A sauna is typically a small room filled with steam created by placing water on hot stones. This heat and steam cause the body to sweat. Sports such as wrestling often use saunas for rapid weight loss, according to a study by Dr. Susan A. Nitzke's, published in the "Journal of Athletic Training" in 1992. Losing 10 lbs. in a sauna requires frequent and sometimes daily use of the sauna; however, you should only do so under the supervision of a trained medical professional to prevent any medical complications associated with extreme heat and dehydration.
Step 1
Locate a clean sauna for use. Fitness clubs and spas often contain a sauna room. Look for mold and residue which are commonly associated with poorly kept sauna rooms. Avoid any sauna that has these or any other cleanliness issue.
Step 2
Take a shower to clean off any dirt or residue before entering the sauna. This will also open up the pours to allow the body to sweat more easily.
Step 3
Sit in the sauna for 10 minutes if it is the first time you are using a sauna. The temperatures in saunas can be uncomfortable and you should increase the duration of time you spend in the sauna over the course of several weeks. Limit your sauna use to 30 minutes at a time. You can expect a weight loss of 1 to 3 lbs. per 30-minute session.
Step 4
Rehydrate after each sauna session. You will replenish some of the weight you lost during the session. You want to ensure your weight levels do not drop too quick too soon to prevent complications from dehydration and heat stress.
Step 5
Use the sauna everyday for a month. The physiological process of sweating causes the body to burn more calories than at rest and help with weight loss. Using the sauna each day will cause a gradual decline in water weight and is a practice often used by athletes in "weight-sensitive" sports such as wrestling and boxing.
Tips and Warnings
- You may perform light exercise in the sauna to help increase the calories you burn. Standing up and sitting down while in the sauna is one efficient way to help boost this calorie burn.
- Leave the sauna if you are feeling too hot, nauseous or faint. Consult your doctor before trying to lose weight with a sauna.
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