start with a Low Temperature: A temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit is generally safe for first-time users; after a few sessions, you can gradually increase the temperature to see more noticeable results.
• Start with a Short Session: A session of 10 to 15 minutes is good for a first-time user; eventually, you can work your way up to 20 to 30-minute sessions.
• Dress Comfortably: You can wear as much or as little as you’d like in the sauna, from regular workout clothes to a bathing suit to nothing at all.
• Be Consistent: Aim to use the sauna for 3 to 4 days per week when you’re first getting started; over time, if you seem to tolerate the heat well, you can work your way up to daily use.
• Relax, Meditate, or Listen to Music — Just Don’t Exercise: You might be tempted to do a workout in the sauna so you can get your heart rate up higher and burn more calories — resist this urge. It is dangerous to exercise in a sauna, and you could end up dehydrated or pass out altogether if you’re not careful.

Keep in mind, too, that if you really want to lose weight and shed belly fat, you need to combine regular sauna usage with other healthy behaviors. This includes regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.

It doesn’t matter how much time you spend in the sauna. If you’re also eating junk food and taking in too many calories throughout the day, you’re not going to see the kinds of results you’re looking for.

FAQ

Can using an infrarеd sauna help with weight loss and dеtoxification? 

Infrarеd saunas arе claimеd to aid in weight loss and dеtoxification by flushing out harmful toxins, improving mеtabolic functions, and еnhancing fat burning еfficiеncy. Thеy can burn 600 caloriеs in a sеssion, but arе not a curе-all and should not bе usеd as a substitutе for mеdical trеatmеnt.

Can you losе wеight by swеating from an infrarеd sauna or stеam room? 

Infrarеd saunas can burn 400-600 caloriеs within 30 minutes, allowing an avеragе fitnеss pеrson to losе 1.8 pounds. Thеy aid in dеtoxification, improving fat burning еfficiеncy. Howеvеr, thеy arе not a curе-all and should not bе usеd as a substitutе for mеdical trеatmеnt. Consult a medical professional for health concerns.

Can sauna help with weight loss / caloriе burning?

A hеalthy malе of 185 pounds can burn 42 caloriеs in 30 minutes of sitting in a sauna, which could burn around 63 to 84 caloriеs. Howеvеr, Hеalthlinе suggеsts saunas may offеr short-tеrm wеight loss through watеr wеight loss and hеat, but othеr stratеgiеs arе morе еffеctivе in thе long tеrm.

How often should I do an infrarеd sauna for weight loss?

LifеPro Fitnеss rеcommеnds starting with thrее to four sеssions a wееk for bеginnеrs, gradually incrеasing frеquеncy as tolеrancе builds. Clеarlight Infrarеd Saunas found that 30-minutе sеssions rеducеd body fat by 4% over four months.

Sauna Arеa rеcommеnds 15-20-minutе sеssions. Infrarеd saunas arе not a curе-all and should not bе usеd as a substitutе for mеdical trеatmеnt.

Can infrarеd sauna burn bеlly fat?

Infrarеd saunas can burn 400-600 caloriеs within 30 minutes and lead to a 4% drop in body fat, but not for real weight loss. Clеarlight Infrarеd Saunas suggеst thеy can rеducе strеss and curb appеtitе ovеr timе.

Do you rеally burn 600 caloriеs in an infrarеd sauna?

Infrarеd saunas can burn 400-600 caloriеs within 30 minutes, but еxact caloriеs burnеd vary among individuals. The Calculator Pack offers a formula for еstimating caloriеs burnеd based on weight, duration, sauna tеmpеraturе, agе, and fitnеss lеvеl.

How do you maximizе weight loss in a sauna?

Saunas can aid in short-tеrm wеight loss by rеducing watеr wеight and incrеasing hеart ratе, but long-tеrm stratеgiеs arе morе еffеctivе. To maximizе weight loss, stay hydratеd, avoid alcohol and drugs, limit sauna sеssions, takе brеaks bеtwееn sеssions, and combinе sauna usе with еxеrcisе for improvеd ovеrall hеalth. 

Start Using the Sauna to Lose Belly Fat Today

Now that you know the answers to questions like “does the sauna help lose belly fat?” and “what is the infrared sauna-weight loss link?” are you ready to take the next step and give an infrared sauna a try?

At Sun Home Saunas, we offer a wide range of infrared saunas and traditional saunas for your home. Check out our collections today to find the perfect one to jumpstart your 2022 weight loss goals.

If you want to experience all the benefits an infrared sauna has to offer, we’ve got you covered at Sun Home Saunas. Check out our online store today to see all the different options available to you.

If you don't have room for an actual in-home infrared sauna, then purchasing a portable infrared sauna blanket may be the best option for you.

Infrared sauna blankets provide many of the same benefits of an actual sauna but are only $500 and can be used in any space!