Wearing a wet suit to stay warm in frigid water, I get. Wearing this while working out? The idea of wrapping yourself in neoprene while working out makes me cringe. Apparently, the goal is to assist in long-term weight loss.

However, y’all know we don’t just go with an initial gut reaction here at Kaplifestyle. I could be wrong. What if the simple act of sweating more is advantageous for burning calories and/or fat? I suppose I had better challenge my own assumptions.

I’ve spent the last few days in the Dominican Republic. As you might imagine, it has been hot and humid. You remember my recent decision to rock a sport coat. Perhaps that course of action was a bit shortsighted, but at least I know what it’s like to don gear with the explicit purpose of sweating profusely. My time in the sun got me thinking. Was I burning calories more quickly? Should I grab a trash bag for my next sprint session? Hell no. From healthyliving.azcentral.com:

Wearing a plastic bag while you exercise makes you sweat more, and it may seem like the more you sweat, the more calories you’re burning. However, that theory isn’t true. Sweating removes water from the body, which can cause you to weigh less immediately after a workout, but it doesn’t burn more calories. Instead, it can lead to dangerous health problems by not allowing your body to cool itself appropriately.

That weight you’re “losing” will come back on as soon as you hit the water bottle. These ideas are popular amongst wrestlers or body builders who are looking to cut weight for a weigh-in, but you risk cramping, poor performance, diminished mental strength, and organ damage for a few minutes of weighing less. Yes, it’s common sense, but it’s astounding how much money folks pay for gimmicks like these and others without science behind them. The phrase “weight loss” alone can sell just about anything, from diet pills to magic clothing. From quora.com:

A quick review of the data suggests that Americans spend between 40 and 50 billion dollars annually on weight loss.

That’s billion, with a “B.” This illustrates three things about our society.

1. We are perpetually unhappy with our physiques.
2. We like shortcuts.
3. We think these shortcuts will lead to our desired scale readings, which will in turn make us happy.

Speaking of scales, you may remember how I feel about them. I spoke at length about the more appropriate goal of eating animals, veggies and fruit (no packaged or processed food) in an effort to feel better in your own skin. Take this mission for a test run. Your clothes will fit better, your outlook may be rosier, and you won’t need to purchase gimmicks (or a scale, for that matter).

Ironically, I’m headed back to Cali in a comfortably fitting sweat suit in the morning.

Kap