Does Tanning Burn Calories?

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Does Tanning Burn Calories or Not? Let’s get making it clear

One thing that most women want is that deep golden tan that makes us look our best. Another thing that most women want is to look lean and trim in that bikini so you can show off that tan! So I was wondering – Does Tanning Burn Calories? You get SO incredibly hot and sweaty, not much different than playing beach volleyball, so I began to wonder- COULD I get beautifully brown and drop a few pounds at the same time?

I decided to find out for myself. The answers were really interesting and fairly shocking. I’m going to let you in on some of the little-known secrets about tanning and burning calories.

Don’t make assumptions here! Read the entire article!

I would hate for you to go all out on a tanning bender, get yourself a raging sunburn, and then be angry that you didn’t lose 5 pounds!

1. The Cold Hard Facts

Tanning is a chemical reaction where the skin makes more melanin.

This means that this is merely a chemical process and has little to do with calories.

Losing weight means that you are burning fat or calories in larger quantities than you are consuming.

It’s easy math; eating less + burning more calories = weight loss.

Sweating does not necessarily mean you are burning calories.

Sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself down.

Got That?

Wait – This doesn’t mean that sweating while tanning doesn’t equal losing weight!

Right about now, you are saying, “But when I finish tanning, I am SUPER hungry! Doesn’t that mean I am burning calories?!”

I totally hear you. This line of thinking made me ask this question and go about finding the answers.

2. Our Bodies Lie

What stinkers they are! It’s almost like having a good-looking boyfriend! Just kidding.

Sometimes our bodies lie to us. They tell us one thing when what they really mean is something else.

OK, now this is starting to sound like some of my friends! Back to business:

I know that on occasion, when I get a terrible headache, it’s not that my head hurts; it’s that I’m hungry and haven’t eaten.
Feeling hungry after tanning can be the same way. Now you might be hungry because you didn’t eat earlier, but I’m betting you aren’t really hungry but thirsty from sweating.

By the way, just one more note here about lies. Sometimes, we think that we can stay out longer in the sun because our skin isn’t red.
The body really lies to us here. A burn doesn’t usually show up for several hours. Don’t let your body pull a fast one on your ladies!

3. Don’t I Burn More Calories if I Do Exercises or Yoga in the Sun?

Unfortunately, no. Go back to the cold hard facts section. You will certainly sweat a whole lot more, and you will definitely be getting in some serious tanning action, but you won’t lose more weight. You will only lose more water.

Which Brings Me to the Answer to My Question!

I don’t know how many of you have done this, but have you ever had a nice day at the beach, eaten a little lunch, got in a lengthy tanning session, went home, and found out that you had lost a whole pound?! Like in a single afternoon?

That was another situation that had me searching for answers to my question!

Here is what I Discovered:

You can lose weight while tanning, just not the way you think

You can get seriously dehydrated while tanning
That is how you are losing weight while tanning – not from calories but from dehydration
Any weight you lose while tanning is simply water that you sweated out

Once you drink water again, the weight will return

This might not be what you wanted to hear, but this isn’t a complete loss.

You can lose weight while tanning, but you must do more than lie back and soak up those rays.

How You Can Lose Weight While Tanning?

This might sound like I contradicted myself from what I said earlier, but I’m not.

You won’t lose weight from just lying in the sun or in a tanning bed
Any weight you do appear to lose is just water

You will gain that weight back

While you can’t lose more weight by exercising in the sun, you CAN work on your tan and lose weight by doing exercise or yoga or gardening or any form of physical activity while being in the sun.

Does this make sense?

Let Me Clear This Up

If you were to play volleyball, for example, inside a building, you would burn (approximately) 145 calories in 30 minutes.
If you were to lie on the beach, tanning, you burn about 50 calories in 30 minutes.
So, if you play volleyball on the beach or at the park in the sunlight, you will still burn 145 calories, but you will be working on your tan at the same time.

Those little 95 calories don’t seem like much, but day after day, week after week, these can add up to some real weight loss.

One Last Tip

One thing about sweating off weight is that it can eliminate bloat and make you look a little slimmer, especially around the waist.

So if you have an event, you are going to hit up the tanning bed later in the day so you can look extra slinky in that evening gown.

Face it, you are going to have to drink eventually, but at least for a few hours, you can have a flatter tummy. Who doesn’t want that?!

Does Tanning Burn Calories? – The Bottom Line

Well, if I can’t burn fat by tanning, I know I can eliminate some bloat! I will definitely try to get in a little exercise as well, won’t you?

There is no denying that a beautiful body is more than skin deep! Get your tan on, but don’t forget to eat right and get exercise for the most beautiful you possible.

I hope you found my research and the answer to my question interesting. If you liked my article, feel free to share it with your friends or on Facebook.

I look forward to hearing your comments or sharing what you have discovered in your tanning adventures!