The Painless Way To Get Fit
By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. There's a way to make your workout feel easy, and it's not to slow down or avoid the hills (or skip it altogether!). Simply ask someone -- a buddy or buddy-to-be -- along next time, and you might not even notice that you're going strong but feeling it less.
A study of university crew-team members found that when they did indoor rowing workouts in synchrony, their pain thresholds were higher than when they did a similarly tough workout alone. The theory is that synchronized activity somehow makes you produce more of the feel-good chemicals -- endorphins -- responsible for letting you do more with less perceived exhaustion. These same chemicals also may give you a "heightened sense of social bonding," according to the researchers. (It may be a reason why social bonding of any sort is healthy, so consider that when planning a date for any reason.)
Want to get active, but can't find anyone who's available? At least take your iPod with you. When researchers stacked up music and silence, they found that people who worked out to music worked out 11 percent longer without feeling like they were working harder. We also know that we can work harder on machines when watching a program we like (the TIVO'ed "Doctor Oz" show, for instance!).
But we still say the best buddies aren't electronic. When your buddy can't hit the sidewalk, gym, trails (or rowers) with you, be sure to call her afterward and tell her what she missed. She'll do the same for you, and no mp3 player can give you quite the motivation (or support) your buddies can.
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The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of "YOU: On a Diet." Want more? See "The Dr. Oz Show" on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, go to www.RealAge.com. (c) 2009 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc. The YOU Docs -- Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz -- are authors of the best-selling "YOU: The Owner's Manual" and "YOU: On a Diet." To submit questions and find ways to grow younger and healthier, go to www.RealAge.com, the docs' online home.
Read more about By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. at ArcaMax.com.
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