Archive for the tag - sweat

Do Sauna Suits Help You Lose Weight?

April 30, 2015 By

Hi Davey,

What are your thoughts on the use of sauna suits and toning wraps while working out? Do they help you lose weight?

Regards,
Jerry

4731Hey Jerry,

Let’s dive right into it. Do sauna suits and the like help you lose weight? Yes. But not really.

First, let’s differentiate between losing weight and losing body fat. Losing weight can happen for a variety of reasons. If you become less muscular, you lose weight. Heck, if you amputate a limb, you lose weight. Losing body fat, on the other hand, is very specific. When most of us talk about losing weight, we’re really just using an inaccurate synonym for fat loss.

Having made that distinction, let’s talk about sauna suits. They’re made of waterproof fabric and cause the wearer to sweat profusely. Because the waterproof fabric blocks evaporation, the body isn’t able to cool properly. As a result, more sweat is produced.

Indeed, sauna suits will help you lose weight. But weight loss doesn’t mean fat loss. By hijacking your body’s natural cooling system through a sauna suit, you really only lose water weight. Once you rehydrate, the weight comes right back on.

It’s also worth noting that sauna suits are actually quite dangerous. After all, your body cools itself for a reason. Through excessive sweating and increases in the body’s core temperature, dehydration and heat stroke could result. In addition, there have been many reported cases of fainting, weakness and even heart attacks from sauna suits.

Love,
Davey

P.S. If you’re actually looking to decrease body fat, I recommend The Davey Wavey Weight Loss Program. Rather than gimmicks or tricks, the program is based on real science and rooted in practicality.

 

Filed Under: Weight Loss Tips Tagged With: , ,

Is Hot Yoga Safe?

July 22, 2013 By

09-015779311It’s getting hot in herre!

And that’s exactly the case for hot yoga aficionados. For a hot-style yoga class, yogis endure temperatures of 90 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels above 40%. By the end of the session, participants are literally dripping in sweat - and it’s made many people wonder about safety. Does hot yoga result in dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke?

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) enlisted the help of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse to get some answers.

For the June 2013 study, researchers recruited 20 healthy participants ages 19 - 44. After establishing baseline fitness levels, each participant swallowed a core body temperature sensor and then experienced a 60-minute yoga class at 70 degrees. Throughout the class, temperature readings, heart rate and perceived exertion levels were recorded.

Within 24 hours, participants then experienced a hot-style yoga class at 92 degrees and with more humidity. The same poses and same yoga instructor were used - and temperature, heart rate and exertion levels were again recorded.

Though the participants sweated much more during hot yoga, body temperature and heart rate levels remained the same. Though the participants’ vital signs were nearly the same, the hot yoga class was perceived to be more challenging. According to fitness guidelines, the intensity would still be categorized as light exercise.

The bottom line: Hot-style yoga is not dangerous. For heat-related complications to be imminent, internal body temperatures must exceed 104 degrees - and no participants came close to that threshold. However, participants must be mindful to stay hydrated before, during and after the class.

Have you ever tried hot yoga? Do you love it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Filed Under: Research Tagged With: , , ,

I Need Help: Tips for Controlling Excessive Sweat!

April 5, 2011 By

Dear Davey,

I am way overweight; I’m 6’1″ and approaching 300 lbs - and it is gradually increasing.

I would really like to go to a gym regularly again, but lost interest in it after I was sick for more than two months. I know that I have to take some radical action to get my weight down and release a lot of the fat I’m holding on to.

This may sound a bit odd, but one reason I have not wanted to go to a gym again centers on a problem I have - I sweat A LOT. It doesn’t take much to get sweat flowing from my pores and all over my body. When I am at a gym, I am concerned that I am ruining the experience for other people as I tend to drip sweat on things.

I used to carry a towel to try and reduce how much this happens, but what can I do about this problem? Do you know of a way to reduce the sweating, or is there something I should be doing when at a gym and sweating on things?

A big fan,
George

Dear George,

I hear you, and your email strikes close to home. I, too, am an excessive sweater. I like to think it’s because I hit the gym hard, and exercise at 100% of my capacity. But the reality is, some of us are more prone to sweating than others.

First of all, sweating is a very good thing. It’s normal and very healthy. Not only does it help cool the body, but it cleanses your skin. In fact, sweating is my secret to a clear complexion. Some people might envy your propensity for sweating.

The amount that each of us sweats is determined by genetics, diet, medications and even hormone levels.

Of these, diet is obviously the easiest to control. Complex carbohydrates, fat and salt can all lead to increased sweating. By eating fewer processed foods (which are high in sodium), for example, you should be able to reduce the amount that you sweat. Pay attention to the nutrition labels on the food you eat. Opt for healthier options that are low in sodium. For some people, increased calcium intake and sage tea also seem to help. Also, coffee and spicy foods may lead to increased sweat production.

But fear not: Sweat doesn’t smell. It only takes on an odor when it makes contact with the bacteria on your skin. It goes without saying that good hygiene will eliminate any potentially embarrassing smells.

Some athletic apparel is designed to reduce sweating - or to wick sweat away from the body. Lululemon, for example, has shirts that are specifically designed for heavy sweaters. Of course, I still manage to sweat through them - but it does help.

Though your sweat towel may help, use a separate cloth or paper towel to disinfectant and wipe down each machine after use. Gym goers are accustomed to sweating, and they won’t be put off so long as you adhere to proper gym etiquette and hygiene. If you sweat on it, clean it off.

Moreover, I’d encourage you not to use sweat as an excuse for continuing on with your current lifestyle - even if none of these tips prove useful. All of us can find excuses not to exercise, and eliminating one often illuminates another. Stop listening to why you shouldn’t exercise, and start listening to why you should. It’s time to invest in yourself and radically improve the quality of your life.

I hope this helps.

Love,
Davey

P.S. Please help me win YouTube’s NextUp competition by following this link and clicking thumbs up next to my video! You can vote once per day through April 8 - thank you so much!

Filed Under: Ask Davey, Tips Tagged With: , , , , ,

Top 11 Things NOT to Do at the Gym.

January 19, 2011 By

One of the few sweat puddles I wouldn't mind sitting on.

With a lot of hot and sweaty people in such a small place all clamoring for the same equipment, it’s important to practice good gym etiquette.

To that end, here are 11 things that you should never do at the gym:

  1. Passing in between an exerciser and the mirror. People use the mirror as an aid while lifting to ensure that their posture and balance are maintained. Cutting in between someone that is exercising and the mirror is a big no-no - and downright rude.
  2. Neglecting to wipe down equipment after use. Be kind; don’t leave your sweat behind. There are few things grosser than leaning back on a piece of equipment and landing in a sweat puddle. Use a paper towel and spray to sanitize the equipment after each use.
  3. Resting on the equipment. If the gym is busy and people might be waiting for your equipment, don’t take breaks on it. Even if there’s no line, it doesn’t mean that no one is waiting; someone may be eying your machine while killing time on another.
  4. Don’t monopolize a busy gym by using multiple pieces of equipment. If the gym isn’t crowded, there’s nothing wrong with rotating sets between two different machines. But if you’re exercising during a peak time or if people might be waiting, opt for one machine at a time.
  5. Talking to someone during a set. Yes, socializing is an important aspect of the gym for many - but be considerate of other exercisers. Talking while lifting can be a big distraction. Likewise, if someone is sprinting on the treadmill, they won’t have the breath to talk to you.
  6. Don’t talk loudly on your cell phone. People that talk loudly on a cell phone probably don’t realize that they’re doing it - and you may be one of them. If you need to take a call, excuse yourself from the facilities.
  7. Don’t cut the circuit training line. If your gym has exercise machines, note that there is probably an order to the way people use them. Many gyms number their machines or post a flow chart. Be mindful of other exercisers, and don’t hop on the machine in front of someone.
  8. Don’t wear unwashed gym clothes. I know people think it’s fine to wear gym shirts and shorts more than once. The truth is, if you don’t sweat - you probably can. But for everyone else, please spare us the odor of yesterday’s workout. If you sweat in it, wash it.
  9. Don’t spit, snot or blow your nose in the drinking fountain. Enough said, thank you.
  10. Don’t leave weight plates on the equipment. Gyms don’t have maids. There is no one to pick up after you. And remember, putting the weights away makes you strong, too.
  11. Don’t be the creepy guy (or gal) at your gym. Unless, of course, the creepiness is reciprocated by the other party. If your inquiring eyes or comments are not returned, save the flirtation for eharmony or manhunt.

That’s my list - but do you have any other no-no’s to add? Sound-off in the comments below!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Davey’s Skin Secret Happens at the Gym!

October 6, 2010 By

And the secret to good skin is.... sweat!

Believe it or not, of all the things in the world, I get a lot of emails about my skin. Most often, people ask me what products I use to maintain such a clear, glowing and acne-free complexion.

I have never used a skin or acne product. Just water and sometimes regular soap. The secret, though, is what happens at the gym.

I make it a point to sweat. A lot. By the time I’m done with a set of intervals or a 5k, I’ve really pushed my body to its limits. I’m drenched in sweat. I run fast and hard; my heart races and my sweat glands are activated for natural cooling of the body. But sweat does more than cool the body. It has a deep cleansing effect on skin.

The reality is that sweat can be your skin’s best friend. When sweat emerges from your pores, it acts a bit like a river washing away everything that gets in its way as it reaches the surface. That includes dead skin cells which can clog up your pores or that can prevent your new skin cells from developing properly.

And here’s a strange and disgusting sweat fact: The smell associated with sweat isn’t actually the sweat itself. It’s the bacteria in your skin that the sweat flushes out.

So sweat does more than cool the body and burn calories - it leaves your skin fresh, clean and rejuvenated. Yet another reason to hit the gym.

You have 2 million sweat glands. Use them.

Filed Under: Cardio, Tips Tagged With: , , , ,