FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog » Brain Power

Power of the Mind – Much Stronger Than Your Biceps!

FitBuff Brandon — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:00:36 +0000

For years, researchers and exercisers alike have spoken about the power of the mind as it relates to exercise and overall health.

The assertion is that by merely focusing on a particular muscle or group of muscles while you work them (for example, if you are doing squats, you would focus on your leg muscles), you will stimulate a greater amount of muscle activity and potential growth than if your mind was on, say, that presentation you have to do for the board of directors tomorrow morning.

If you're a longtime FitBuff reader, you may remember I've personally experienced the power of mind over muscle in one of my workouts when I lifted 50 pounds with my mind!

The same principle has been shown effective in the treatment of illnesses and diseases, as well as general improvements in your overall health.

Power of the Mind – Harvard Study

Harvard scientists put this theory to task by explaining to a group of forty housekeepers that their work keeps them in shape. Then, they chose another group of forty housekeepers to study, only they did not say anything to these people.

Four weeks later, the researchers found that the group that were told that their work was keeping them fit actually lost an average of 2 pounds and reduced their body fat, BMI, blood pressure, and even their waist size.

The other group — the housekeepers to whom the researchers said nothing — showed no sign of physical change.

Without a change of diet, exercise program, or anything else, the mere thought that their work was making the forty informed housekeepers healthier actually made it come true.

This clearly supports the power of the mind, in addition to giving some credence to all that mumbo-jumbo you've been reading in books like "The Secret" (although, many of these resources conveniently leave out the fact that ACTION is still a very necessary supplement to the power of positive thinking).

Average Men – How Do You Measure Up?

FitBuff Brandon — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:05:31 +0000

If you just wanted to be like other average men, you probably wouldn't be reading this website.

In fact, your loathing and/or fear of mediocrity, combined with your ambition to be faster, stronger, and smarter than mere mortals, are all part of what keep you reading men's magazines and websites like this one.

Be that all as it may, however, the possibility still exists that you may be — dare I say it — average. Or — even worse! — less than average.

The only way to truly find out is to put yourself to the test. The following is a list of traits, compiled from a variety of data sources (including the U.S. Census Bureau), that list some known averages for average men:

age: 34 years old, weight: 175lbs and height: 5'9 1/2. Letâ€™s see how you measure up!

The Average Guy Canâ€¦

Do 27 push-ups in one minute
Run 1.5 miles in 12:51
Complete 36 sit-ups in one minute
Bench Press 158 pounds one time
Throw a football 50 yards

The Average Guy Alsoâ€¦

Has sex 1.5 times per week (79 times per year) and lasts 14 minutes
Has an erect penis length between 5.5 and 6.2 inches
Enjoys a total of 12.4 sex partners in his lifetime
Earns around $36,100 per year
Is married with two children and has $3,100 in the bank
Has a 13-inch flexed bicep

The Average Guy Consumesâ€¦

3.3 cups of coffee a day
1.2 alcoholic drinks a day
26 pounds of beef per year
16 pounds of cheese per year
19 pizza pies per year

Whereabouts on the Average Men scale did you end up falling? My guess is that you're probably above-average on most, if not all, of the above referenced listings, because, on average, men who read fitness websites and magazines are more fit than men who do not.

Can You Understand the World's Fastest Talking Woman?

FitBuff Brandon — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:00:28 +0000

A new study about speech recognition in the newest issue of Neuron reminded me of a video I saw on HealthBolt.

You may think your wife or girlfriend talks your head off sometimes, and you try your best to nod and make conversational grunts while keeping your mind firmly focused on the final two minutes of the big game.

But, imagine being married to Fran Cappo, the world's fastest talking woman. After watching her real-life motor mouth, your significant other's will suddenly seem much more bearable.

This Discovery Channel video is a fascinating look into just how her brain processes information so fast and how she's able to speak and comprehend speech at a near superhuman level.

How to Be Happy: 10 Mood-Boosting Moves

FitBuff Brandon — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:47:30 +0000

Every once in a while, we all feel a little down in the dumps. Relationships, bills, deadlines, and more can overwhelm even the most confident and grounded individuals.

So, what do you do when you come down with a case of the blues?

If you want to know how to be happy and get the quick "pick-me-up" you need during those cloudy times, try using these 10 mood-boosting moves:

Ginger and Broccoli – Research shows that this combination can temporarily relieve depression. Order up some ginger chicken and broccoli from your favorite Chinese restaurant, but watch out for those high-sodium sauces and sides.
Sugary Sour – Sure, sugar is sweet, but the same isn't necessarily true for those who eat it. Simple carbs and processed foods have been shown to increase rates of anxiety and depression. Cut out the sweets, and you'll start looking slimmer and healthier too, which can only improve your mood.
Road Trip – It doesn't have to be quite as wild and crazy as the same-named movie, but get out there and enjoy a weekend road trip with a friend or significant other.
Ditch It – Go through your most cluttered rooms and closet and get rid of all your "crap." If you really think about some of the things you have collecting dust or the truckloads of clothes you will never wear again, you will be amazed at how much you can toss. You don't have to trash it. Try having a yard sale or listing on eBay. Either way, your life and mind will feel re-energized and clutter free.
Smile – That's right, it may seem like the simplest advice of all, but just smile. It's hard to feel sad with a big grin pasted on your face, even when it's forced. In fact, studies have proven that the act of smiling can instantly trigger "feel-good" hormones in your body.
Move to the Groove – Exercise can truly be a full-body workout, from your brain to your toes. Besides the obvious and significant benefits to your physical health, going for a run or lifting weights can take your mind off things and help you relax.
If you still can't escape the rain clouds, try these four other how to be happy tips…

If you've tried all of these and still can't turn that frown upside down, then it may be time to look for professional help. The right doctor can help identify the root of the problem and recommend lifestyle changes to get things back on track, rather than just writing you off as another hopelessly depressed patient and prescribing a bottle of pills.

What are some of your personal how to be happy tips?

Negativity is Contagious, Are You Immune?

FitBuff Brandon — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:57:51 +0000

We all like to think that we make our own decisions based on our own beliefs and opinions. But, just how much do other people's opinions affect our own?

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research says we aren't quite as independent-minded as we think. Not only can others' negative opinions of a product or service sway us from good to bad, but even from bad to worse (maybe Britney's performance really wasn't that bad — no, it was!).

Consumer attitudes toward products and services are frequently influenced by others around them. Social networks, such as those found on Myspace and Facebook suggest that these influences will continue to be significant drivers of individual consumer attitudes as society becomes more inter-connected," explain Adam Duhachek, Shuoyang Zhang, and Shanker Krishnan (all of Indiana University). "Our research seeks to understand the conditions where group influence is strongest."

Participants were first given information on new products with no outside opinions or reviews to influence them. Naturally, some participants liked the product and gave positive reviews, while others disliked the product and gave negative reviews.

However, when they learned how their peers evaluated the products, many of their opinions changed. Negative outside feedback provided a stronger influence than positive outside feedback.

For example, when a consumer learned that their peers disliked a product that they had just given a positive review, they were much more likely to change their mind and view the product in a more negative light. The reverse happened much less often (a negative reviewer liking a product based on positive peer reviews).

"This research has several interesting implications. First, given the strong influence of negative information, marketers may need to expend extra resources to counter-act the effects of negative word of mouth in online chatrooms, blogs and in offline media. Conversely, companies could damage the reputations of competitors by disseminating negative information online," the researchers explain. "Consumers should be aware that these social influence biases exist and are capable of significantly impacting their perceptions."

So, even if you don't consciously recognize it, you may be basing your decisions of what brands and products to buy based on the endorsement, or even unfounded criticism, of other consumers.

This could explain the polarized "fan boy" and "hater" groups involved in the great debates of "Playstation vs. Xbox" or "Mac vs. PC" and so on.

Which begs the question: Are you a Playstation or Xbox, and a Mac or PC?

What Do Chocolate Cravings Say About You?

FitBuff Brandon — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:49:40 +0000

Anyone who isn't allergic — or an alien — has had numerous chocolate cravings at some point. Perfectly normal, right? Probably, but do you crave the brown when you're feeling down?

A new Australian study says that those who crave chocolate when depressed are usually more neurotic (anxious, obsessive, compulsive) than those who don't indulge.

In a survey of nearly 3000 people, 54 percent said they got food cravings when depressed, with 45 percent specifically craving chocolate.

Further analysis showed that irritability and rejection sensitivity were the only two significant predictors of chocolate cravings. Those identified as chocolate cravers had higher scores for appetite increase, weight gain, sensitivity to rejection, oversleeping, and limbs feeling 'heavy like lead'.

The researchers were surprised to find a link between the two seemingly unrelated subjects: chocolate cravings and personality style.

Are you an "emotional eater"?

Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival #14

FitBuff Brandon — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:47:04 +0000

Monday is Blog Carnivals Day. A Blog Carnival is basically a collection of articles or blog posts, all relating to a similar subject, that are gathered together for your viewing pleasure. You can quickly and conveniently see a list of Article Titles and click on the ones that interest you to read the full post. Blog carnivals are a great way to see a wide variety of ideas and opinions on a similar subject. To see a list of all previous posts in the Blog Carnivals category, click here.

Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

Paul Cox presents 10 Ways To Improve Your Memory posted at Excel Training & Consulting.

edithyeung presents Be The Best at Just One Thing posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

John Hill presents Magic Healing Power of Your Subconscious Mind posted at Universe Of Success.

Eugene Thong presents Become an Educated Consumer! posted at ETF Wellness – A Personal Training Blog., saying, "How to decode confusing and contradictory media headlines on health topics."

Dating

John Hill presents How to Attract a Girlfriend posted at Attracting People.com.

David presents What Kind of Man Turns you Off in a Nightclub? posted at Music Career Success, saying, "What Kind of Man Turns you Off in a Nightclub?"

Exercise

Tupelo Kenyon presents Facing Fear Eye to Eye posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Eye to eye with a bear while fishing alone is a good lesson in fear, awareness, panic and the law of attraction. It's one thing to wax philosophically about such things, but to be up close and personal with a large, healthy bear in his domain puts personal development ideas to the test in the real world. (Enjoy soothing instrumental music as you read plus songs with lyrics related to each article â€“ all free.)"

John presents How to Get a Big Wide Muscular Back posted at Muscular-Fitness.

John Hill presents Get Bigger Biceps and Triceps for Hardgainers posted at Big-Arms.com.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness and Weight Loss:The importance of warming up posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness:How long should i rest between my stes? posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Andrew Edgington presents What is the Future for Bodybuilders? (Part 2) posted at Mick.

Aparna presents Water therapy for insomnia and headache posted at Beauty & Personality Grooming, saying, "While water is vital for the internal functioning of your body, itâ€™s also of great value when used on the outside! Did you know that water can actually be used for treating insomnia and to provide relief from headaches? Read on to find out!"

Family

Bill Urell presents Are You Unknowingly Sleeping Next To An Alcoholic Or Drug Addict? posted at Addiction Recovery Basics.

Alex Blackwell presents Finding My Value in Spite of Relationships posted at The Next 45 Years.

Money

Millionaire Mommy Next Door presents The Powerful (and Addictive) Nature of Giving posted at Millionaire Mommy Next Door, saying, "I've come up with an idea that has me covered in goosebumps every time I think about it. And that's a feeling I want to pass on."

Kevin Surbaugh presents About My Medical Problems posted at Becoming & Staying Debt Free.

Nutrition

Rajni Sharma presents How Coconut Oil Benefits Your Health: And Why Nobody Told You! posted at Simple Tips on Health and Fitness.

Rob presents The Koda Kumi Diet; eating your way to weight-loss posted at Dusk and Dawn, saying, "This is a short article about a small change I've made in my life that has been having a continuous, positive effect on my health."

Dean presents Top Ten Fast Food Meals That Make You Fat posted at Mr. Cheap Stuff, saying, "Don't eat these fast food meals."

TheNourisher presents Nourishing the Liver posted at Nourished Magazine.

James presents Diet Loss For those Flat sexy ABS posted at J.V Sports and other news.

Sohail presents Sugar Beverages: Drinks of Mass Destruction? posted at The HealthBlogger, saying, "Sugar Beverages: Drinks of Mass Destruction?"

Nneka presents How to Stop Eating Compulsively posted at Balanced Life Center.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness:Drinking Raw Eggs posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Work

Daylle Deanna Schwartz presents Making Your Mistakes Count posted at Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat, saying, "Thanks for the opportunity to submit my article! As a former doormat who evolved into a successful author and speaker, I'm delighted to share my lessons with others."

Paul Cox presents 8 Steps for Making a Change In Your Life posted at Excel Training & Consulting.

edithyeung presents Should I Refer You? posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

Be sure to tune in every Monday for the next Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival, and if you want to submit your own article for inclusion, click here before midnight (eastern time) on Sunday.

Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival #13

FitBuff Brandon — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:00:53 +0000

Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Fitness Program 2.0, MindFit, and much more on Brain Training posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Review and commentary on several New York Times articles related to "brain training""

Tristan presents Creating a Winning Mindset With Hypnosis posted at The Synergy Institute, saying, "In this article, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Steve G. Jones, explains how to create a winning mindset with the tools of hypnosis."

Dating

John Hill presents How to Attract Love posted at Attracting People.com.

Exercise

seanjames presents Building Muscle: How is it really done? posted at Practical Jokes, Blogging Tips, Adsense, Insurance and Phew!!, saying, "This is a free article I found on the net. I like it and would like to share it to fellow health buffs…"

Andrew Edgington presents What is the Future for Bodybuilders? (Part 1) posted at Mick.

John Hill presents The Best Way To Burn Fat posted at Universe Of Success.

John Hill presents Consistency Builds Big Arms posted at Big-Arms.com.

John presents Calf Training Tips For Real Growth posted at Muscular-Fitness.

Paul Piotrowski presents Microaction as a Success Tool posted at Self Help Wisdom . com.

Zoe Anderson presents Pilates Words, Terms, and Glossary posted at thinkpilates.com, saying, "Pilates terms that will help you integrate with ease into a pilates based form of exercise. Also included are ways to get started with pilates. Enjoy!"

Cindy Posey presents Limited on Space: Try this Mini-Workout | Go Workout Mom posted at Go Workout Mom, saying, "With a jump rope or not, you can fit in a quality workout in any space. Limited on space and time, this workout with make the most of both!"

Grooming

Aparna presents Beauty and Personality Grooming: Homemade packs for darkened necks posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming.

Nutrition

Kara-Leah Masina presents Is unconscious fear making it hard for you to lose weight? posted at K-L Masina, saying, "Weight loss is about so much more than will-power – it's essentially all about what's going on in the mind and in the emotions. Unlock those issues and the weight will melt away."

Toni presents Good mornings with Lemon Water posted at Wifely Steps, saying, "A glass of warm lemon water is a great way to start your day — it's cleansing, zesty and super healthy!"

Talia Mana presents What's the difference between overeating and bingeing? posted at Centre for Emotional Well-Being, saying, "Guidelines to help you identify when overeating becomes bingeing or binge eating disorder."

Curtis Penner presents How I Used Food To Beat Depression posted at Be Fit And Strong, saying, "Sitting in the waiting room of my family doctor – waiting for a routine check-up, a poster on the wall scared me half to death. It readâ€¦"

Lynda Lippin presents Eat Less & Lose More-Why Counting Bites Works posted at Pilates & Reiki In Paradise Blog.

Shaheen Lakhan presents The Cigarette Century and Beyond posted at GNIF Brain Blogger.

Clara Myers presents 10 Step Guide To Looking Old Before Your Time posted at Face Natural, saying, "This is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but true."

Tiffany Smith-Ramirez presents Lose Weight posted at Balanced Ideas For Health, Happiness, & Weight Loss, saying, "You've been dieting and losing weight… out of nowhere you lose momentum… how do you jump back on the horse? Read this blog entry about maintaining your momentum."

Weight Master presents Reason why calorie-restrictive diets are unhealthy… posted at Weight Master.

Work

edithyeung presents Disempowering Phrases Successful People Never Say posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

Tupelo Kenyon presents Integrity Through Self-Reliance posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. (Enjoy soothing instrumental music as you read plus songs with lyrics related to each article â€“ all free.)"

Cade Krueger presents Filling The Hole In Your Life With More Than Just A Business posted at Write To Right.

CA presents Hey, where are the bugs anyway? posted at Atlantic Canada's Small Business Blog, saying, "am sure whether you manufacture software or goods or provide services, you will have come across the above scenario at least once (if not more) in your career. But what is quality a function of anyway? I got two words for you â€“Value and Culture. These are the foundations upon which depend the success or failure of your business."

Be sure to tune in every Monday for the next Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival, and if you want to submit your own article for inclusion, click here before midnight (eastern time) on Sunday.

Out of Body Experiences: Medical Mysteries or Scientific Explanation?

FitBuff Brandon — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:47:32 +0000

Out of body experiences have long been one of many medical mysteries — until now, says a new study. One in 10 people report having had an out-of-body experience, many believing it to be a result of divine intervention.

In experiments published in the Science journal, experts have successfully triggered out-of-body experiences in several individuals. This begs the question: Are out-of-body experiences supernatural, or simply logical and explainable occurrences, resulting from neurological activity in the brain.

To find out, the researchers had volunteers wear visual-display goggles and stand in front of a camera. While looking through the goggles, the volunteers saw a virtual-reality version of themselves standing in front of them.

When the scientists touched their real back, the volunteers could see their virtual back being touched as well. Surprisingly, the participants reported feeling that the sensation of touch originated from their virtual self, simply because they could see the action happening to themselves. This made them feel as if the hologram was the "real" them.

Dr Ehrsson said: "This experiment suggests that the first-person visual perspective is critically important for the in-body experience. In other words, we feel that our self is located where the eyes are."

Even stranger, when the virtual volunteer hologram was replaced with a tangible mannequin image and the touch experiment was repeated, they still reported feeling as if the mannequin was their real body.

Taking it one step further, the researchers threatened their virtual body by swinging a hammer at it, and the volunteers had a significant physiological response, including increased sweating (a common sign of nervousness or fear).

Dr Susan Blackmore, psychologist and visiting lecturer at the University of the West of England, said: "Scientists have long suspected that the clue to these extraordinary, and sometimes life-changing, experiences lies in disrupting our normal illusion of being a self behind our eyes, and replacing it with a new viewpoint from above or behind."

The researchers even acknowledged the amazing implications these findings could have for video games — oh yeah, and something boring about surgeons being able to perform life-saving operations from thousands of miles away through a robotic version of themselves.

Have you or anyone you know ever had an out of body experience?

Those who are looking for medical advice on various kinds of health info, including the dynamics of out of body experiences, could find plenty of advice online as well as listings of various medical symptoms to help with self-diagnoses.

Brain Gym Exercises: Get Fit, Get Smart

FitBuff Brandon — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:00:12 +0000

Brain gym exercises. Huh? What are brain gym exercises? According to a story in The New York Times today, exercise strengthens more than just your muscles — it makes your brain faster and stronger too!

A growing body of research indicates that regular aerobic exercise can boost your brain's memory and cognitive processing speed by stimulating a process called neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons in the brain).

In a related study, neuroscientists at Columbia University had a group of men and women, ages 21-45, work out for one hour four times a week. After 12 weeks, besides a number of other health benefits in the participants, the scientists noticed something even more intriguing: Compared to initial measurements, almost twice as much blood was being sent to each person's hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for producing new neurons).

â€œWeâ€™ve always known that our brains control our behavior,â€ Gage says, â€œbut not that our behavior could control and change the structure of our brains.â€

The subjects all showed significant improvements in memory tests, with the amount of increased blood flow in direct proportion to their improvement.

And, it's never too early or too late. Two other studies show the same results in children and older adults.

Now there's even more motivation for you to fit your brain gym exercises into your busy schedule today. Go get 'em Egg Head!

One piece of health advice that works in almost all situations is that more exercise is a great way to stay healthy. Plenty of medical info agrees with this, though while following advice you hear make sure to keep good sports nutrition in mind as well.

FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog » Brain Power

Power of the Mind – Much Stronger Than Your Biceps!

Power of the Mind – Harvard Study

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Average Men – How Do You Measure Up?

The Average Guy Canâ€¦

The Average Guy Alsoâ€¦

The Average Guy Consumesâ€¦

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Can You Understand the World's Fastest Talking Woman?

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How to Be Happy: 10 Mood-Boosting Moves

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Negativity is Contagious, Are You Immune?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

What Do Chocolate Cravings Say About You?

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Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival #14

Brain Power

Dating

Exercise

Family

Money

Nutrition

Work

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival #13

Brain Power

Dating

Exercise

Grooming

Nutrition

Work

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Out of Body Experiences: Medical Mysteries or Scientific Explanation?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Brain Gym Exercises: Get Fit, Get Smart

Other Posts You'll Find Useful: