Hey guys, I tried using the search function to see if there were any similar discussions about this in the past, but I wasn't able to find any.

Let us assume that your overall goal in a cardiovascular workout is to achieve a calorie deficit. What, exactly is the function of fans on cardio machines?

The way I have always pictured it: if you use a fan, you are making it easier to do the exercise and exerting less pressure on your body. Your heart rate drops, your body cools, and you sweat less. As a conclusion, I concluded that you likely in the end got a less effective workout.

Some people at the gym, though, look as if they swear by having the fan on them during the workout. One of the industrial fans has a treadmill literally infront of it, and it is the most popular fan.

Am I missing something here? If they really wanted an easier workout, why wouldn't people just slow down their workout in order for the same results.

By no means am I criticizing people who use cardio fans, I'm just trying to figure out what people believe their benefit is.

It just makes you feel better, and not to mention with the fan on you can do more, you can push yourself a little further.

I see it like this: You can run a mile on a hot and humid day and feel crappy about it because hey, it's just a mile, or on a nice autumn/winter day you can go out and run 2, 3 or even more because it's cooler out. It helps to boost moral, and as long as your pushing yourself just as hard I would imagine that it's going to yield the same results, fan on, or fan off.

You don't burn less calories by using a fan. In fact, because you don't heat as easily, you burn more. Heat is a side effect of calory burning, the fan simply removes the heat, not the work of the muscles.

I believe the fans just help cool you off thus gaining more motivation. I know on hot days when I walked I was ready to get back in the house as soon as possible. However on a cool day I would walk alot longer.

I prefer to work out with a draft blowing on me or in a very cold room. My main gripe about my gym is that it's hot. It could stand to be a LOT cooler in there. I guess some people feel like they're not getting their money's worth unless they have Rorschach-esque sweat stains on their clothes.