In a world of misinformation, Fitness Pudding is here to separate fact from fallacy, and science from fiction.

Fitness Pudding - Where The Proof Is

Exercise Doesn't Help with Weight Loss

Exercise Doesn't Help with Weight Loss
An editorial was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, claiming that "you cannot outrun a bad diet". This editorial (not a research study) has spawned a media frenzy of posts that presumably confirm that exercise is worthless in weight loss. Study says exercise doesn't help with weight loss Science says exercise isn't actually helping lose weight Going to the gym isn't helping you lose weight Exercise doesn't promote weight loss: Research Secret to weight...
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4511 Hits

Does Exercise Make You Eat More?

Does Exercise Make You Eat More?
We know that physical activity is a key component to successful weight loss and maintenance, especially when paired with healthy food (energy) intake. However, some research suggests that differences in weight loss might be explained (at least partially) by an increase in energy intake to compensate for the energy expenditure of physical activity. 2 So, does exercise cause us to eat more? To see if this is true or not, recent interest has focused on the...
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5131 Hits

Is Mall Walking Good Exercise?

Is Mall Walking Good Exercise?
We have all seen them before, pacing the perimeter of the mall in a tight-laced pair of walking shoes. I have personally been lapped, twice, by a mall walker at Post Oak Mall in College Station, Texas. Mall walking hit a peak of popularity in the 1990s, yet is quickly coming back as a popular choice for physical activity. I am happy to see it's revival, but can mall walking be of any benefit? Mall Walking...
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10904 Hits

Calories and Cardio Machines: Are They Lying to You?

Calories and Cardio Machines: Are They Lying to You?
Tis the season for cardio machines to be full – inspired by new year's resolutions or guilt from holiday splurges. With no time to dissect the motivational or emotional aspects of these efforts, I turn attention to the virtue of honesty. Are cardio machines lying to you when estimating energy expenditure (calories) from a workout? I will focus on treadmills and ellipticals. Prediction Equations: How They Work All cardio machines depend on equations  to 'predict' how...
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6238 Hits

Does Running Cause Saggy Breasts?

Does Running Cause Saggy Breasts?
You might be surprised how much I have been asked this question. I know I am! Some of these women who do ask (no men have asked me yet) have unfortunately eliminated running or excessive walking from their daily routine, in fear of getting saggy breasts. What Does the Research Say? There is no current evidence to support the notion that running CAUSES sagging (ptosis) of the breasts. No studies have directly correlated breast sagging with...
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13802 Hits

Elliptical Handles: Cheating Calorie Burn?

Elliptical Handles: Cheating Calorie Burn?
The latest myth to be brought to my attention is one of the top 10 exercise cheats "that blow your calorie burn." — holding onto the handles while doing the elliptical machine. Since this made the top 10 of all exercise cheats, get ready to see a bunch of people in the gym refusing to hold on to the handles while doing their cardio! The Health.com article, which was re-posted by Yahoo! states: " ...hanging on...
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8907 Hits

Walking is a Great Way to Lose Weight

Walking is a Great Way to Lose Weight
A recent video and article by Yahoo! with a "fitness expert" complied the 5 biggest workout myths. Myth #1 – Walking is a great way to lose weight. In other words, this fitness expert, based on her expertise, is saying that walking is NOT a great way to lose weight. However, if she were to look at the research, she may have come to a different conlusion regarding this myth. Let us bust her attempt to...
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6418 Hits

Does Muscle Turn to Fat?

Does Muscle Turn to Fat?

There is thought that if we stop exercising, our muscle will turn to fat. Or if we start exercising again, our fat will turn back into muscle. Just as we cannot turn apples into oranges, we cannot turn muscle into fat (or vice versa).
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3556 Hits

Are My Genes to Blame?

Are My Genes to Blame?
Recent media attention has been given to scientific discoveries which may suggest that a person is ‘genetically predisposed’ to being fat or lazy. Indeed, our laboratory recently published a scientific paper using rats, suggesting that genetics and gene products can contribute (key word) to laziness 1 . This report garnered a good bit of media attention, which led to message board posts such as, “now I can blame my genes for not wanting to get off...
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3314 Hits

Spot Losing Fat

Spot Losing Fat
If I had to rank the most common fallacies in the health and fitness industry, "spot losing fat" would be at the top. Also, millions of dollars are spent every year on products that claim to do it. So, let's learn why we can save our money. What is Spot Loss? The theory of spot loss (aka. 'spot reduction' or 'targeted fat loss') states that if we exercise a specific muscle, then the fat that sits...
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5558 Hits
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