One of the things I have really had issues with in running is being able to stay hydrated. I am normally OK for anything up until a marathon mark, but that is because I am finished within just over 4 hours. The problem comes in the ultramarathons, and particularly the 11+ hour Comrades marathon.

Typically I start drinking well, trying to make sure I take something to drink every 20 minutes or so as I reach the water tables. However after about 3 hours of this I feel like my stomach is full of water and I don't feel like drinking. This feeling does not go away, and so I begin to dehydrate. The result in previous Comrades is that I have ended up in the medical tent, on a drip, dehydrated. My mouth is parched, I'm depserately thirsty, but I just can't drink. What in the world is going on?

Thankfully I heard about Prof. Tim Noakes and his research on hydration (see link to right for his book). I read his book and contacted him and discovered a simple truth. Drinking to drinking plans is not right. We must drink to thirst and we will be fine. The body tells us what we need and when we need it. You have been listening to your body all your life, why do we suddenly stop listening to it when it comes to running? And so for Comrades 2013, in the "hottest Comrades in living memory" I put his theory to the test, I drank only when I was thirsty.

The result? I finished feeling fully hydrated. No medical tent. No dry mouth. Nothing! It was truly amazing, and more evidence - for myself at least - that Prof. Noakes' method, which is now finally accepted by researchers, is the best way to go. I really encourage others to follow his wisdom, based on research, and not be taken by media hype and sports drink companies with profit-fuelled agendas.

Check out the video below where Prof. Noakes shares 3 really interesting beliefs that need to be challenged, including how we drink.

There is nothing better than a strong immune system. It quite simply means that you get sick less often and when you get sick the symptoms are a lot less severe. And so in our quest to get a stronger immune system we turn to “magic cures”. This can be anything from special berries that claim magical properties to vitamin tablets and more. However while millions of dollars of advertising revenue push these wonder cures on us, very few are backed by scientific research. It’s one thing to have some doctor nodding his agreement in a million dollar commercial, it quite another to have hard research proving the claim appearing in an academic research journal.

However, unless you are academically minded and keen on spending hours trolling through verbose, complex research journals you are unlikely to find out what really works to boost your immune system. So understandably we rely on the TV commercial, and spend all our hard earned cash on the latest “wonder cure”. Yet hidden inside these complex journals are thousands of proofs showing what is the most effective way to boost your immunity. If you are a budding researcher head on over to Google Scholar and search for “running boosts immunity” and you will find all the proof you need. Here are some examples of the amazing research that is found in academic journals relating to how running easy is proven to be the most effective way to boost your immune system.

We live in a world of “no pain no gain” mentality. And so when it comes to getting fit, getting healthy and losing weight we assume there must be pain and suffering. However research shows that the adage “Less is More” applies when it comes to running. It’s all about running at an easy, comfortable pace. Not only is staying at a pace where you can hold a comfortable conversation best for weight loss and fitness it’s best for boosting your immune system.

If you are unfit your immune level is low. As you begin to run, your immune level increases. However once you put your body under stress, your immune level actually drops off.

Research published in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that “moderate levels of physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of UTRI (Upper Track Respirotry Infection)”. In English – moderate levels (running easy) of exercise will reduce the risk of illness. So, if you run easy you’ll get healthier. However, not running at all, and you are more likely to get sick. Over doing your running, and you’re more likely to get sick.

It all comes back to – “Less is More” – and with Running Easy it means More Health, More Fitness, More Life!

If you want to find out how to run in such a way that you maximize your immune system, then go and get the complete list of scientific reasons supporting the Running Easy approach. Get it NOW and Never Fear the Sneeze!

Research Sources

- Matthews, C E: Ockene, I S: Freedson, P S: Rosal, M C: Merriam, P A: Hebert, J R, “Moderate to vigorous physical activity and risk of upper-respiratory tract infection” in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

There are thousands and thousands of approaches to weight loss from Acai berries to special machines that will shake and wobble you in all the right places. Yet, while millions of dollars of advertising revenue push these “miracles” onto us, very few are backed by solid, reputable scientific research. Normally they are accompanied by glowing claims from previous participants or Dr X who nods sagely in agreement with the new technique, while undoubtedly receiving a handsome “appearance” fee. Yet when it comes to most things in life that we want to be certain of we rely on scientific proof. We rely on researchers who publish their findings in journals with incomprehensible names under titles full of even more confusing words. Proper scientific research that appears in peer-reviewed journals from recognized universities is the proof that we trust. Yet, amazingly we forget this when we desperately reach for another “miracle cure”.

However, hidden within these musty, complex journals are thousands of proofs showing without doubt, what the most effective method for weight loss. Yet, sadly because we don’t read these journals – unless you’re a researcher – most people never get to find out what has been discovered. And so we continue to get our scientific “proofs” from TV commercials and website adverts.

If you are so inclined go and visit Google Scholar and search for “running promotes weight loss” and you will find all the proof you want. However, here are some examples of the amazing research that is hidden in these journals.

Research carried out at Berkley University found that the more weight you have to lose and the more you want to lose that weight, the better running is for you. The researchers found that "running promotes the greatest weight loss specifically in those individuals who have the most to gain from losing weight".

In other research, Freeman and Janssen found that cardiovascular exercise like running is so effective at reducing weight loss it can be used without changing your eating habits and you'll still lose weight. Now how many times have we heard this claim from magic pills and berries. Yet it is scientifically supported when it comes to running.

But there's more! Research has found that running results in boosting your metabolism for up to 48 hours. That means that even when you stop running, your body keeps on running for nearly another two days. Dr. T Thomas found that runners burned 600-700 calories during an hour of running and then about 15% more calories than they normally would have during the next 48 hours. So even while you're sleeping, watching TV, or at work, your metabolism is still out on a run and you're losing weight!

And it's easy! To keep your metabolism at it's peak you only need to run every other day, and that's exactly the easy plan behind Running Easy. In fact you only need to Run Easy just 3 times a week and you can enjoy the scientifically proven most effective, sustainable weight loss approach.


Research Sources
- P T Williams, Vigorous exercise and the population distribution of body weight, International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, 120–128
- Ross, R., Freeman, J. A., & Janssen, I. (2000). Exercise alone is an effective strategy for reducing obesity and related comorbidities. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 165-170.
- Tom R. Thomas, Ph.D., University of Missouri

If you want to lose weight, get fit, stay healthy and feel great then you need to discover the lost art of running. Every year thousands of “new” schemes are launched that claim to miraculously transfer you from the overweight, tired, sickly old-you to the miraculous new you. Yet most of these schemes, besides draining more fat from your wallet than your waist, are not supported by science. They are normally supported by the glowing testimonials of other “big losers”. Yet what they fail to show is how these glowing, smiling, slim, healthy-looking people appear 6 months or 2 years later…when the hype is over and the ad revenue all spent. The bottom line is that any successful approach to weight loss has to be a “lifestyle approach”.

If the approach is not natural, like gyrating your body on a special machine, it will eventually fail.
If the approach is not easy, like having to go to a gym every day, it will eventually fail.
If the approach is not fun, like spending hours indoors on a stationary bike, it will eventually fail.

A lifestyle approach to losing weight, getting fit, staying healthy, and feeling great must be natural, easy and fun.

Running is the most tried-and-tested and effective approach to enabling people to lose weight, stay healthy, look good and feel great of all time. While other fads come and go, since the dawn of civilization, running has been used. Humans are designed to run – yet sadly the approach that worked for thousands of years has been lost. It’s been lost in competition, “trying harder”, “no pain no gain” distortions. The result is that the secret of the most effective, most time-tested approach has been lost. Yet an overwhelming amount of scientific research (see http://ping.fm/9dLK9) is proving that the lost art of Running Easy is the ultimate approach to a healthy, energized and long life.

The natural art of running has been lost in our modern climate of competition, getting ahead by putting others down, and trying harder. For thousands of years people ran just for the sake of it. They ran to get from one place to another. They ran to bring a message to someone. They ran for the pure pleasure of it. And in this was the art of running. Running that was a natural and easy part of life – running that brought health, fitness and energy as naturally as breathing brings air and life. Rediscovering this approach to running is not only energizing, but is also fun and natural.

It’s all about Running Easy not running hard. It’s about “trying easier” not “trying harder”. It’s about running because we love it not because we have to. It’s about walking before you are tired not because you are tired. It’s about running for an enjoyable time not a fast time. When these principles of Running Easy are discovered, running becomes a lifestyle. And when running becomes a lifestyle, the full benefits of running are experienced and enjoyed.

It’s the festive season, and while wallets wane, waists weight! It’s just all that fatty, rich…and really tasty food, that we can’t do without. But is there any hope, or should we simply resign ourselves to entering the new year with more of us than last year?

The good news is that a study reported on in the Journal of Physiology, found interesting results. They tested 3 groups of eager eaters, by feeding them Fine Fatty Festive Fare (even prior to the season) for 6 weeks.

Group 1 – Feast and NO Exercise. Well, as you can imagine this group of indulgers found themselves rotundly swelled gaining 3kg (6lbs) after just 6 weeks. That’s like strapping 6 bricks of butter to your waste…or butt!

Group 2 – Feast and then Exercise. After chomping down their fine fare they went out for a run or cycle. This group alas, also swelled up, but only by 1.5kg (3lbs)…that’s only 3 bricks of butter…not too bad…butt….

Group 3 – Exercise then Feast. This group ran (or cycled) before sinking their teeth into their fatty fare. And after 6 weeks of feasting…they had not gained any weight!

Quite simply, exercise increases metabolic rate (that important furnace needed to burn the excess food). So even though the exercise is over and we’re feasting, the metabolic furnace is operating in hyperdrive and burning as quick as you put it in.

So, get out and do an early morning run, and you’ll not only enjoy your meal more, you’ll be able to enjoy more of your meal…no if’s or butts!

http://www.runningeasy.com

Source : http://ping.fm/W61pf