OxygenD's Editor Blog with Diane Hart

Monday, January 24, 2011

Smarter women lift weights! (duh)

Hey, gotta give a shout out to Gretchen Reynolds at the NY Times whose column "Brains and Brawn" that appeared in yesterday's magazine cited new studies that suggest a stronger link between resistance training and better cognitive function.  Even though she writes that the science is only with animals to date, it is still fascinating that researchers are saying the data is promising. Again, as it is still so new, researchers are only speculative at this point but the studies on older women at the Brain Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, according to Reynolds, is interesting - older women who lifted weights had better brain scans than those who did toning classes. And why? Only speculation at this point but it may be due to the fact you have to think about what you will be doing before you begin to lift (compared to simply getting out the door for a run or join a toning class, for example). 

In any case, it's all great stuff!  

Question: How do you feel 1. after lifting weights 2. cardio? 3. yoga? Any different? 


5 comments:

  1. 1. after lifting weights? MOST IMPORTANT JOB DONE!
    2. cardio? DID WHAT ALSO SHOULD BE DONE.
    3. yoga? DID WHAT ALSO SHOULD BE DONE.

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  2. 1. after lifting weights GREAT 2. cardio? AMAZING 3. yoga? WHY DO I HAVE NO BALANCE?

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  3. Always feel great, more energized after lifting weights and/or doing cardio! Start every day with it! And another question to ponder..are we smarter because we lift weights or do we lift weights because we are smarter and know all the wonderful benefits? :)

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  4. After Weights: Good, Pumped, like Resting
    After Cardio: Good, but Exhausted
    After Yoga: Amazing, Revived, Radiant ♥

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  5. I'm with all of you on this - (yes, even the balance/yoga issue, MissHaneefa!) Plan to go for a run at lunch today with our lunchtime running group and can't wait for the new energy I'll have this afternoon!
    Thanks for sharing!
    - Diane

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