cortisol levels
Your muscles use fat as their primary fuel source during low to moderate intensity exercise. That’s the “fat burning” effect of exercise. Fat cells also have other functions that impact your risk for obesity and other health problems. Some research shows regular exercise helps fat cells function more effectively to release stored fat. Find out how fat cells are impacted by physical activity.
Cortisol has an important function – but too much of it makes it harder to control body fat, especially tummy fat. Discover factors that can elevate your cortisol levels and work against you when you’re trying to stay slim and how to correct them.
You may have heard that you’ll burn more fat if you do cardio in a fasted state, first thing in the morning. Is there any truth to this idea? Most importantly is it likely to help you achieve your fitness goals? Get the full scoop on fasted cardio.
What changes happen to your metabolism when you restrict calories too much to speed up weight loss? Find out how calorie restriction impacts hormones that control your metabolic rate and appetite and how to avoid a significant metabolic slowdown when you’re trying to lose body fat.
You slept very little last night and feel exhausted. Still, you feel obligated to fit in a workout. Should you exercise when you’re sleep-deprived or take a day off? Find out why it’s better to rest and recover for a day rather than “push through” a workout when you’re feeling exhausted.
Think you’re immune to type 2 diabetes because you’re thin? Not necessarily so. Type 2 diabetes is on the rise and even normal weight and thin people can get it. Find out why thinner people get type 2 diabetes and how to lower your risk.
What you eat after exercise and when you eat it matters. It may also affect the results you get from your strength-training workout. Here are four reasons why it’s important to eat a protein and carb meal as soon as your workout is over.
Are you struggling to lose body fat and build lean body mass? It may not be your diet or the way you’re exercising. Another factor that can affect your body composition is an elevated cortisol level. Here are five things that increase cortisol levels and make it harder to get into shape.
All types of exercise help to relieve stress and anxiety, but according to a recent study, yoga may do it the best. Find out why yoga practice may be the best form of exercise for improving mood.
Although intuitively you might think stress would cause weight loss, often the opposite is true. Stress can cause weight gain and redistribution with more fat settling around your tummy and waistline. Have you ever wondered why stress causes weight gain? Here are three reasons why and steps you can take to prevent stress-related weight gain.
Oh, that pesky belly fat. One kind makes it harder to zip up your jeans, but the type you really have to worry about is visceral abdominal fat that lies deeper. Two hormones make it harder to fight the battle of the abdominal bulge – cortisol and insulin. Find out how these hormones affect belly fat and what you can do to help keep them in check.
Exercise and nutrition aren’t the only factors that are important for building lean body mass. Sleep is too. Find out how lack of sleep affects muscle building and fat loss, and how much sleep you need to get the most benefits from your fitness program.
