Another reason to exercise: It’s good for your brain. That’s hardly a revelation. Anyone who exercises knows, for instance, that even a short 30-minute workout can boost your mood for the rest of the day. But just how extensive the relationship is between exercise and your brain may come as a surprise. That relationship is the subject of “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, $24.99, Little, Brown and Company. In addition to being a mood enhancer, the book explores how exercise can among other things, relieve stress, diffuse anxiety, help you focus, regulate hormones and grow brain cells. (The book isn’t new; it’s been out nearly two years. It’s just new to GGNC.) Haven’t gotten a copy yet; I will and will report periodically on what I learn. You can reviews in August 2008 issue of Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, and at Blogcrtics.org.
Category Archives: Health
Getting the most from your RMR allotment
Yesterday, we chatted with dietician Kara Mitchell about the importance of knowing your Resting Metabolic Rate, the number of calories your body needs to carry on such basic functions as breathing, pumping blood, growing new cells. Go below that number and your body will think it’s in trouble, switch into survival mode and burn fewer calories to perform such tasks.
Not losing weight? Maybe you’re not eating enough
So it’s, what, day 13 of the New Year — And I haven’t lost a pound despite the fact I’ve been starving myself!!!
That, says Kara Mitchell, a dietician and director of the Fitness Program at the Duke Health and Fitness Center in Durham, may well be your problem. “The biggest mis-conception for weight loss is that the more you deprive yourself, the more weight you lose. But that does not help you lose body weight.”
Weekend plans? (Other than freezing?)
Not sure about you, but sometimes when the temperature isn’t supposed to get much above freezing I need a little extra incentive to get out and get going. Like Saturday’s “Kickoff to a Healthy New Year” event planned for the American Tobacco Trail in southern Wake County. They’ve got all sorts of events planned to keep you warm. Rex UNC Health Care will offer free health screenings, nutrition advice and — this is the part that’ll keep you warm — exercises. Wake County Parks will lead guided nature walks, the Triangle Off Road Cyclists will lead guided bike rides, Harmony Studios in Apex will lead a Yoga demo (alas, not Bikram), the NC Geocachers will lead a search and discover mission — all kinds of ways to keep … well, from freezing.
Coexisting with cold air
The temperature in Raleigh just hit 40! Woo-hoo! Alas, this heat wave isn’t expected to last. Light snow is predicted for Thursday, it’s barely supposed to get above freezing over the weekend. Thus, we bring you more tips — in the form of recommended reading — on exercising in the cold.