Health

Don’t worry, we don’t subscribe to the “let the fat melt away” or “sweat off the extra weight” schools of thought. However, there are established links between high levels of stress and obesity as well as between stress relief and hot tubs. So, from enjoying your backyard hot tub to achieving your weight loss objectives, it’s really not a big leap!

Weight Loss Statistics

Did you know that every year, more than 50 million Americans start diets? Much if that statistic may be significant, this one is even more so: just 1% – 5% of people who start diets manage to successfully keep the weight off long term. Many doctors mention ongoing good habits such as choosing appropriate eating choices, reducing alcohol intake, exercising consistently, and managing stress when people ask them how to keep weight under control for the longer duration.

Weight Gain with High Stress

How can stress cause people to acquire weight? One word can sum up the main reason: cortisol. Our bodies use this stress hormone to activate the fight-or-flight response when faced with a threat. The pressures of modern life frequently cause cortisol levels to rise unnecessarily; cortisol was once helpful in a society where physical threats occasionally occurred but lives were generally less stressful. Cortisol is produced in excess when there is a lot of stress, but there is no easy way to release it, unless you find the opportunity to run away from a bear. As a result, there is greater ongoing stress and less overall life pleasure.

How do rising cortisol levels relate to gaining weight? First, a lot of Americans use fatty, sweet, or salty foods as a form of fast self-medication. This tendency, known as “stress eating,” is not at all uncommon. Along with encouraging bad eating habits, cortisol inhibits testosterone, the hormone in charge of developing powerful muscles, which if they existed would effectively burn calories. Less testosterone causes bodies to store extra fat instead of burning calories. Increased fat storage, especially in the abdominal region, is a third effect of high cortisol levels. Deep abdominal fat has 400% more cortisol receptors than other fat reserves in the region compared to other types of fat.

Hot Tubs & Less Stress

We’re all more inclined to enjoy social interaction, eat healthier, and engage in physical activity when we’re under less stress. As a result, hot tubs’ positive effects on the body, mind, and spirit can undoubtedly aid in long-term weight loss. Increased blood flow is made possible by the blood vessels being helped to relax by immersion in the warm water. Heat and the buoyancy of water work together to help the blood carry oxygen to more parts of the body, making you feel better. This improved circulation also makes it easier for the heart to pump blood, which slows breathing and helps to decrease cortisol output through deep, regulated breathing.

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Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 500,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.

Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content from this website is not intended for medical diagnosis/treatment. The information provided on this website is intended for general consumer information & should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice.

We get it, we do: the brightly-colored, themed inflatable toys just look like more fun than most life jackets. But you know what’s not fun? Having a child drown on your watch. Unfortunately, many parents fail to consider the warnings and recommendations that come with inflatable toys and use them as safety devices (see Parts 1 & 2). Sometimes, young children who are not yet able to swim are left unattended in water with only these toys as “babysitters.” While even their manufacturers state that this is not their intended use, the trend continues, leading to many long-term injuries and even deaths.

In our previous post, we looked at the alternative we recommend for non-swimmers whenever they are in or near water, and beyond arm’s reach: personal flotation devices (PFDs) that have been approved by the US Coast Guard (USCG). In this post, we’ll go into greater detail about what to look for in PFDs.

Categories of USCG-Approved PFDs

Within the category of USCG-approved PFDs, there are different types of scenarios for which various types of PFDs are suitable; the first 3 types are wearable PFDs, which are recommended for various levels of water activity and risk.

Type I refers to PFDs that are intended for off-shore use, including rough, deep water that’s far from shore; as a result, type I devices are designed to turn an unconscious victim face up in the water where rescue may take some time. Abandon-ship life jackets fall into this category.

Type II devices are for near-shore use such as in calm waters where a speedy rescue would be expected in case of trouble; these are recommended for general boating activities.

Type III PFDs are flotation aids recommended for boating and specialized activities such as water skiing and canoeing; they often offer greater range of motion than the other 2 categories of PFDs.

Added Considerations for PFDs

When you’re looking for PFDs, be sure to look for brightly colored ones that will easily allow you to pick out the child in the water; this means staying away from white or black as well as turquoise and other shades of blue; opt instead for shades of red, yellow, bright pink, or blaze orange, which can be easily spotted. (As a side note, we recommend choosing swim suits in the same colors, for the same reason.)

In addition to color, be careful to consider size. If you’re a pool owner, you will want to have a variety of sizes on hand for your guests. If you’re a parent, this will mean carefully evaluating and re-evaluating your child’s size. If a PFD is too big, a child can easily slip out of it in an emergency; however, one that is too small may not be able to keep them afloat. Always make sure that the jacket fits snugly and that straps are all used correctly and tightened.

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Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.

In Part 1, we considered the argument against using inflatable floating pool toys for children. Despite warning labels, many parents unfortunately consider these toys to be personal flotation devices and unwisely leave young children who are unable to swim unsupervised in them. Even looking away for a brief moment can lead to tragedy. Of course, this need not be the case in your backyard swimming pool. We’ll look at the reasoning behind the risk as well as alternatives to inflatables.

Warnings from Experts

The link between flotation devices and drownings is such a concern to Dr. Ralph Rucker, director of pediatric pulmonary services of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, that he encourages parents to see the danger of them as “so severe” that it’s not out of line to consider them akin to “a knife or a whirling fan.” As a result of their prominence in backyard swimming pools, the toys have brought him to see pools as “a lethal luxury.” A major reason for this caution is that most flotation devices are not designed for the young children who often use them; because small children’s bodies are typically out of proportion to their heads, the potential for tipping is more extreme.

The director for the CPSC in San Francisco, Lee Baxter, asserts that inflatable toys are always a poor choice for children who are not yet able to swim. For those individuals, he says this: “The only device I’d be comfortable with is one certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.” Along those lines, let’s look at some flotation devices that are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Cautions from All Angles

Even amid listings of the most highly rated personal flotation devices (or PFDs), many cautions are included: not even the best PFD is intended to substitute for adult supervision. Such a device is only one aspect of a water-safety plan — albeit an important one. Along with making sure children take swimming lessons and parents learn CPR, careful supervision is also extremely important. While children do need to learn what it feels like to be in the water without a life vest, if they are not yet confident swimmers, children should always be carefully supervised and have on a PFD whenever they’re beyond arm’s reach in or near water. Even mere minutes can cause irreparable brain damage or death.

Recommendations Regarding PFDs

There are a few things we suggest you look for when it comes to choosing a PFD. The first is that it has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). When a PFD has been approved by the USCG, you know that it has gone through extensive testing that ensures it will keep a person afloat in a safe position with head above water, if for some reason that person is unable to do so on his or her own. You can easily look inside any life jacket or vest to see if it has the USCG stamp of approval and can find approved PFDs at all kinds of brick-and-mortar stores as well as online retailers.

In our next post, we’ll look at more specific recommendations regarding choosing a USCG-approved PFD for your child.

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Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.