Hello guys,

I am planning on going to a tanning place and I was looking for some suggestions since I have never been before.

After loosing approximately 50-55 lbs in the last 4 months, my goal is to look as good as possible this May. While I am not where I want to yet (at 23% BF now, down from 36+, my goal is to get as close to 15%as I can), I was curious about the whole process.

I am looking to get a slight tan (I am pretty pale right now) for my wedding (May 27th) and also get a good base for the honeymoon in the carribean. I want to make sure I ease into it since I think that I do burn fairly easy. And I dont want to look burnt to crisp at me wedding. My questions are:

How early do I need to start tanning? (2 weeks before? 4? 6?)
If I want to start slowly, how long of a session should I start out at?
How many times a week do you recommend?
Approximately how many visits?

Any other suggestions so that I dont look as clueless? Thanks in advance!

Definetly start early (6-8 wks) so that if you *do* burn you're not scrambling at the last minute before your wedding.

I've only used a tanning salon once before but the general rundown was:


Had to buy a "membership". Wasn't expensive, $20 I think.
Bought a package of 8 tanning sessions.
Sessions were 11 minutes max in a high-intensity bed, once a week.
Didn't start to look like I had a tan 'til about the 3rd session, but looked good from there on out.


They tried to sell me a lot of creams and moisturizers but I didn't bite. Don't know if they actually work. I did fine without 'em.

Gratz on your progress and your upcoming nuptuals!

M@

Ohhhh - Just wanted to toss a tidbit in here.

A perfect base tan only adds about 3 SPF. The whole base-tan thing is more myth than anything. In the carribean you will need much, much more than that. Bring along something with SPF 50 or more, and apply it all the time. My sister just came from Cuba. She was glad to heed the advice my Uncle gave her.


Otherwise... I hope you have an awsome wedding and honeymoon!

I'd recommend starting early (6-8 weeks) also. Once you've reached a color you like, you can just maintain it with 1-2 sessions per week until your wedding.

A tanning accelerator is a good investment, IMO. I've tanned with and without in the past and, as a pale person, I saw better results and a deeper tan with the accelerator. Don't ever wear sunblock into the booth.

Err on the side of caution with your minutes each session. Don't stay in long enough to get any redness but keep increasing your time. It's a lot like not lifting to failure. Don't let the attendent bully you into adding too many minutes each session as you'll quickly end up burnt.

Go naked from the start or cover "the parts" with a sock (if you're worried about burning, etc. down there) so that you don't get weird or deep tan lines. You'll be getting naked on your honeymoon anyways and, IMO, tan lines aren't very attractive.

I would start with no more 2-3 minuets for the first 1 or 2 sessions and adjust from there. I have been toasted in that little of time coming out of winter before.

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=25017

Order your lotion(s) online (http://www.lotionbarn.com/), instead of buying from the salon. My favorite is Supre Smoke (http://www.lotionbarn.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=SU-23P&type=store&brand=Supre&product=Smoke%20Regular). They'll hit you for $40 for this stuff at the salons.

I would start with no more 2-3 minuets for the first 1 or 2 sessions and adjust from there. I have been toasted in that little of time coming out of winter before.

:lol: OMG is this the truth! This topic made me want to get tan again so I went up to the salon yesterday, spent 6 minutes in a bed, and fried. Made a more detailed post about it in my journal. (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=307617&postcount=99) Seems either tanning beds have increased in intensity since I last used one or I went in with a better base last time. :o :doh:

Let's be careful out there. :D

M@

In Spring of 05, I started outdoors and got a little burned the first & second time I layed out. ( I am fair to start with but not Casper like.) This year I started at the salon and did not really burn. (13 minutes my first go round.) I have gone 6 times and I am dark already.( I went every other day) I have been using one of the lotions with the mild self tanner in it at night to enhance my tan. I think this has helped.

I'm fair skinned but my skin tans over time. I was wondering for tanning outside how long I should tan and how often. I've usually been doing 30 minutes each side with no sun screen.

I would recommend that you don't tan.

The evidence that ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer is overwhelming and convincing. Despite this information, the use of indoor tanning deviceswhich emit ultraviolet (UV) light, both in tanning parlors and at home, has never been more popular.

Tanning is an acquired darkening of the skin in response to ultraviolet radiation. By increasing exposure to carcinogenic UV rays, the risk of skin cancer is increased.

The association of sunburns with the development of melanoma has led the indoor tanning industry to suggest that if only these people were tan, they would not sunburn, and thus their melanoma risk would decrease. This concept is erroneous. First, it remains unclear whether the "sunburns only" hypothesis of melanoma development is true. Second, tans acquired at indoor tanning parlors have been studied and have a very poor ability to prevent sunburning. Finally and most important, very fair-skinned people are at the highest risk for melanoma, and they tan poorly or not at all, and burn whether at the beach or at the tanning salon. For this high risk group, the burn versus tan debate is irrelevant. ~ Skin Cancer Foundation (http://www.skincancer.org/artificial/index.php)

I am in 100% agreement with Guava. If you've never gone tanning.....Don't start.

I think Tanning is great! It is the burning that is bad for you. Don't burn! Just tan. :tucool:

My mother tanned til she was 75 and then quit, so you can quit while it is addictive. I have done it all my life, I have only burned twice both times on boats for full day cruises.

I would recommend that you don't tan.

The evidence that ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer is overwhelming and convincing. Despite this information, the use of indoor tanning deviceswhich emit ultraviolet (UV) light, both in tanning parlors and at home, has never been more popular.

Tanning is an acquired darkening of the skin in response to ultraviolet radiation. By increasing exposure to carcinogenic UV rays, the risk of skin cancer is increased.

The association of sunburns with the development of melanoma has led the indoor tanning industry to suggest that if only these people were tan, they would not sunburn, and thus their melanoma risk would decrease. This concept is erroneous. First, it remains unclear whether the "sunburns only" hypothesis of melanoma development is true. Second, tans acquired at indoor tanning parlors have been studied and have a very poor ability to prevent sunburning. Finally and most important, very fair-skinned people are at the highest risk for melanoma, and they tan poorly or not at all, and burn whether at the beach or at the tanning salon. For this high risk group, the burn versus tan debate is irrelevant. ~ Skin Cancer Foundation (http://www.skincancer.org/artificial/index.php)

An alternative view is discussed here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7875140/

"No one is suggesting that people fry on a beach. But many scientists believe that “safe sun” — 15 minutes or so a few times a week without sunscreen — is not only possible but helpful to health."


This article suggest that Vitamin D deficiency contributes to Cancer. It also doesn't take into account the recent deterioration of tho Ozone Layer.

Considering you can still burn nowadays with SPF30 on, when in the days of my father they played outside for hours without burning or tanning, suggests that sun-exposure is healthy only in controlled dosages.

Frying on a tanning bed is a terrible idea. You need Vitamin D? Buy cod liver oil. Don't use a synthetic supplement.

Saw a funny quote on another forum recently...

Tanned fat = muscle.

:lol:

Saw a funny quote on another forum recently...

Tanned fat = muscle.

:lol:
Dean Martin had a good one when he said " What would Cary Grant be without a tan? A old man.

I am in 100% agreement with Guava. If you've never gone tanning.....Don't start.

:eek: Mastover, you're darker than my average cup of coffee. If you don't tan, what kind of bronzer are you using? I'm assuming that's you in your avatar, right?

M@

:eek: Mastover, you're darker than my average cup of coffee. If you don't tan, what kind of bronzer are you using? I'm assuming that's you in your avatar, right?

M@
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/goaltemptan.htm perhaps. Dream tan supposedly works pretty well.

:eek: Mastover, you're darker than my average cup of coffee. If you don't tan, what kind of bronzer are you using? I'm assuming that's you in your avatar, right?

M@

Ha, 1FastGTX hit it on the nose. Dream Tan. :tu: One coat and I'm done. However, I am already naturally on the dark side. My warning with indoor tanning salons stem from the horror stories I've witnessed...particularly with competitors and people who become "addicted" to indoor tanning.

I much prefer getting a tan while fishing or going to the beach on occasion. :nod:

Is it better to stay still in a tanning booth? Sometimes I find myself doing squats in the standup one I use... and if not I'm usually always moving my arms around, is this why everywhere on my body except for my arms/hands are tanning? or does the skin there just shed faster? I CAN'T TAN MY ARMS/HANDS ^$#%&%$#^@#!

I move around to an extent, but not constantly. I've found myself doing torso twists, sissy squats, burlesque bumps, iso ab work...etc...
I hit the indoor tanning mainly because once I'm out on the water in my kayak for hours on end, I'll get toasted if I don't have some kind of base tan already. You can't stop to apply sunscreen on open water in 7 foot swells.

I've been tanning outdoors for about 3 months. The only problem is sometimes you can have trouble hitting certain spots (sides, upper chest.) In Wisconsin you can't tan all year round either.
I've been wondering, if you build up a tan this year, does your skin react so that it will be easier to tan next year? I've also heard an outdoor tan lasts longer than indoor. I'd rather tan indoors but it costs a lot.

When tanning, don't forget to put on sunscreen! here's a helpful guide:
http://pickyguide.com/sports_and_recreation/sunscreens_guide.html

When tanning, don't forget to put on sunscreen! here's a helpful guide:
http://pickyguide.com/sports_and_recreation/sunscreens_guide.html
I didn't know there was a whole website dedicated to people as anal as I am :eek:
Thanks for the link!
I have nothing to contribute to this thread.......:doh:


Chris