Does Sweating Help You Loose Weight?

Quite often I see people exercising while dressed as tough they are ready to go camping in Alaska. Many people believe that wearing excess clothing while working out helps them lose weight faster. This is a great misunderstanding.

Heavy clothing may make your body perspire more rapidly. However, sweat does not impact permanent weight loss. Your body sweats as a means of regulating your body temperature, so that you do not overheat. Any weight you may loose from this process is a result of the water that has been excreted from your body.

Water makes up about 60 % of your body weight. It is necessary for your body to breathe, grow, digest, and excrete waste. The water that you excrete in the form of sweat will eventually need to be replaced by drinking extra fluids after a workout. Thus, any water weight that is lost from sweating is only temporary.

Your body can permanently lose weight by burning calories. Calories are energy that is used up by your metabolism, through metabolic activity. Metabolic activity occurs both naturally, through inner body activities (such as breathing and digestion) and supernaturally, through external physical exercises (such as walking and running).

Some activities burn more calories (energy) then others. Sweating actually does burn calories, because your body uses calories (energy) to maintain your body temperature. However, your body actually burns more calories (energy) when it is attempting to keep your body warm then when it is attempting to cool your body down.

Sweating also leaves people feeling uncomfortable, thereby increasing their likelihood of prolonging fitness activities for longer durations of time. So, forget about trying to, “Sweat off,” the weight. Leave your snow suites at home and opt for a more efficient, and much healthier workout, by dressing comfortably.

Click here http://www.thebrainmuscleworkout.com/sky_workout.html to see 7 exercises that you can do to kick your metabolism into gear and really burn those calories!

Catch Some Zzz's to put your whole body at ease.: Why is Sleep So Important for Your Brain?

Whoever coined the slogan, “You snooze, you lose,” was definitely not referring to people with fitness goals. Most individuals are aware that following a healthy diet and getting an adequate amount of exercise are essential to a healthy lifestyle. However, many neglect to accept the fact that diet, exercise, and rest, all work hand in hand.

Sleep gives our bodies time to heal. Sleep helps us stay more alert throughout the day. Sleep also allows us to achieve higher levels of performance during exercise. Moreover, according to the Better Sleep Council (BSC), individuals who get adequate sleep are more likely to engage in higher intensity workouts. Yet, sleep isn’t just good for our bodies. Sleep is also good for our brains!

Those who are familiar with the internal functions of body and the brain know that, our actions are a result of the internal communications made between the brain and the central nervous system. Sleep isn’t just essential to our eyes and our muscles. Sleep is also needed to regenerate certain parts of the brain, so that it may continue to function properly.
Neurons are the parts of our body that send messages to our brains. Neurons are what control our speech, our movements, and even our emotions. After long periods of sleep depravation, neurons may begin to malfunction which may ultimately have a negative impact on person’s physical and mental behaviors.

Interestingly enough, exercise and sleep appear to go hand in hand. Doctors who treat patients with insomnia and other sleeping disorders, often prescribe exercise as a means of regulating sleep patterns. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that individuals who suffer from sleep deprivation introduce at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise into their daily routine.
So what does this all mean? If exercise is the box and dieting, the wrapping, be sure to include a shiny ribbon (ENOUGH SLEEP) to give your body the complete package.

For more information on neurons and how they impact the brain, visit:
http://www.thebrainmuscleworkout.com/neuron.html

5 Tips to Salvage Your Diet While Dining Out

Planning to dine out but afraid to destroy your diet? Here are 5 simple things you can do to help you salvage your weight loss goals!

1. Share. Group dining is a great way to sample foods that may not be diet approved without causing you to botch your diet by consuming too much of the foods you should be limiting.
2. Plan for leftovers. Before you even view your entrée, commit your mind to the decision that you will bring some of your entrée home. Eat slowly and, as soon as you begin to feel satisfied, request that the rest of your entrée be packed for home. This will prevent you from eating too much, all at once.
3. Loose the bread plate. If you give up your bread plate in advance, you will be less likely to reach for a slice of bread and since you know you are going to be ordering an entrée, avoiding the bread will help you save room for more nutritious food options.
4. Skip the dressing and put the sauces on the side. In many cases, restaurants pack the majority of calories they induce into their foods, into the sauces that glaze and coat them. One serving of a garden salad at The Olive Garden, for example, is about 120 calories without dressing, and 350 calories with! Save yourself the extra cardio by requesting lighter options.
5. Don’t even look at the dessert menu. A kid doesn’t ask for candy, unless it’s waved in front of his face. Avoid the temptation of indulging in dessert, by rejecting the option of seeing what the restaurant offers.

For more information on dieting and weight-loss, visit http://www.thebrainmuscleworkout.com/nutrition.html

No Pain, No Gain???

It doesn’t surprise me why many people cringe when they hear me say the word, exercise. After all, today’s society is currently inundated with work-out philosophies that embrace a, “No pain, no gain,” mindset. As a result, so many individuals are turned off by the idea of exercise. They rule themselves out of the group of people who are expected to benefit from exercise.



I’ve heard, all too many times, the phrases, “I can’t do that,” “I’m too old for that,” “I don’t have time to exercise,” and, “I’m just too exhausted to work out.” For some, these may be excuses. To others, they are truths. In either case, they are wrong!



When I work out, I feel great. My attitude, my self esteem, my energy, and my mental acuity all skyrocket! No matter how busy I am, no matter how old I get, and no matter how exhausted I feel, I know that I will always have room in my life for my workout. I know this because I am committed to a workout routine that does not pain me. My workout routine supports me!



My workouts don't call for the shed of blood, sweat, and tears. I don't stop my routines by fainting, crying, or panting so hard that I can't breathe. My workouts call for focus. The power I achieve comes from within. The secret is within my brain. Most astonishingly, I actually walk away from my workouts with a smile!



Fitness is not for anybody. Fitness is for everybody! Whether your personal goal is to increase your energy, improve your attitude, lose weight, maintain weight, or maintain excellent health, fitness can help get you there. A workout shouldn’t be measured by minutes or miles. A workout should be measured by mental sensation.



To provide this mental sensation, you need to start training your brain. Begin to concentrate on your work out. Add that needed concentration by adapting simultaneous muscular activities into your workout routine. A workout that integrates such movements can be done by people of all ages and all fitness types. These actions will challenge you, not defeat you.



Don’t let your workout get the best of you. Let yourself get the best of your workout!



Click the following link to learn six exercises which can provide you with a brief workout routine that is both mentally challenging and physically satisfying.

http://www.thebrainmuscleworkout.com/redbook.html



Don't forget to keep an eye out for a FABULOUS upcoming book on the subject of Fitness and the Brain, written by founder, Michael Gonzalez-Wallace and titled, "Super Body Super Brain," soon to be released May 10th, 2010!!!