Fitness Pudding - Where The Proof Is

Claims are made that radiofrequency, a form of high‐frequency electromagnetic energy, as from radios, cellphones and microwaves, can heat fat cells enough to activate lypolysis, or their breakdown into fatty acids and glycerol. If not consumed for energy, they will be converted back to storage or accumulate in the liver. Despite a recent research review that concluded there is “little evidence to prove [these] effects of [radiofrequency] on adipose tissue,” 1 the idea still persists that...

There are two types of ‘belly fat’. The type under our skin (subcutaneous), although maligned, likely holds little to no disease risk. The other type (visceral) hidden deep inside the belly holds high disease risk. It creeps into and around our organs, including our heart. Yikes. Studies have found that both exercise and dieting (typically restricting calories by 500 per day) help decrease both types of belly fat to about the same degree in adults classified...

Headlines tease an exercise can improve sexual functioning, because this study survey found that high-intensity cyclists who cycle an average of 25 miles, more than 3 times per week, had a slightly higher mean on each of these sexual function domains than non-cyclists (swimmers and runners).  Before you run out to buy a bike and tights – being a one time survey, we cannot conclude that cycling will improve sexual functioning. Perhaps women with higher sexual...

Bone Fat? Spot losing fat has been busted, but recommendations still persist that we can beat everything from belly fat to back fat with exercise. Now, we can possibly beat bone fat with exercise? Wait, our bones can be fat? We have already seen that our tongues can be fat, so maybe bone fat is a possibility. At first glance, it might appear that too much bone fat is related to the “big bone” myth, but...

With chocolate milk suggested as a possible post-workout drink, with both protein and carbohydrate, researchers set out to determine the acute changes in testosterone and isometric strength with some post-exercise chocolate cow’s and goat’s milk. 1 Twelve, healthy college-aged men performed a back squat consisting of 5 sets of 8 reps over three separate exercise trials. After each trial, they drank either 1 cup of cow’s milk, 1.5 cups of goat’s milk, or 1.5 cups of...

At the request of Ms. Rachel Nanez, we are tackling this question. Here was her text to me: “Heard this on the radio this morning...'whole body vibrators, the new way to lose weight without exercising!’ Apparently there was a study done using rats, and they lost all this weight with body vibrators.” Vibrating Mice Once I shook the visual of vibrating mice, I looked into it. The buzz was most likely related to this study that...

"Which is better, exercising in the morning or the evening?" My common response to this question has always been, "Whenever you will do it," because the first step to seeing positive results of exercise - whether in the morning or evening - is actually exercising. I have also noticed that exercising in the morning, for many, looks great 'on paper'. I will get up early, get my workout finished, shower, get ready for work, and enjoy...

A CNN blog recently revisited the tantalizing myth that sex is a workout. It must be circulating pretty well right now on social media, as I have been asked by several people if this is true or not. The article is referring to a 2013 publication from the New England Journal of Medicine entitled Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity , written by a prestigious group of experts. Myth #7 states "A bout of sexual activity...

Have you ever felt the urge to reward yourself with food after a workout? Many do. Some might be choosing their food choices off how many calories were "burned" during their workout. For some, being able to eat what they want is a reason they exercise in the first place. Clearly, such a mentality is in opposition to the goal of healthy eating. We have already discussed the  conflicting caloric estimations of cardio machines . In...

This morning, I waved to my little girl, as my wife drove away to drop her off at her first day of school. When they were out of waving distance, I said a quick prayer, and grabbed another cup of coffee before sitting down at the computer to get through all I needed to do today - mostly writing at the computer. As nerdy as it sounds, there was some excitement thinking about the free hours...