Natural-lifestyle

[widdoes2504]

Originally Posted by Joker13

Just my opinion....I go to the pool to swim a few laps, soak in the hot tub, and then the steam room @ Gold's, all after my WO's...all good.


Then, can you tell me how detoxifying (sweating, with sufficient rehydration) is not part of it?... On another note, here is a good (I think) site that describes different vitamins, among other things such as amino acids, glutamine, and so forth...all good

I agree with Joker this is all good stuff, but like Anuj asked what are your goals? What benefits have you had following this lifestyle and what would you recommend to someone looking into it? Just curious.

[hrdgain81]

Then, can you tell me how detoxifying (sweating, with sufficient rehydration) is not part of it?...

if you are using that as treatment of some kind of ailment I suppose you could call it holistic. but I have no idea what you mean by "Natural-lifestyle".

And depending on your goals, I would say that lifting, then swiming, then hot tub, then steam isnt exactly the best way to gain muscle, or lose fat ...

[Eric3237]

^^^agree.

Holistic or "natural" is as much a label as anything else. It's kind of like "organic" and stuff like that. Basically anything that is not mainstream medicine is labelled with words like this. It is marketing as much as anything else owing to the widespread misconception that those words are synonomous with "good for you".

Regular steam saunas get over 150 degrees inside. Well over it often. Definitely not "natural", lol. Then the "infra-red saunas. They are cooler but how can bathing your body with infra-red light be "natural"? Pools are filled with chlorine. In other words everything has risks.

Holistic itself has nothing to do with "alternative" medicines exclusively or "all-natural". It's really become a mis-used marketing term. Holistic just means "whole" as in considering every aspect of a person's life when dealing with their health. Such as their environments and such. If a doctor considers more than just treating the symptoms of an illness with medicines but also considers the underlying factors contributing to illness they are taking a holistic approach. But that doesn't speak to certain protocols. It is more an attitude or concept than a "thing" although it has beome known as as that.

You might say it's all sematics but semantics is THE tool when it comes to marketing to our health.

[john917v]

Thanks, Eric. Things are clearer now. As far as the lifestyle, I figured it was the general term for it, call it healthy living, then, I guess. As far as ailments, I don't have any. But, I couldn't find a clear, set definition on 'holistic'. In response to Widdoes, in terms of fitness goals, I can't say I have any, other than bodybuilding goals. But, I have noticed an increase in energy, and general relaxation, even the day after the session.

[Eric3237]

^^^Yeah, that's what I was getting at, as far as explaining the reactions you get. I could call aspirin natural because you can get the chemical chewing on willow bark and another guy can berate asprin as part of the pharmaceutical 'monster'. It's all subjective. They are just wishy-washy terms. I personally don't know anything real about the detox effects of sauna. That is to say I've never read anything supportable. But I would avoid dehydrating yourself after your workouts. That is a crucial time and it really doesn't seem like a good time to be depleting your body's hydration, like Hrdgain was saying...and no matter if you hydrate afterwards or not. I'd as least separate them. Certainly if sauna overuse creates any sort of chronic underhydration that will sap you strength and be very detrimental to any bodybuilding goals.

[john917v]

Ahh. I'll cut the steamer, then. Textual proof or not, it makes sense. Thanks.