Endorphins, HGH and the Scale

Girl, Look at That Body...

I work out!

I try to workout 6 times a week. Yes, six and sometimes seven... Know that six times in one week may be out of reach right now for some of you but you can get there. Some of you may even say, UGH, I don't WANT to workout 6 times in one week OR I don't have TIME to workout that much, etc. Here's what I do now: If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse. For ME, it's important and not just because I want to look good. I want to FEEL good. Regular exercise releases endorphins (a chemical in your body that makes you feel happier). **Check out the WebMD article on endorphins and depression! 

This morning, I sat down for some coffee (a splurge at $3 a cup) with a friend of mine. Amongst other things, we talked about health and fitness and the fact that as we age, it's harder to see the fat melt off. 

Unfortunately as we age, our metabolism slows down due to the decrease in the production of HGH (Human Growth Hormone). HGH is responsible for increasing metabolism and it occurs when we are in deep sleep SO... rest up and soak up what HGH you do produce however don't be too upset; HGH can also be produced during weight training 

providing further evidence that this is an important aspect to your fitness regimen. In addition, eating 6 small meals a day will encourage your metabolism to be more consistent throughout the day therefore burning fuel more efficiently. The science behind eating more often is simple. When we eat inconsistently (I.E. skip breakfast, small lunch, big dinner, etc.) our blood sugar fluctuates which also throws off our insulin production from the pancreas. Here comes the mood swings, the dizziness, blurred vision, etc. <--- Man, oh man, did I have all those! In conjunction with those symptoms, our BMR (basal metabolic rate) slows down since our bodies aren't sure when we'll be eating again. The great thing about BMR is that it's not stationary. We can influence our BMR by eating smaller meals more often and by exercise. I'm sure you've all heard that muscle weighs more than fat... Well, that's true BUT muscle burns roughly 25% more calories than fat and recently, I've learned that what my scale says is not necessarily what matters most. Sure, gravity loves me. I don't care. What I DO care about is that my clothes are fitting better than ever and I feel great. 

The ball is in your court. If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If not, I guess you'll find an excuse. 

Think. Work. Achieve. The choice is yours.