Some recommended reading, viewing and listening, especially for those of you who have recently renewed your efforts to lose weight and get in shape.

Reading

“How to lose 10 Pounds in Your 30s, 40s and 50s,” Health.com. It’s not your imagination, losing weight becomes more of a challenge as you age. For one thing, your metabolism slows. For another … well, read the article.

“Exercise Improves Fat Metabolism in Muscle But Does Not Increase 24-h Fat Oxidation,” Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. In this study appearing in the April 2009 journal of the American
College of Sports Medicine, researchers were surprised to discover that moderate exercise did not rev up one’s metabolism. The study focused on the short-term (24 hours) impact on moderate exercise (in one case, riding a stationary bike for less than an hour). The study did not look into how metabolism was affected by more intense exercise over a longer period. Read a non-technical report on the study here.

“Winter Exercise Can Lift Your Spirits,” National Institutes of Health’s Medline. “Not only can physical activity lift your spirits during days of limited sunlight,” say the folks at the NIH, “it can help make sure you’re in good shape when it’s time to pull out those shorts and bathing suits again.” Tips on working out in the cold, too.

Viewing

“Exercise and Brainpower,” HealthDay TV, National Institutes of Health. A study of 18-year-old Swedish men entering the military shows that those in better cardio vascular health scored better on cognitive tests. Other interesting ties between physical fitness and mental acuity in this short video.

Listening

“Man Outruns Obesity After Boss’s Ribbing,” National Public Radio, Jan. 1, Morning Edition, Storycorps project. Antonio Douglas weighed 275 pounds when he went to work for 70-year-old Frank Lynch (pictured together above). Lynch suggested Douglas could stand to lose some weight, so he challenged the 45-year-old to a race. Listen to what happened next.