The Utilization Of Massage Or Getting A Body Wrap In Weight Loss
Thursday, November 10th, 2011Because there are so many scams out there surrounding the topic of weight loss, it’s natural that dieters wonder which claims are legitimate and which are not. Do massage and body wrap help with weight loss, they wonder. The answer isn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
If the question was whether they burn fat, then the answer is no. Neither massages nor body wraps help people (directly) to lose fat. But there is a possibility that massage, at least, could be a useful tool in the process of losing fat. And wraps can be used to temporarily slim down for that fancy party that you just have to look great for.
Advertisements abound claiming that massages are the latest and greatest way to release toxins or break up fat cells. These claims are false. But massages can reduce stress and tension stored in the muscles, leading to more mental and physical energy. These are beneficial to all parts of a diet and exercise program, and thus, massage can be said to be somewhat useful in efforts to slim down. Just don’t expect to see results right after you step off the table.
Similar advertisements tout body wraps as doing the same things– removing toxins and reducing the size of fat cells. But the only thing that wraps reduce is the amount of water your body contains. And this is not necessarily a healthy thing to do. If you’ve lost inches, or known someone who has lost inches after wraps, this could be due to redistribution of the fat cells, which can occur when part of a person is squeezed very tightly.
In terms of the health or danger of the processes, wraps and massages are not at all comparable. Massages are not dangerous, and may have benefits for your overall program. The worst you’ll get from them is an empty wallet and some disappointment. So don’t expect them to get rid of your extra fat, but consider using them as a tool to more effective weight loss, if you enjoy them.
Body wraps can be dangerous, however. Their main function is to remove water weight, but humans need water to live. Becoming dehydrated can have a whole host of side effects that no one wants, and can be potentially hazardous to your health. Long term dehydration is of especial concern in people who have repeated wraps.
Part of the problem is that wraps are effective, to a certain extent. If they didn’t work at all, there wouldn’t be so many people trying them (though there would doubtless still be a few). But wraps can help people lose a few pounds immediately before an important meeting or reunion, and some people are not aware of or don’t care about the dangers.
There is nothing as effective as eating better and exercising more. But if you want to test out an alternative method, go for a massage. You won’t put yourself in danger, and you might even find some mental benefits to the experience. Just don’t expect to find the scale registering any less, afterward.
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