Infra Red Saunas

[fathead]

anyone have an opinion on these?

i got a chance to use one yesterday as i had a gift card. obviously the literature they provide is all very biased so im wondering if anyone has an educated opinion on them... i know a few people who swear by them. the literature claims increased circulation, toxin flushing, muscle repair, breaking up of fat deposits, etc etc

they claim that it aids in weight/fat loss. any time i read about something that causes fat loss with no work im skeptical. however it basically claims that your cardio output is greater while in it (which it is). my heart rate got up to 110 bpm (ish) while in it. I sweat like a pig and felt like butter after so it was worth something even if its just relaxation.

thoughts...?

tempted to switch out the stair climber for one of these for an hour a day!

[guest]

a cancer researcher told me that the detox effect was a sham.

[gettinbigger]

for sure you're gonna lose weight! you could probably measure it by collecting the sweat that will puddle around you after an hour in one of those things and weigh it. So if you are looking to drop a few pounds of water the sauna's for ya but if you want to lose fat I'd stick with the stair climber.

[BAM]

That's the same way they keep McDonalds burgers warm.

No thanks

[japh]

I see the benefit in getting a good sweat on as much as a few times a week.

I wouldn't be exercising after that though.

I wouldn't replace my cardio with that either.

Great place to stretch out your hamstrings and groin as long as no ones around! lol Give yourself a bit of your own bikrams yoga to help improve squat technique as well as basic flexibility for quality of life.

The whole toxin thing makes sense to me. I can't quote any studies though.

Bring in a gallon of frozen lemon water with some electrolyte/ potassium tablets and stretch till its gone 3 times a week. Thats part of the fitness equation in my mind along with weights and cardio.

[ubcpower]

the one near me also makes calories burnt/hour claims while in the InfraRedSauna...something ridiculous like 550kcal/30mins. How did you feel the rest of teh day? exhausted?

[fathead]

the one near me also makes calories burnt/hour claims while in the InfraRedSauna...something ridiculous like 550kcal/30mins. How did you feel the rest of teh day? exhausted?

i felt awesome actually. i had a massage right afterward as well and was loose and warmed up before i even hit the table.

note: im not actually suggesting that i would replace cardio with this sauna! just wondering more so about the benefits of detoxifying sweat, relaxing muscles, improving blood flow, etc

[japh]

Yeah, in my opinion it should be done on non weighttraining days and after cardio then go home drink, eat and relax.

I felt like crap when I first started doing sweats in a lodge with no water. They were extreme though at probably around 150 degrees for 2 hours with 3 10 minute breaks. It was very spiritual. Thinking you're going to die can do that. lol Once I got used to it and gained a certain mental toughness it felt great after, exhausting but great. A natural high.

[gingerbreadman]

I own one. Considered trading it for cardio. Soon decided otherwise. Good for stretching & good for the skin & immune system. It does zap you because of the electrolyte loss. Doing it after cardio every few days to stay limber is the idea I'm sticking with. Getting into it with the body already warm from cardio is good idea to jump-start the sweating. The claims of calories being burned....? I think those people are smoking pot don't count on it for fat loss

You get like Gumby - you'd be amazed how limber you become. I once had tight forarms for months. Started stretching them in the sauna and had the knots worked out in about 3 weeks.

[Knuckles28]

I get in the Sauna after i'm finished at the gym, it's in the locker room so I hope in for 20or so minutes then grab a shower. Pretty sure it's not infra red though. I'm not sure about all the claimed benefit's but I feel great after. I'm kind of addicted to it now and
if I had the space at home i'd have one for sure.

[BMac]

I go in one for 30 mins before my massage therapist works on me...helps warm everything up so she can get in alot deeper, no way I would use that instead of cardio though

[Praetorian]

They work great for heavy metal detoxification.
P