Archive for the ‘Physical Activity’ Category

postheadericon Losing weight with Strength Training

A new way to lose weight is doing strength exercises, thus increasing the amount of calories you normally spend per day at rest and avoid what you eat immediately turn to fat. Strength training must be intense enough to cause an increase in muscle mass, so that the increase in basal metabolism is effective and therefore is positive for the intention to lose weight.

Strength training for weight loss

* Standing. Legs hip width apart. Take two dumbbells 2 kilos in each hand and place them on the shoulders, arms flexed.

* Low hip, flexing the knee to place the thighs parallel to the floor. Spread the legs and arms stretched while bringing the dumbbells above your head. Back to bend your arms and legs and repeat. Do 3 sets of 8 repetitions. Read the rest of this entry »

postheadericon Depression Treatment

The brain, the unknown. How is an arrangement of atoms, which are similar to a tree, a kidney, a kitten or the computer where I write these lines, may be able to think, to withhold information or to have emotions? Broad issue. As often in this area is by studying the failures of the machine that captures its workings.

This arrangement of atoms leads, from 121 million people worldwide, a disease characterized by “loss of interest and pleasure, feelings of guilt, loss of self-esteem, disturbed sleep, a drop in form and concentration. ” Thus the World Health Organization describes depression.

Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne in Switzerland, became interested in a protein located in the hippocampus, the MIF to macrophage migration inhibitory factor. According to their research published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, inhibition of this protein causes “an increase in anxiety and depressive states.

Contrary to what is often said and written, the neurons are renewed in part, notably in the hippocampus. It speaks of neurogenesis. Previous research had shown that there was a link between neurogenesis and depression. Scientists from the Lausanne show “for the first time” that MIF was present in quantity in the stem cells of the hippocampus and there was a link between this protein and neurogenesis.

To prove it, researchers have inflicted a series of tests in rats genetically or chemically modified not to produce MIF protein. In rodent studies, the absence of this protein induced a slowdown in production of new neurons and thus an increase in anxiety and depressive behavior. [How do you recognize a rat depressed? The issue will be a future article on this blog ... To keep things simple, rapid and succinct, rodents respond differently to stressful situations.]

Indeed, these studies have shown that these mutant rats responded less well to anti-depressants, in this case of fluoxetine, better known under the name of Prozac. In the absence of MIF protein, the molecules of fluoxetine more difficult to relaunch the process of creating new neurons.

Far from being only theoretical, these results could provide, ultimately, profits on the treatment of depression, as noted by the researchers concluded in their report:

“This finding indicates that MIF is potentially significant for the treatment of deficits in the genesis of neurons, as well as problems related to anxiety, depression or cognition.

postheadericon Weight Loss and Energy Expenditure

Energy ExpenditureWe know that our body uses food for energy and excess energy that results in excess fat. This means that if you eat more than what your body needs to carry out their daily activities you will gain weight.

Therefore, the most effective way to burn fat is to reduce the amount of calories you consume and increase the level of physical activity. So the key terms when talking about weight loss are “diet” and “exercise“.

Introduce changes gradually

Small changes can make a big difference. You might think the weight loss as a permanent change in your eating habits. While weight loss goals are usually marked in weeks these changes should be held to over the months and years.

Increase your physical activity

Someone who increases the amount of exercise and maintain the same diet and calorie intake it will probably lose weight. You need not register yourself in a gym. Just a mild exercise as a 20-minutes walk will benefit if you meet most weekdays. Keep in mind that whenever you exercise more than usual will be burning fat.

A variety of ways to increase the activity you do. Playing a sport, go to aerobics classes, running, walking, swimming or cycling. All enhance your fitness. You just have to find an activity that you find it accessible. Thus it is more likely that you include in your routine.

postheadericon Strength Training for Weight Loss

aerobicYears ago those promotes aerobic sports such as jogging and cycling to burn calories and lose weight. No doubt that with an hour of moderate intensity aerobic exercise burns 300 calories and, if sufficiently severe, maintains a high level of metabolism for several hours after activity.But unfortunately, this effect of exercise burns calories! Is short-lived because, in general, with aerobic activity does not develop muscle fiber.

Furthermore, the combination of excessive exercise with a low calorie diet can result in a loss of muscle tissue, which extends to the individual who is on a diet, it can end up thinner, but also more flaccid. It is undeniable that aerobic exercise provides significant health benefits for people who are overweight but, by itself, may not be the best solution to maintain your desired weight.

In general, most adults lose a large amount of muscle a year for lack of use, it means that you burn fewer calories because your muscles get smaller, and like most people do not realize that the basal metabolic rate (MBR) is going downhill as they get older, continue to eat as much as before.

We all know that calories are not burned are stored as fat and, as is less dense than muscle, maybe, but one remains in the same weight over time, such as waist-expanding experience. That is, every time you have less muscle and more fat.

Although burn calories as aerobic exercise with strength training, the difference is the amount of calories that are burned when no exercises. Strength training with high intensity the MBR is still high several hours after activity.

Some studies suggest that strength training can burn more calories after exercise and during more hours than with aerobic exercise. Increased muscle mass is one of the main contributors.

In a study of men and women, it was noted that in making a program of intense strength training for 60 minutes, with sets of 10 to 12 repetitions with minimal rest for 15 hours after exercise, the MBR was up about 9 %.

Although some women become stronger by making a hypertrophy program, most of them do not experience excessive muscular development, since they have very low levels of testosterone. However, it is noteworthy that it is better to gain a little muscle mass to increase the amount of fat, while having the same body weight (weighing).

basal metabolic rate (MBR)