There is just no getting around it. If you want to lose weight, you need to reduce the amount you eat and increase your exercise level. Have you tried umpteen times to lose weight and failed? Are you dreading the upcoming holiday season and the probability of putting on even more pounds? We want to offer you hope in the form of the hot tub that may be sitting right outside your back door. Did you know you can increase your metabolism with a hot tub? Yes, you can! Let’s get to it.
Reduce Stress
Regular use of a hot tub reduces stress levels in the body. When we are feeling anxious and stressed, our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol. Higher cortisol levels can trigger us to crave foods with higher levels of salt and fat: “comfort foods.” Consequently, if you are constantly feeling anxious, you are more likely to indulge in stress-related eating. Also, high levels of cortisol in the body prevent new muscles from forming. As if that wasn’t bad enough, higher levels of cortisol increase body fat.
When you relax in a hot tub, your muscles relax, and your breathing slows. A soak in the hot tub lowers stress and reduces cortisol levels. Did you know that you can reduce your body’s cortisol level by as much as 16% with just a few days of regularly scheduled hot tub soaks?
Get Better Sleep
A recent scientific study has shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to obesity. Insomnia also increases the body’s cortisol level, which we have already shown to be a bad thing for our metabolism. Sleeplessness puts our bodies into “survival mode,” which lowers the metabolism and makes our body hold onto weight. That bedtime soak in the hot tub will release dopamine, which reduces stress and helps you sleep better.
Increase Your Activity Level
You can’t avoid it. If you want to increase your metabolism, lose weight, and get healthier, you will have to move more. Sustainable weight loss happens when you find an exercise activity that you enjoy. We already know how much you love your hot tub. Have you considered using it to exercise? There are many articles suggesting low impact exercise routines can be done in the hot tub. Exercising in your hot tub can even be more effective due to the extra resistance the water provides. Besides that, soaking in the hot tub, combined with a workout program, will help you burn more calories per hour!
Hot Tubs and Eating
Do you like to snack in the evening after dinner? That is a habit many of us would like to break. There is a solution. Instead of grabbing that bowl of ice cream or bag of chips, go soak in the hot tub instead. Replace one habit with another, and you will be amazed at the results. Giving up the hundreds of empty calories contained in those snacks will show up as a much nicer number next time you get on the scale.
Do you have a big meal coming up? You may not know this, but soaking in the hot tub for 20 minutes beforehand can prompt you to eat less at the table. When you emerge from the hot tub, your body is preoccupied with cooling you down. Your heart rate is increased, and eating will not be your primary focus. Therefore, your appetite will be reduced. Try this before your Thanksgiving feast if you are worried about overdoing it with the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie! If you need any further encouragement, a soak in the hot tub before a meal stimulates endocrines in the intestines, which speeds up your digestion for hours.
With the holiday season soon to be upon us, many of us are very motivated to implement some habits to increase our metabolism. In summary, a few effective things you can try at home with your hot tub are:
- Reduce stress and, therefore, lower cortisol production.
- Get better sleep and eat less.
- Increase your activity to build muscle, increasing metabolism.
- Use your hot tub to build new habits.
Our dedicated staff here at Parnell Pool & Spa wants to provide you with the best backyard experience possible. We can help you with all of your hot tub needs. Give us a call or stop by our showrooms today!
