Can You Lose 10 pounds in a Sauna?
The sauna may appear to be a tempting shortcut when you want to lose weight, but you can't shed 10 pounds safely by sitting in one of these heated rooms. In addition, spending long sessions in the sauna -- which can reach 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit -- can cause serous dehydration.
The Pound-Melting Myth
Sitting in the sauna will not affect your body-fat levels, and therefore doesn't provide lasting weight loss. In fact, the only way to lose weight for good is to eat fewer calories and engage in regular exercise. You will, however, lose water weight in the sauna. You may sweat about one pint of water in a brief sauna session, according to Harvard Medical Center, which equals about one pound of body weight. Remaining in the sauna long enough to lose 10 pounds would seriously jeopardize your health, and Harvard recommends limiting sessions to 15 to 20 minutes and drinking water afterward to combat dehydration.
- Sitting in the sauna will not affect your body-fat levels, and therefore doesn't provide lasting weight loss.
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References
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Writer Bio
Nina K. is a Los Angeles-based journalist who has been published by USAToday.com, Fitday.com, Healthy Living Magazine, Organic Authority and numerous other print and web publications. She has a philosophy degree from the University of Colorado and a journalism certificate from UCLA.