Covid kilos, “the Covid 19,” or “The Quarantine 15” — whatever you call it, pandemic weight gain is a very real phenomenon. Between gym closures, eating out of boredom, stress, and having few reasons to walk anywhere or bother changing out of our comfy pants, about 39% of people gained weight during the pandemic. And with an increase in weight, comes an increase in dangerous health effects including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Many of these are the very same health effects that place people at an increased risk of severe Covid-19 outcomes. 

It’s more important than ever to ensure that you have a healthy body and strong immune system. Still, health interventions may be limited to things you can do at home. This is where pulsed electromagnetic therapy and far infrared therapy mats may be just the tool you need to aid your weight loss. 

PEMF and FIR: a quick fix for weight loss?

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for dramatic weight loss without any diet or exercise, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and far-infrared (FIR) therapy mats will not melt away the pounds on their own. But PEMF, FIR, and combination mats can set your body up for weight

loss success. And better still, they can help you achieve overall wellness. By helping to heal your body from some of the issues that make exercise difficult, slow your metabolism, or rob you of energy, PEMF and FIR mats give your mind and body the boost you need to better manage your weight. 

5 ways PEMF mats make weight loss easier.

PEMF mats use low-frequency electromagnetic waves to penetrate deep into your body’s tissues, stimulating cell communication and jump-starting your body’s own healing mechanisms. With benefits ranging from accelerated tissue repair to increased energy, PEMF stimulation benefits you in ways that make a healthy lifestyle easier to stick to. 

1. Injury recovery and pain reduction.

Do you avoid exercise or even everyday activities because of injuries, joint pain, back pain, or arthritis? By integrating a few weekly PEMF mat sessions into your wellness routine, you can experience less pain, decreased swelling and reduced inflammation. PEMF devices help to promote your body’s natural healing mechanisms and have been shown in clinical studies to successfully treat many common musculoskeletal issues. From acute injuries to chronic pain, you’ll most likely notice some immediate relief after your first session. PEMF is such a good pairing for bone and soft tissue healing that many chiropractors, masseuses, physical therapists, and acupuncturists have started integrating PEMF therapy into their treatments. 

Not only will improved mobility and less pain make it easier to stay active, but you’ll sleep easier and notice an improved mood as well — a winning combination for having the ability, energy, and motivation to keep moving and burning calories. 

2. Helps Digest Fats.

A study in mice showed that after a 12-week intervention, animals treated with PEMF showed  significantly higher levels of bone mineral density and decreased lipid (fat) levels. The data  showed that PEMF stimulation achieved this by regulating mRNA and protein expression. In 

other words, PEMF stimulation was shown to significantly prevent bone loss and improve fat  metabolism compared to the control group.  

PEMF stimulation can also support the role of bile salts by promoting the release of fatty acids  from fat cells and encouraging circulation. Eventually, these fatty acids make it to the  mitochondria of the cells where they are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and heat. This  process also creates ATP, which is the principal molecule for transporting and storing energy in  the cells. PEMF stimulation may not revolutionize your body’s natural mechanisms for  converting stored fat into energy, but it does give the process a helpful boost.  

Speeds up metabolism.

If you have a slow metabolism, your body uses up stored energy at a slower rate than someone with a higher metabolism. This can make it harder for you to lose weight. Metabolism is a balance between two processes: anabolism, which builds body tissues and puts energy into storage, and catabolism, which breaks down tissues and energy stores to fuel your body. 

Studies in mice have found that increasing blood flow to their brown fat tissues (which contain more mitochondria than white fat tissues) triggered energy consumption and calorie burning (catabolism). As PEMF is known to improve circulation and increase blood flow throughout the body, PEMF may help to initiate the breakdown and energy release of stored fats. 

4. Improves mood.

Research into PEMF’s effect on mental health has shown that it can lessen depression and anxiety through increasing brain connectivity and healing abnormal brain circuits, increasing the expression of proteins that improve brain function, and promoting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. One study found that as little as one 20-minute treatment could create an immediate improvement in mood among people with depression and bipolar disorder. 

Mood can have a huge impact on weight loss success. Depression and anxiety can create feelings of overwhelm and lethargy that make it difficult to stay motivated. Mood disorders also contribute to poor self-control, so you may make impulsive choices about what to eat instead of

choosing the healthiest option. When you are mentally at your best, you are more resilient to setbacks, which means you’ll be more likely to get back on track with diet and exercise when you slip up. 

5. Improves sleep.

PEMF encourages sleep by producing delta waves, similar to what your brain produces during the deepest stage of sleep. Through a process called neuro-entrainment, your brain synchronizes with these waves, helping you to enter and stay in a deeper sleep. A double-blind clinical study on PEMF for insomnia found that 70% of the people who received PEMF therapy experienced significant or even complete relief from interrupted sleep, difficulty falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and headaches. Even better, patients reported zero adverse side effects. 

Sleep influences your hunger hormones, so when you aren’t getting enough rest you may find that you feel hungrier. You may also gravitate towards foods that are higher in fat and sugar (perhaps why so many people reach for a doughnut with their morning coffee). Being under slept inhibits your self-control, which means your food choices may be less than ideal. By improving your sleep, you’ll have an easier time controlling what you eat, and still feel energized enough to keep physically active. 

Did you know?

Obesity contributes to chronic systemic inflammation and is part of the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Dysfunctional fat metabolism leads to an increase in fatty acids circulating throughout your body, kicking off an inflammatory feedback loop that can lead to digestive issues, more pronounced arthritis symptoms, heart disease, lung issues, bone loss, skin redness and rashes. This is why it is extra important for you to adapt anti-inflammatory behaviors if you are overweight, such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet and regularly using your PEMF mat. 

5 ways far-infrared makes weight loss easier. 

Far infrared radiation relaxes muscles, increases vasodilation, and improves circulation by gently warming the body from within. FIR therapy uses light waves on the electromagnetic spectrum on the other side of the visible light spectrum near microwaves. While far infrared is not visible to the naked eye, it can be perceived as a gentle heat. Unlike a heating pad which heats the surface of your skin, FIR wavelengths can penetrate deep into muscle to warm it, without overheating the skin’s surface. Here’s how regularly using a FIR mat can help move you closer to your weight loss goals: 

1. Aids muscles before and after exercise.

FIR mats provide up to six hours of muscle pain relief, and can also help with joint pain. This makes it the perfect therapy for recovering post-exercise or used as a part of your warm-up routine before exercising. It works by warming the muscles and increasing blood flow to them, which sends oxygen and other important nutrients to the muscle tissue. This enables your muscles to function optimally and recover faster. 

2. Cardiovascular benefits.

Far infrared heat therapy has been clinically shown to dilate blood vessels and reduce the volume of their inner lining, which increases circulation and lowers blood pressure to healthy levels. A study on FIR therapy as an intervention in chronic heart failure patients showed that it safely and effectively improved cardiac function and decreased cardiac size. 

The cardiovascular system ensures that your body gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs and gets rid of waste. A healthier cardiovascular system means that your body will tolerate exercise better, and the more you exercise, the healthier your cardiovascular system becomes. PEMF in combination with a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise can help your body to absorb oxygen better, exercise more intensely or for longer periods, and lower your heart rate and blood pressure. 

3. Boosts mood.

The results of one study indicated that exposing skin to infrared light had positive effects on mental health, and showed similar effects to antidepressant medication by stimulating the production of serotonin. A better mood means more motivation, more energy, and more resilience to setbacks with your diet or exercise habits. 

4. Improved immune and digestive systems.

In studies on mice, FIR has been shown to improve immunity. It’s thought that this occurs in part to FIR’s influence on gut microbiota — microorganisms that play an important role in immune function and digestion. When your digestive system is operating smoothly, you are better able to process the nutrients your body needs to function at its best. 

5. Pain relief.

One of the most well-researched benefits of FIR therapy is pain reduction. Whether you suffer from a chronic condition like arthritis, have a “bad” back, or are recovering from an injury, FIR can aid in pain relief by sending heat deep into your tissues. This heat promotes circulation and can help sore, tight muscles to relax and recover. 

Weight loss 101: How to maximize your success.

PEMF and FIR devices may not result in overnight weight loss, but when incorporated as a part of a healthy lifestyle, they can help to make the process more comfortable and efficient. If you’re starting your weight loss journey, here are some fundamental weight-loss strategies to optimize your results: 

Eat well.

To lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit — which is to say — total calories burned must exceed total calories consumed. Counting calories may seem like a daunting task, but it helps to create an awareness of how much energy you are actually taking in throughout the day. To

make things easier on yourself, you may want to download an app that makes tracking and calculating calories consumed much easier. 

In packaged foods, pay attention to what a serving size is. If you’re unintentionally eating five servings in a sitting, the calories will add up quickly. Also, check the labels for sugar and saturated fat content. Many foods advertised as low sugar or low fat are loaded up on the other, or contain very little nutritional value. 

When eating out or unsure about calorie content, let portion control be your guide. You can find more detailed information about how to estimate portion sizes by referring to the American Heart Foundation website. As much as possible, eat whole, unprocessed foods including lots of fruits and vegetables. 

While a calorie deficit is needed for weight loss, don’t go overboard. Continue to eat meals at regular intervals to give your brain and body the fuel it needs to function and to keep your metabolism burning. 

Keep active.

Exercise regularly using forms of exercise that work best for your body and which you find enjoyable. It’s recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Even if you can’t go to a gym, there is still plenty you can do to keep active. Activity can be as simple as parking at the far end of a parking lot and walking into your destination, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, or vacuuming and gardening instead of watching TV. Even if you only have time to exercise for 10 minutes, that’s still better for you than nothing at all. You don’t have to be a superstar athlete to move regularly throughout your day. 

Hydrate wisely.

Not only does hydration do wonders for your body’s cells, but drinking plenty of water will help you to feel fuller and help you to avoid overeating. Drinking water has also been shown to temporarily boost your metabolism. It’s recommended that adult males drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids daily, and adult females drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) daily. Be cautious

of consuming beverages with added sugars (even some sports, energy, or vitamin drinks) as these can contribute to weight gain. Alcohol not only has extra calories but can dehydrate you and slow down fat metabolism — so limit your intake as much as you can.  

Incorporate PEMF and FIR therapies.

Use your PEMF or FIR mat several times a week (or even daily) to reward and nourish your body throughout your weight loss journey. Soothe tired muscles, relax, alleviate pain, and feel re-energized as you work towards becoming the healthiest version of yourself. therapy can provide. Let us know how it goes!