fit info

Is there a fitness subject that you would like to know more about? If so, email me at cpkarkow@sportswestreno.com and let me know! I'll be happy to find out some info and post it here!
Christine

Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine

August 19, 2007

Ok, here is another issue that people constantly question me on: Spot Reduction. I can't tell you how many times people on the floor ask me questions such as "if I do a whole bunch of these leg adductions, will that get rid of this fat on my thighs?" or, "I've been doing 300 sit-ups every day and I still have this big stomach! Why isn't it working?" Well, the answer is because there is no such thing as spot reduction! This week's article backs me up!-Christine

Spot Reduction Exercises are Not Effective

Many people believe that if they do enough sit-ups they will get rid of belly fat, but your body does not work that way. Exercising a specific muscle does not get rid of more fat over that muscle in comparison to the rest of your body. If it did, tennis players would have less fat in their tennis arms, and this does not happen. Strength training strengthens weak muscles, but it cannot remove fat specifically over the strengthened muscle.

A recent study from the University of Connecticut showed that men who exercised one arm against heavy resistance for 12 weeks appeared to lose more fat in their exercised arm than their inactive one when fat was measured by a caliper that calculated skin thickness (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, July 2007). However, when the same authors used an MRI machine to measure fat underneath the skin, there was no difference between the exercised and non- exercised arms.

When you take in more calories than your body burns, you store the extra calories as fat. More than half of the fat in your body is stored underneath your skin and over your muscles. Your stomach will look better when your belly muscles are strong, but sit-ups or crunches will not remove extra fat from your belly. The only way to lose fat from a specific part of your body is to lose weight overall.

From Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine www.drmirkin.com This is a great website for all issues concerning health and fitness. Plus, a wealth of healthy, delicious recipes!

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