Saunas for weight loss

[iclimb2improve]

I was wondering if anyone on this website has experience using a sauna for weight loss leading up to performance phase in addition to dieting. I've heard of boxers and jockeys using this method to lose some weight before, but I didn't see anything in my RCTM on the subject. Thoughts?

[Chris W]

Not a good idea. Boxers and jockeys need to hit a weigh in point, after which they can eat, drink and b merry prior to their performance. I think it would be harmful. Spirit of the law, not the letter

[MarkAnderson]

Agree with Chris. A sauna simply dehydrates you, thus the instant weight loss. Obviously we need to be well-hydrated to perform well. As a wrestler I made a point to dehydrate myself leading up to weigh-in, but then after weigh-in I chugged water like crazy (not sure how well that worked, but that's beside the point). Climbers need to be "light" at the moment of performance, not at some arbitrary brief moment several hours (or in some cases days) before performance.

All that said, if you're working a really short route, like a boulder problem, I think it's possible that dumping water weight could be beneficial. I haven't tried it. When I cut weight for wrestling I always felt like shit until I started re-hydrating, but you might be able to find some ways to overcome that for a really brief effort (such as, caffeine, swishing & spitting water just before each attempt, etc).  

Based on my knowledge and experience, I'm certain purposely dehydrating yourself before an athletic performance is not healthy (but neither is yarding on monos, overhead gastons, R and X-rated climbing, etc).

[jessebruni]

I dunno about dropping weight by using a sauna before a redpoint...but pooping before going for the send worked 5/5 times on my last trip to the RRG.

TMI?

[Sander]

Slightly off topic but related:
For very technical, non-physical routes I've heard that glycogen depletion is a similar option. I think Tim Emmett once used it on a technical trad route. For every gram of glycogen, our muscles store several grams of water. So getting rid of the glycogen store also gets rid of the water and reduces weight by dehydration. Of course you've also dumped most of your fuel, so for anything that requires big muscles to work hard this is a very bad idea

[jan]

In addition to the already mention and not wanted 'dehydration' (and thus the emptying of the glycogen stores) hypothermic conditioning has a lot of positive effects on the body and performance. The most valuable points are an increase in growth hormone, the amount of heat shock proteins, speeding up recovery (by improving blood flow to the skeleton muscles) and last but not least an improvement of insulin sensitivity. That last point certainly has positive effects on your metabolism.

If you're interested in the topic, have a look at this video podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHOlM-wlNjM