Will I lose weight with a sauna belt?

You've probably watched those television commercials, which promise to give you a trim tummy courtesy a sauna belt.

What exactly does a sauna belt do? You place it around your waist and it supposedly helps you sweat away unwanted fat, eliminate cellulite and lose weight!

Does it work? Is it safe to use?

Here's what fitness consultant Samreedhi Sharma Goel had to say during a one-hour chat with Get Ahead readers on  June 21: 'A lot of readers have written to me saying that their skin got burnt using the belt. The most effective way is a controlled diet and regular exercise.' 

Part I: Want a flat tummy?

Dixit asked, Hi samreedhi, Will taking tea/coffee burn fat?

Samreedhi answers, Hi. If only it were that simple!

niti asked, amridhi i asked a ques on why meals are important to be taken on time... also wch excercise would help to reduce fat near belly... where in i m also doing yoga everyday for an hour.......

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Meals taken on time establish a routine for your body and supply energy at regular intervals. Ab crunches help you tighten your abs. However doing cardio (walking/ jogging/ swimming/ cycling) will help you burn fat overall.

Mala asked, Hi Samreedhi...I have gained weight of 20 kilos in two years after my hysterectomy at age 38. NOw I am 45. If I do my walking regularly and am on strict diet...I just lose five or six kg...after that its so difficult. The weight problem has started to weigh on my mind. I am now taking pills for hypothyroidism,diabetes and cholesterol....any fitness saving tips for me Samreedhi??

Samreedhi answers, Hi! This is the story of most women post hysterectomy. Don't lose heart. Just keep exercising. Your body has got used to the walks, so switch to a different exercise. Working out with weights will give you a metabolic boost and help you to lose inches. Give it a shot!

sonia asked, i am just concerned about the increasing size of my thighs although my weight is only 48 kg.my ht is 5'2". sonia

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Join a gym. All you need to do is tone your thigh muscles. But remember to work your full body.

arrjun asked, Hi samreedhi,I am 27 yrs old, Wt.57 kg daily do walking excercise for 30 min . Still not feeling fresh and healthy. Suggest me some diet to feel healthy and fresh .....

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Get your haemoglobin levels checked. You may be anaemic. Drink two litres water per day and sleep for seven to eight hours daily.

Monica asked, HI, I M 23, WEIGH 68 KGS, 5FT 6" TALL. VEGETARIAN (EAT EGG). USED TO WORK OUT RELIGIOUSLY BUT WENEVER THERE ARE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES I LOOSE TRACK. USED TO DO 30 MINS CARDIO, 30 MINS OTHER EXERCISE, HAVE A TREADMILL, TWISTER, SKIPPIN ROPE, AND 5KG WEIGHTS. HAD ALSO CLOSELY WATCHED MY FOOD HABITS. THESE DAYS I BARELEY DO 20-30 MINS OF CARDIO. I AIM TO LOSE ANOTHER 10 KGS. PLEASE ADVICE. HAVE GIVEN UP SMOKING AND DRINK EXTREMELY RARELY. ANY ALT EXERCISES WHICH ARE MORE ENJOYABLE. I TRAVEL 2HRS IN THE MORNING AND 2 IN THE EVENING AS WORK AND HOME ARE AT OPPOSITE ENDS. WORK FROM 9.30 TO 6.30. WISH TO LOOSE WEIGHT ON MY HIPS AND LEGS

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Exercise with a friend or make friends at the gym so that you don't find the routine monotonous.

Bhaskar asked, I am 33 years old and is a software professional. I am 172 cms tall and weigh 68 kgs. I spend long hours in front of the computer sitting in a Air conditined cubicle. To keep fit, I swim for 30 mins , 5 days a week and play football for 1 hour on week ends. recently i am accumulating little fat around the tummy. what shoild I do??

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Check your food habits. You are probably eating too much refined food. Why not switch from swimming to tennis for a while? That will help burn more fat and change your routine.

daredevil asked, what abt those sauna belts and ab machines are they effective...is it as effective as they appear on tv

Samreedhi answers, Hi! A lot of readers have written to me saying that their skin got burnt using the belt. The most effective is a controlled diet and regular exercise. 

Anisha asked, what r the symptoms of anemia & how is it cured

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Hairfall, dark circles, weakness, lethargy, low attention span, dizziness, low stamina and breathlessness. Firstly check your blood haemoglobin levels and, if you are anaemic, ask your doctor to prescribe an iron supplement. Take this everyday after breakfast or lunch and drink lots of water to prevent constipation

abhinav_111_sh asked, hi samreedhi, i m 23,male,5'7 height n 76kg. i m overweight by 8kg. this was primarily due to slip disc i had two yrs back n due to this i cudnt do any vigrous exercises . now i want to get back in shape n for a year an a half done swimming, cycling, walking.but nothing has really helped me out.. tel me wat to do..

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Firstly, you should take physiotherapy and strengthen your back. Then you can join a gym, but only after you have made sure they can handle a person with your problem. Don't do an exercise in which you have to bend at your back (hip hinge position) or where you have to lift your legs straight off the floor

Bonny asked, I am 43 years female , 5 feet 3.5 inches , weighing 76 kilos . I suffer from high BP & vertigo thus can't go for walks / exercises / gymming . What should be my ideal weight & how shd I lose weight . I am extremely careful about eating right / no fat food . Bonny .

Samreedhi answers, Hi! You should weigh between 59-61 kgs. Even if you have BP problems/ vertigo, you can go for a walk. In fact, exercise will help you gain control over both and bring down your BP. Start slow with walking 10 minutes everyday and increase gradually by five minutes per week.

Girija asked, 32, F, 162, 85. How to reduce post delivery weight

Samreedhi answers, Hi! Go easy on the high fat post pregnancy foods and start exercising NOW!

individual_intelligence asked, hello plz tell me whether drinking Excess fruits juices is harmfull or not ?? as these have more callories so it may increses the FAT of stomuch ???? varun 23 mumbai , Ht = 5.7" , Wt= 71 kGs.

Samreedhi answers, Hi! 1 glass orange juice = juice of 4-6 oranges and their calories but no nutrition. So they are only giving you calories which are converted and stored as fat.

Samreedhi says, People it was great chatting with you! If I missed out your question write to me at sizewise@rediffmail.com