WELL BEING, why having a hot tub is good for you hot tubs owners

 Hot tub is not just for fun

With more and more of us striving to improve our wellness through increased exercise and an improved diet, people think of many creative ways to lose weight. Many of the techniques are not scientifically proven and some can even be dangerous. Sitting in a hot tub does not give much direct weight loss benefit, in fact only a small percentage is achieved this being approximately 3%, However the wider benefits can compliment your fitness regime, recovery and improve your wider wellness to indirectly support your weight loss journey.

Physical activity and exercise will be at the heart of the majority of weight loss regimes. Whether this is spin class or taking up a new sport, your muscles are bound to feel the effects, especially if you are new to a certain exercise or haven't exercised in a long time. hot water can be a great way to recover from exercise instead of the more traditional and known recovery methods of icing or cooling muscles. hot water also increases blood flow, which can stimulate recovery and relax muscles.  heating and cooling after exercise both offer great benefits to muscle recovery but heat actually offers small advantages over cooling. This debate and study is ongoing as we all look for the best way to recover our muscles but the great news is that there is evidence to support strong muscle recovery from hot water therapy, meaning a hot tub can be a great way to support your physical activity or weight loss regime. 

Whilst hot tubs don't offer too much direct weight loss, another great indirect supporter of weight loss is de-stressing. There is a hormone in our body called Cortisol, which has been labelled the "stress-hormone" and it can really impact a person who is trying to lose weight. High levels of cortisol have  been linked to excessive eating which is also stress related. A hot tub can be a great way to de-stress with the immersion in hot water and  targeted hydrotherapy jets relaxing your muscles, slowing breathing and therefore reducing cortisol levels in your body. 

Being tired can significantly impact a weight loss routine, as training times may decrease due to a feeling of fatigue as well as some studies suggesting that tired people are more likely to eat fattier foods  Lots of  Hot Tubs owners find a 15-20 minutes soak helps them improve sleep. By relaxing muscles and relieving pain for a period before bed, you set your body up for a long nights sleep, which rests your muscles and helps aid physical exercise and eating habits. This does not work for everyone but is certainly worth trying if you are a hot tub owner. 

During a weight loss journey, a reward goes a long way and what better reward than a soak in a hot tub! A hot tub can really change your routine by reducing the time spent in front of the TV and using devices. After a hard fitness session or a long week at work, rewarding yourself with a long dip in your hot tub will help your muscles recover, de-stress you and promote general wellness. 

You may wish to use the buoyancy of hot tub water to perform some physical activity and this is a great idea! Buoyancy reduces the impact on your muscles, helps increase blood flow and also works as natural resistance. For those reasons, Yoga is a great form of exercise in a hot tub 

As with any exercise, check with your doctor and make sure you stay hydrated, especially in a hot tub to replace the fluids lost to increased sweating and a raised body temperature. 

Even if they are not directly beneficial, hot tubs are a great compliment to your weight loss journey or fitness routine well being