Is Sweating Important in Losing Weight or Burning Calories?
While weight loss can be achieved without sweating, it is possible to lose weight from sweat. Since sweat is made up of water (which is heavy) and sodium from electrolytes, you will automatically lose weight immediately. Unfortunately, this type of weight loss is only temporary. Once you rehydrate yourself with water, the weight you lost will return.
Sweating is important in controlling body temperature and preventing overheating. Sweat glands are responsible for regulating your body's temperature. It helps to keep your skin hydrated and balances body fluids and electrolytes, such as calcium and sodium. There are two main reasons your body sweats: to cool your body with perspiration when you exert yourself or when the weather is too warm and when you become emotionally stressed, nervous, anxious or scared.
There is only one way to permanently lose weight and it has nothing to do with sweating. Losing weight requires burning more calories than you take in. In order to lose 1 pound of body fat, you must burn 3,500 calories. This can be accomplished by increasing your physical activity or decreasing your calorie intake. Combine exercise along with a calorie-restricted diet for faster, healthier results.
According to a chart published by “Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise,” if you walk at a 2 mph pace, you can burn anywhere from 204 to 305 calories per hour, depending on your weight. Running at 8 mph will burn 861 to 1,286 calories per hour. You can even burn some calories while sitting, sleeping and doing household chores. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends doing a minimum of 150 minutes of moderately intense activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
Lose weight permanently by reducing the number of calories you consume each day. This will result in a calorie deficit. When you burn more calories than you consume, the fat that is stored in your body will be used for energy, which can lead to long-term and permanent weight loss. Reducing your diet by 500 calories per day will result in a 1 pound weight loss per week.
Instead of spending time sweating in a sauna trying to lose weight, increase your level of physical activity. This may cause you to sweat, but it will help you burn calories more effectively. Burning and eating fewer calories will help you lose weight, look better, feel better and improve your overall health and well-being.
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