Wearing a plastic weight-loss suit is not an effective training technique for those looking to permanently lose body weight. A plastic suit makes an impact on how effectively your body is able to sweat and thus cool itself, which is not only ineffective for weight loss but can increase the risk of serious health issues.
Weight Loss
To lose weight in the form of body fat, you must create a caloric deficit within your body by burning more calories than you consume during a period of time. Therefore, exercising regularly facilitates weight loss because it increases the overall number of calories you burn and contributes to the creation of a caloric deficit. Each pound of fat loss requires a caloric deficit of 3,500. It is a myth that wearing a plastic suit will increase the number of calories you burn and thus help you lose body fat.
Plastic Suit
When you exercise, your body works to maintain a safe core temperature by transferring heat out of the body through sweating. The key component to the heat actually being released is the fluid being allowed to evaporate from your skin. Wearing a plastic suit prevents the sweat from evaporating and thus prevents the body from adequately cooling itself. As a result, while you're wearing a plastic suit, your body increases its sweating output in an attempt to cool itself.
Water Loss Versus Weight Loss
If you were to step on a scale after working out while wearing a plastic suit, it's likely you will have lost a bit of body weight. However, the weight that you lose is not body fat but is the weight of the water that you lose while sweating profusely. This weight loss is only temporary, as once you consume any fluids, your body will work to rehydrate itself and you'll put the water weight right back on.
Dangers
As your body increases its sweat output, it's likely that you'll become dehydrated. The fluid used to sweat is taken from your bloodstream, and if you are in a dehydrated state there is not enough blood volume to adequately deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues that need it. This will adversely affect your workout performance and it's likely you'll become fatigued more quickly than usual. Wearing a plastic suit is not only ineffective but can be very dangerous. When you're unable to cool your body, you significantly increase the risk for overheating, which can cause you to suffer from heat stroke, leading to a possible heart attack or even death.
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