You may look at this picture and think, WTF is Marianna doing?!
Well, it is actually pretty cool. I am a big sauna fan, I will go out of my way to sit in a sauna. Plan my day around a sauna. Pay to go to a sauna. I don’t care, I love them. Traditional saunas are great, but I reallllly love infrared saunas.
Because I am such a fan of them, when I saw a groupon for an infrared body wrap – of course I had to try it.
So I bought a coupon and made an appointment and visited the Shape House in Los Angeles. They have two locations, one in Santa Monica and one on Larchmont. I didn’t know what to expect but I did read the instructions before about proper clothes, water and food intake.
If you are heading to get one, I would be sure to follow the same instructions for maximum benefits.
So I walk into this house with many rooms separated by curtains and change into clothes that cover my body. A lady comes that works there and walks you into the individual rooms and you lay down in this bed thing. She wraps you up and puts on your ear phones and helps you find something to watch.
At first it doesn’t feel like much. The process works by 15 mintues to start warming up, then 30 minutes of getting really hot then another 10-15 to complete for a 55 minute total session.
The time can go by quickly as they give you ear phones and a tv to watch the entire time (too bad I’ve already seen everything on Netflix. They even had me on there to watch, so that was selfishconcidedselfabsorbed)
I spent the next 55 minutes (minus getting up for a potty break) laying on a bed, wrapped in plastic, dressed in sweatpants, socks and a long sleeve shirt. I started to get really hot and had to take breaks where I took my arms out. This could be why I didn’t sweat as much as I thought I would, because I kind of cheated. Perhaps I need to build my tolerance but I was listening to my body and didn’t want to overwhelm myself on the first time.
It was a little uncomfrotable to be sitting in your own sweat, but I didn’t sweat as much as I thought I would. Maybe I needed to be more hydrated or not got out to pee. Who knows.
But there are a lot of benefits to this, as listed on their site here. Blah blah of course there are health benefits, but Im here to be skinny.
Here is how it helps you lose weight according to their site.
Sweating is very directly linked to weight loss. The weight that you lose when sweating is water weight. This weight is replaced when you refill your fluids. However, in order to sweat, you need to burn up calories. Sweating uses up energy as your body tries to restore your normal temperature. Sweating works best when combined with a healthy program of balanced nutrition and exercise.
You can burn from 1000 to 1200 (possibly more depending on the individual) in each fifty-minute session. Your body will actually continue to burn calories for up to 36 hours due to an increase in its raised metabolic level. Expect to lose one clothing size within 6 to 10 treatments with two to three days between each session.
Fluids lost during the sweat can be replenished, but the calories are not. Because fat becomes water soluble at 110 degrees F, subcutaneous fat can be released along with the sweat and toxins. If heavy metals are reduced, this will correct metabolic imbalances that cause poor digestion and weight gain. Also, toxins stored in the fat are decreased making it easier to shed fat and lose weight.
Here is my after photo, after I sat in there for 55 minutes. The session cost me $35 with a groupon and to return, it is $45 a session. I didn’t instantly look thinner, but I did feel better. I woke up the next morning feeling thinner and dehydrated, so I need to up my water intake.
Would I go again? Sure. Was it life changing? Not sure after just one session, would need to go again and not put my arms out or get up in the middle. But I will for sure visit again and see how results change over multiple visits.
