 |
We've all heard the old expression about "working up an
appetite," but what does that really mean? Can exercise actually sabotage
your diet?
As the theory goes, we eat more food after exercising in order to
replace the calories we burned. Not only does the old adage bring up a list of
doubts about exercising as a means for weight loss, but it also offers an
excuse to some lazy folks who choose to forgo exercise. Well, it's time for
those lazies to listen up and take action, because a new study found that the
old expression might be nothing more than a myth.
The Brigham Young University study showed that exercise won't cause an
increased appetite, and it may even reduce food cravings. When participants
didn't exercise, their brain waves suggested they responded to food images more
strongly than when they were presented with the same images after 45 minutes of
exercise.
This suggests that diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. Apparently, our
bodies already know this. When we're taking steps toward health by exercising,
not only do we gain muscle, but we also ditch some of those bothersome
cravings. It's as if everything is working in harmony. The women who
participated in this study each took a brisk walk on a treadmill as exercise.
Imagine what would happen if we kicked it up a notch. It's time to make a
serious effort. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
•
Hiking as an appetite suppressant: If you're the kind
of person who loves the outdoors, hiking will barely feel like exercise. You
may find the urge to eat after (or during) a long hike, but it's not the kind
of binge eating that happens in front of the television after a long day of
lounging around.
•
Aerobic dancing to boost metabolism and curb cravings:
If someone offered you a magic pill that promised an increased metabolism and
appetite reduction, you'd jump at the chance to take it, right? Well, instead
of jumping for a non-existent magic pill, jump for your goals. Get on
the dance floor and shake things up. Forty-five minutes of aerobic dancing
certainly counts as vigorous exercise.
•
Kickboxing your way out of food addiction: Have you
ever noticed that when you take a break from regular exercise, you're more
likely to want to sit around and do nothing? Fight the urge to "fall off
the wagon" by doing something you enjoy, like kicking butt at the gym.
After some time, you'll notice that muscle is crowding out the fat, and
cravings are falling by the wayside.
My health news daily
Please share
No comments:
Post a Comment