Hot Tubs

By Bethany Ramos

Wouldn't it be wonderful to find out that one of your favorite activities could also help you to lose weight? For years, rumors have circulated that soaking in a hot tub or spa could effortlessly help you slim down and shed pounds.

Unfortunately, this attractive myth is just that. Studies have yet to prove that soaking in a hot tub can help you to lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off. The idea of hot tub weight loss probably comes from the water loss that results from sweating while relaxing in a hot tub. A person will weigh slightly less when they get out of a hot tub, but after drinking fluids, the weight will return.

How many calories do you burn in a hot tub?

A fitness expert at the University of Wisconsin estimates that a 150 pound person will burn 34 calories by sitting in a hot tub for 20 minutes. Losing one pound of fat entails burning 3500 calories, and the calories burned by sitting in a hot tub are negligible.

While a hot tub may not torch calories, it can be used strategically to curb the appetite. According to hot tub manufacturer Olympic Hot Tub, one of the best ways to use a spa as a weight loss support tool is by indulging in a long soak before eating a heavy meal. Drinking an 8 ounce glass of water before a hot tub soak prior to dinner will naturally suppress your appetite and cause you to eat less.

What are the health benefits of a hot tub?

Though hot tubs don't cause dramatic weight loss, there are dozens of health benefits that they provide.

Hydrotherapy is one unique feature of a hot tub that utilizes water therapeutically to alleviate health conditions, ailments, and some diseases. Hydrotherapy is often recommended to ease sore muscles, improve arthritis, and even offer relief for diabetes; Arthritis Research UK recommends hydrotherapy treatment to improve overall strength and fitness in arthritis sufferers.

Soaking in a hot tub can provide health benefits, like:

• Improvements in sleeping
• Muscle relaxation
• Joint pain relief
• Blood pressure reduction
• Circulation improvement
• Decreased inflammation
• Lower blood sugar levels
• Back pain remedy
• Overall stress reduction

Moreover, since the jets in a hot tub help increase circulation, hot tubs may be used as a way to decrease the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is a natural occurrence in females usually over the age of 35. According to WebMD, cellulite is made up of fat cells inside the skin, so it cannot be eliminated by dieting, weight loss, or even liposuction. Even the healthiest, most active women can be affected by cellulite because it is both an age and a heredity issue.

How can I use a hot tub to lose weight?

Now back to the important question at hand. If you want to lose weight, hot tubs can be used in addition to a weight loss plan that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise.

How? A hot tub can be used as a reward for following your workout plan. For example, if you complete 20 minutes of cardio, reward yourself with a soak in the hot tub. A hot tub will cause your body to release endorphins. If you dread exercise, over time this reward system will cause you to associate exercise with positive feelings, transforming your workout regimen into a habit. Hot tubs are also good for soothing aching muscles that result from cardio or weight training to promote faster recovery.

If you're looking for one good reason to buy a hot tub, consider its tax benefits. If you have been advised by your doctor to use hydrotherapy as a health treatment, a hot tub or spa purchase may qualify as a write-off come April 15. Make sure to consult with your accountant and your doctor before using this deduction. Proper documentation, like a written prescription, may be needed to file legally.