It may sound too good to be true, but massage does indeed help lose weight! You don’t have to hit the gym or run for hours in the park, but simply lie on a massage table and relax while the extra pounds fall off.
Certain massage techniques contribute to improved metabolism and fat reduction, resulting in overall weight loss. Massages also provide pain relief, and make you physically comfortable, which makes weight loss a more positive experience.
How does Massage Help Lose Weight?
Reduces Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is regarded as your body’s inbuilt alarm system, and serves as your body’s main stress hormone.
Cortisol plays a pivotal role in several functions in your body such as managing carbohydrates, proteins, fat, and regulating your blood pressure.
The level of cortisol can rise during stress and tension-filled times, which can result in bad eating habits, and an increased craving for sugary, fatty foods.
While the best to keep your cortisol levels in check is through exercise, a massage can help ease stress, thereby decreasing your appetite, and reduced the accumulation of belly fat.
An hour-long massage can help lower cortisol by approximately 30 percent, allowing your body to shed the extra pounds.
Relieves Stress
As mentioned earlier, elevated cortisol levels can increase your appetite, resulting in weight gain, and difficulty in losing unwanted weight.
By reducing your cortisol levels, you not only keep tabs on your weight, but also calm your body, and reduce stress.
Fights Cellulite
Cellulite is a skin condition that causes lumpy flesh on the hips, abdomen, buttocks and hips.
It is a harmless condition that affects 80 percent to 90 percent of women, and even though there is no way to completely eliminate cellulite, many women seek ways to reduce it, because it is deemed unattractive.
Exercising for weight loss does not get rid of cellulite, but in fact can in some instances make the condition worse, and harder to get rid of.
A massage targeted at the areas with cellulite can break up the fat, and reduce its appearance. And as your body breaks down the fat, it releases toxins, filler waste, and excess fluids for noticeable weight loss results.
Promotes Better Circulation
You probably already know that massage therapy improves blood circulation in your body, which allows your body to function properly.
With proper circulation and nutrition, you will be able to win your weight loss goals, improve your muscles, and burn more calories.
What Types of Massages are Recommended for Weight Loss?
1. Vacuum Massage
A vacuum massage is a therapeutic treatment that helps reduce cellulite, therefore breaks up the fat, gets rid of your extra weight.
Vacuum massages can be performed on all parts of your body, and are performed with a small silicone vibrating massager.
This massage weight-loss method entails lifting your skin, creating a skin fold to push fresh oxygen, blood and nutrients to the surface of your skin.
A vacuum massage also accelerates lymphatic circulation to release waste materials and products from your body.
Apart from weight loss, the other key benefits of a vacuum massage are:
- Improved systemic response
- Blood and lymph circulation
- Boosting immunity levels
2. Lymphatic Massage
A lymphatic massage can help drain out the extra fluid from your ankles, wrists, waist, and legs.
Also dubbed as manual massage, a lymphatic drainage massage stimulates blood circulation and tissue generation, reduces swelling and water retention, improves the immune system, and energizes the body.
Getting a lymphatic massage can set you on a good path to weight loss, and can help you gain a slimmer waist.
3. Aromatherapy Massage
May be confused with Swedish massage therapy at times, aromatherapy massage uses a massage lotion that contains essential oils combined with gentle touches of Swedish massage.
Most people opt for an aromatherapy massage to treat sore neck/shoulder muscles, sore back or to ease stress.
There are a plethora of different therapeutic oils used in an aromatherapy massage to treat various conditions including insomnia, menstrual pain, and depression.
With regards to weight loss, there are some essential oils such as cypress oil and grapefruit oil that were found to help reduce abdominal fat, and trim the waistline.
Other than weight loss, an aromatherapy massage can also help you sleep better, and improve your diet and exercise plan.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to lose weight without breaking a sweat at the gym or going on a diet, massage therapy is worth exploring.
However, it is worth mentioning that massage therapy alone will not get you the same weight loss as regularly exercising.
Getting a massage is also a great way to reward yourself for meeting your exercise goals, and helps release endorphins in your body that you a happy feeling.
There are several different types of popular massages for weight loss such as deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, and shiatsu massage.
