Saunas/Steamrooms

While I figured this could go in the weight loss thread, I figured it was unique enough to start a new thread.

After some research online, I'm still wondering if saunas or steam rooms actually offer any health benefits. I'm on a pretty big weight-loss kick, and I love the sauna after workout, but I don't want to give myself any false illusions about the benefits.

Anyone have any real opinion or thought on the matter?

 

If it's good enough for Salman Rushdie, it's good enough for me.

 

You won't lose any weight with it. Whatever is "lost" is really just water weight which will come back almost instantly.

I use the steam room, or sauna if I have more time, after working out to relax the muscles a bit.

They are healthy, but they don’t impact weight loss at all.

 

Nice place to ponder if they're real and/or spectacular.

 

I love the Seinfeld references on this thread.

I never bought into the sauna/weight loss thing. However, it is a great post-workout treatment. The salon I go to just branched out into a fitness center (yoga, spinning, pilates, zumba, kettlebell) and opened an infrared heat therapy unit - same principle as a sauna but great for muscle relaxation.

 

I love the steam room, but it does not help you lose weight.

 

Great place to go if you're paranoid that your friends are wearing a wire.

 

What about the other benefits? I was more talking about the toxins it "releases," or if that's BS as well. A friend swears that the release of the extra perspiration acts as another filter for the body, but he's also a big holistic medicine guy.

 

Like I tell my wife all the time, if hot tubs and saunas really contributed to weight loss, wouldn't every overweight person in the country be lined up in front of health clubs with bathing suits and towels?

 

I don't know about weight loss, but my old gym had a steam room. Everytime I felt a cold coming on, I'd go in for about 30 minutes and sweat the cold out.
I don't know from a medical standpoint if it worked, but I felt fantastic because the cold went away.

 

I'm with Jay. I had a sinus infection I couldn't shake a while back and I started taking the hottest showers with the window open — it creates a sauna/steam room effect. After two showers a day for three days, the infection was gone — or at least the mucous was. Nothing else worked.

And now, my shoulder is KILLING ME. I think it's from sitting at my computer or the long drive I made Saturday. Anyway, I let the hot water spray right on it and crank up the steam and I'm good to go.

 

If you believe the letters in Penthouse, coed saunas and steamrooms can be fun with added benefits ;D