whirlpools, suanas and steam rooms?

[Guest jeejer]

This is a little off the subject, but since joining a local gym (sorry Will, I finally gave in to the body set, and at my age yet), I was wondered if whirlpools, suanas and steam rooms have an health benefits beyond making you body think that it feels good to lounge in the heat, while checking out the eye candy. Are there any risks involved with using them?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Will]

Jeejer at the Gym

 

Jeejer, I am full of admiration. Actually, envy. I don't sit around in steam rooms because the local clientele is composed exclusively of 18-22 year olds who are my students. They do not want to see me in my deshabille and I don't want them to see me, either. As for my seeing them in theirs, professionally and personally it's just not on. But if I lived in a big city I'd be right there with you. Let me assure you that I do indeed go to the gym, that I have an eye for the over-30 eye-candy in particular, and that (surprise, surprise) there is nothing more beautiful to me than a naked man. I am not, however, a fan of the burlesqued and hence unhealthy-looking versions of masculine perfection rendered by a combination of steroids and obsessive-compulsive working-out. Before you start looking like the Incredible Hulk, disguise yourself as an escort and post a review with a picture. Bravo!

[Bilbo]

RE: Jeejer at the Gym

 

Here in Houston, we have several openly gay owned gyms (well, at least two), one of which (eh one I go to) is named the Fitness Exchange. Many, including my lover, have nicknamed it the Fluid Exchange. However, it has several very obviously posted and enforced signs saying that you could lose your membership if you are caught doing "improper conduct." For my money, "improper conduct" is when I walk in the steam room door and men quit beating off in front of each other and don't start again. If you're going to be public about it ...

The true irony, however, is that as much as some other gay men's prejudices would think it is the other way, there is, from what I hear, actually much more open action going on at the downtown YMCA!

[Guest DJPerez]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-23-00 AT 02:31PM (EST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-23-00 AT 02:23 PM (EST)

 

Jeejer:

 

Good for you for joining a gym! Beyond the wonderful visuals, it's great for your health to take up weight training and cardio workouts. I hope that you have a plan and support to help you meet your fitness goals. Who knows; YOU could become the "eye candy" in the future. There are lots of hot mature men at my gym; you could become the "Hot Daddy" at yours.....:9 Best of Success to You!

 

As for saunas and whirlpools, what I know about them is that they are purported to assist in the release of toxins from your system that build up during a workout, by increasing the blood flow to the muscles. The heat involved in the sauna and whirlpool can also assist in the relaxing of muscles tensed by the exertion of weight training. In the sauna, particularly, the heat can open your skin pores to allow liqiuds and toxins to escape more easily.

 

Now, there is a health risk related to your blood pressure in staying too long in the sauna or whirlpool. The heat can change your blood pressure level. That, and losing fluids from sweating, could make you feel dizzy, nauseous, and prone to passing out if you linger too long. That's not very healthful... :o

 

My gym recommends staying in either the sauna or whirlpool no longer than 20 minutes. They have printed guidelines for the use of the spa equipment nearby the amenities. If the wet facilites in your gym don't have guidelines for use posted; ask someone on the staff for information. If yours is a gym worth its salt, the staff will be happy to explain anything about the use of the facilities that will enhance your safe use of them. Keeping their members healthy and coming back is a part of their business (hopefully); they can't afford to have you pass out or die in their sauna --- that would not be good for business. Enjoy the Steam, Water and Visuals!:9

 

BTW, My gym also discourages 'extracurricular activities', and revokes memberships of gents caught "playing" in the wet facilities. Lots of 'window shopping' occurs though... Gents here just seem to looove long showers! ;-) lol

 

Peace & Pleasure!

 

David, Your Boston Masseur

DJPWorld@yahoo.com

[Guest allansmith63]

Hi, Jeejer

 

I have a somewhat vague memory of a recommendation not to spend a lot of time (if any) in a hot tub after a strenuous workout, as it can promote swelling within the muscles, due to the increased blood flow because of the heat. A recommendation from my running magazine was that if you wanted to go into a hot tub after a vigorous run, make sure to cool your muscles off right away upon leaving the tub - the recommendation was to roll in the snow, take an ice-cold bath, or run into the ocean. The cold forces the immediate contraction of muscle, (not to mention certain other things) thereby reducing chances of any swelling (again, not to mention certain other things :-)).

 

I will conclude this with "I think" cause I'm not sure if I have all the details right. The running stuff is correct, however, I'm not sure of the actual physiology.

 

However, in a hot tub, just think of everything that can go on under the water, where no one can see....

 

A.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

OK, DJ

 

Where do you go??

[Guest jeejer]

DJPerez

thanks for the info. At this point I don't stay in either of the places more than 5 minutes. By that time the heat seems to get to me and although the "visuals" are often great, I find that I need to leave.

 

I do have high blood pressure, so I will check into that in relation to the heat, thanks

[Guest paulnyc]

My cardiologist says that with high blood pressure, it is dangerous to spend any time in a sauna, steam bath, or hot tub.

[Bilbo]

I seem to remember a beefy beauty at the gym telling me one time that if you spend much time in the steamroom after a workout that it smoothes out all of those nice bulges you've just been working at putting into your muscles, thus making it look like you really haven't been putting in all of that work. Hearsay, never read it anywhere, won't swear to its accuracy.

[Guest jeejer]

I sure hope that it doesn't have the same effect on those bulges I have been eyeing under those speedos and towels.