A friend of mine opened a tanning salon and I bought a small package to support her. Having never tanned before, I was amazed at how much better I felt afterwards. (I seldom get out in the sun and I’m normally pretty pale.) I kept up the tanning because I felt good, but then I discovered my stubborn fat was suddenly going away at a fairly rapid pace. So I did some research and discovered that UV radiation creates vitamin D in the skin. Then some searches on PubMed showed that variations of Vitamin D affect fat storage! Furthermore, melanin stimulating hormone also affects fat storage, as does l-tyrosine, which is the precursor to melanin. I guess all I really needed to do was get out in the sun.
If you think about it, it sort of makes sense. Maybe when winter approaches, the UV radiation drops and we start storing fat for the winter. When the UV radiation goes up in the spring, our metabolism increases and we burn it back off.
I’m not an endocrinologist and had trouble understanding a lot of the PubMed information. Does anybody have any experience in this area and can explain the relationship between sun exposure and fat loss better? Or am I just imagining things?
i too had some noticeable fat loss when i was tanning about a year ago… cleared up some acne at the same time… god i hope there’s a cure for skin cancer coming
I don’t think we have to worry too much about skin cancer unless we repetitively burn ourselves. (Even the somewhat eccentric Dr. Mercola doesn’t believe UV exposure causes cancer unless it’s in excess.) The human body was designed for sun exposure after all.
Tanning tightens the skin, contributes to water loss, and differencial coloring across the topography of your muscles creates an additional illusion of definition.
You’re absolutely correct. I’ve always stressed the importance of tanning to alot to my friends. I use tanning beds all year round, winter AND summer. I might get “Why the heck are you so dark in the winter?” reaction, but I give a shit. And I just don’t have the time to sit in the sun for hours a day during the summer… we all have “regular” lives to live.
Tanning not only helps provide vitamin D and aid in fat loss, but helps with acne for all those on heavy androgen cycles. The beds will help dry out the skin to a certain degree. A nice tan will also create “shadows” on the body to accent more lines and curves, making you look more defined and brings out more muscle separations on a lean physique.
i’m guessing its mostly to do with the darkness of your skin making you look more defined.
i got fatter and more tanned over summer and my arms looked way leanner even tho my waist expanded
I don’t think its the illusion of definition. The scale and the body fat analyzer say otherwise. It’s weight loss and it seems to be all that stubborn fat.
I would not down play the skin cancer issue. I am 48 and have had pre-cancerous lesions removed. Look at your family history and get checked out by a dermatologist on a regular basis just like a yearly physical.
Sun exposure is good for you. It can ALSO be bad for you. There is some optimum amount needed to maximize health. If you avoid the sun and cover every inch with high-SPF, you’ll miss out on some of the benefits. If you fry most of your body to a burn or deep tan on a regular basis, you’re not only increasing your risk of skin cancer, you’re suffering from the systemic effects of chronic inflammation.
Sun exposure is like the cliche in weightlifting. You want to stimulate, not annihilate. If someone attempts to lift too much weight, he’ll get injured, which is damaging, not beneficial. If someone lifts weight in the right range, he’ll stimulate muscle growth, which is beneficial. Two hours outdoors fully clothed is one thing. Two hours on the beach in a bathing suit is another thing.
Two hours on the beach is probably way too much. I like Dr. Mercola’s recommendation of 15 minutes a day better.
It’s funny that sun/UV exposure produces vitamin D, but D has been been demonstrated to have anti-carcinogenic properties. I guess the UV can promote cancer, but at the same time promote an anti-cancer substance. Ah, the miracles of evolution.
All I know for sure is my UV exposure regimen seems to be benefiting me, for the moment. Maybe 10 years from now I’ll regret it.