Swimming is great all over exercise but may not be the best for slimming. Researchers at the Unoversity of Florida had subjects exercise on a static bike under water for 45 minutes, first in water at 20 degrees C, then after a 45 minute rest, in water at 33 degrees C.
After each session they spent time in a room full of food without being told their calorie intake would be monitored.
After exercising in the cold water the subjects ate 44% more calories than after the warm water exercise and 41% more than after just resting.
So it would seem that body temperature affects your post-exercise appetite. Swim by all means but get into some warmer exercise before finishing your workout.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Mind over body
It’s long been known that there is a thing called the Placebo Effect where if you believe you are getting medication when you are actually getting a sugar pill — your body can sometimes respond as if the medicine is actually working. Recent research suggests if you believe you are exercising, your body may respond as if it is. Read more in this article “Can Your Thoughts Affect Your Weight? “ by Alix Spiegel
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Diet for men (a joke)
A guy calls a company and orders their 5-day, 10 lb. weight loss program. The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19-year-old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck.
She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company. The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."
Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later huffing and puffing, he fi nally gives up. The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens. On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised.
He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program. The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in his life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me".
Well, he's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck. So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.
Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised. He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program
"Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years."
The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, your ass is mine."
He lost 63 pounds that week.
She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company. The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."
Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later huffing and puffing, he fi nally gives up. The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens. On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised.
He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program. The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in his life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me".
Well, he's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck. So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.
Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised. He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program
"Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years."
The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, your ass is mine."
He lost 63 pounds that week.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Heavier weights to build muscle
Thanks for the comment Kimberley (see How To Get Rid Of Flabby Arms Jan 24). Yes you are absolutely correct. Heavy weights do need to be used if you want to build muscle.
Toning that underarm flab, like any part of the body, requires two things: an overall approach to reducing excess body fat rather than a spot reducing approach - which won't work of course.
The second thing is the right exercise to strengthen and build those underarm muscles. Light weights are great to start with so you don't get sore or strain muscles that aren't used to work. But it is essential to gradually increase the weight so that those muscles are working progressively harder and growing stronger.
Also ladies don't worry about getting big musclely arms. They are a lot of hard work.
Doing lots of these exercises with really light weights may help a little to start with but you'll mainly be working those red slow twitch endurance muscle fibres. These are the ones endurance athletes work most and they generally don't have huge muscle size.
So the heavier weights are better for working the fast twitch fibres which become bigger over time. They fatigue more quickly, that's why you won't be doing as many repetitions with the heavier weights.
And it's also a good idea to work the whole body, not just the triceps group, otherwise your training regime and your musculature will be out of balance.
Toning that underarm flab, like any part of the body, requires two things: an overall approach to reducing excess body fat rather than a spot reducing approach - which won't work of course.
The second thing is the right exercise to strengthen and build those underarm muscles. Light weights are great to start with so you don't get sore or strain muscles that aren't used to work. But it is essential to gradually increase the weight so that those muscles are working progressively harder and growing stronger.
Also ladies don't worry about getting big musclely arms. They are a lot of hard work.
Doing lots of these exercises with really light weights may help a little to start with but you'll mainly be working those red slow twitch endurance muscle fibres. These are the ones endurance athletes work most and they generally don't have huge muscle size.
So the heavier weights are better for working the fast twitch fibres which become bigger over time. They fatigue more quickly, that's why you won't be doing as many repetitions with the heavier weights.
And it's also a good idea to work the whole body, not just the triceps group, otherwise your training regime and your musculature will be out of balance.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
It's how you see it
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Using mind to build muscle
I've always believed in the power of visualization and now breakthrough research in the field of exercise physiology has yielded stunning revelations about the way we get fit. The big surprise, though, is not what we "have" to do, but what we might "not" have to do.
Our thoughts can literally redefine the size, shape and strength of our bodies.
Read this interesting article by Jonathan Fields (Source: JonathanFields.com) on how imaginary workouts can build strength and fuel weight loss.
http://www.mindpowernews.com/ImaginaryWorkout.htm
Our thoughts can literally redefine the size, shape and strength of our bodies.
Read this interesting article by Jonathan Fields (Source: JonathanFields.com) on how imaginary workouts can build strength and fuel weight loss.
http://www.mindpowernews.com/ImaginaryWorkout.htm
Thursday, January 24, 2008
How To Get Rid Of Flabby Arms
You won't want to hear this but the first priority is to reduce the body fat overall.
Now, in order for that flabby area under your arm to become tone, you'll need to build the triceps muscles in the back of the arm. There are several good exercises you can do to build up that area.
Some of the more common and better exercises you can do for the back of the arms are * Weighted dips * Close grip bench presses * Close grip push ups * Lying barbell French presses * Overhead cable extensions * Cable press downs * Reverse cable press downs
Combining these exercises with a good all round fat reduction program of diet factors and high intensity interval training will see those flabby arms tone up nicely. And the bonus will be...
So will the rest of your body.
Now, in order for that flabby area under your arm to become tone, you'll need to build the triceps muscles in the back of the arm. There are several good exercises you can do to build up that area.
Some of the more common and better exercises you can do for the back of the arms are * Weighted dips * Close grip bench presses * Close grip push ups * Lying barbell French presses * Overhead cable extensions * Cable press downs * Reverse cable press downs
Combining these exercises with a good all round fat reduction program of diet factors and high intensity interval training will see those flabby arms tone up nicely. And the bonus will be...
So will the rest of your body.
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