The Magic Pill

A working, reliable, anti-fat pill has long been the holy grail of scientists working to eliminate obesity. And now, as Douglas Robb reports for Health Habits, they may have made a breakthrough, or at least gotten to the next step, with leptin resistance.

According to lead author, Tony Tiganis, “our bodies produce leptin in response to increasing fat deposits. Acting on a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, leptin instructs the body to increase energy expenditure and decrease food intake, and so helps us maintain a healthy body weight.”

Read More: Leptin Resistance and the Search for the Magic Fat Pill

Yoga For Weight Loss

Many people wish to lose weight, but lack the time or stamina for long workouts or runs. But by doing these 4 simple yoga poses 3 times a week, you can lose weight and relieve stress in less than 10 minutes. By Marianne McGinnis for Prevention.

"Yoga is a known stress buster, but it's also one of the most effective workouts for fighting stubborn fat stores, especially the ones that crop up after age 40. Yes, you can use yoga for weight loss. The reason: Studies show that yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and increases insulin sensitivity--a signal to your body to burn food as fuel rather than store it as fat."

http://www.prevention.com/health/fitness/yoga/yoga-for-weight-loss-5-yoga-poses/article/a018d786593b4110VgnVCM10000013281eac

The Best Running Partner

If you're looking for a motivated running partner that's always willing and able to join you, dogs are perfect! They're always in the mood to run, pushing you to stay fit. Taking your dog out for runs keeps the both of you active and healthy, so get to it! Plus, that adorable face will never fail to lift your mood.
Check out these 7 reasons why your four-legged buddy is the best running partner there is, by Jenny Sugar on FitSugar.com.

"Every time I run, I run with my dog. I started taking him on the trails as a pup because if I didn't, he'd eat my flip-flops. Then I came to realize that he's the best running partner I've ever had. Here are seven reasons you should bring your dog (or borrow a friend's) when you head out for a run..."

http://www.fitsugar.com/Reasons-Run-Your-Dog-18637633

Fitness for the Couch Potato

    Many of us spend hours a day sitting on our bums, staring at a TV screen. This sort of behavior undoubtedly takes its toll on our fitness, but watching TV doesn't have to be a completely lazy activity. Try some of these simple exercises, done from right by your couch! Written by Heather Dale on FitSugar.

"If only I spent as many hours exercising as I do watching TV, my body would be bikini-ready in no time! Looks like I'm not the only one who has an array of favorite shows — Nielsen's Q2 2010 State of the Media fact sheet shows that the average American watches 143 hours of television per month. If you do the math on that, that's about five hours of TV per day..."

http://www.fitsugar.com/Exercises-Do-While-Watching-TV-16073785

Caffeine as a Pick-Me-Up

The energizing boost of caffeine is commonly used as a workout enhancer by many. It's no wonder why since it'll have you feeling alert and willing to keep your exercise going for longer. Here's an interesting excerpt from an informative article that explains a bit about how it works:

The performance boost you get from caffeine is a result of how it hot-wires your central nervous system, says Matthew Ganio, PhD, an exercise physiologist at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas.

"Caffeine crowds out a calming brain chemical called adenosine," he says. You become more alert, you react faster, and you don't feel like you're working as hard, all of which add up to training or competing at a higher intensity for a longer period of time and being more agile in a pack.

 Learn more about how a cup of coffee could effect your fitness regime and how your frequency of consumption and timing matters on this Fitbie article by Matthew Kadey.

http://fitbie.msn.com/get-fitter/caffeine-alert

Add Years to your Life with these 15 minute workouts.

Even people who don't have the time to do a full workout should stay healthy with these nifty tips from Jenny Sugar from fitsugar.com

If your busy schedule doesn't allow for the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise, a large study from Taiwan should make you feel better. The 13-year study tracked 416,000 participants and found that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise increased their life expectancy by three years, compared to those who didn't exercise. Daily workouts lower the incidence of cancer, and therefore lower the risk of cancer-related deaths.

Stay healthy everyone!

Building Muscle Helps Prevent Diabetes

Staying on top of your fitness will always yield benefits for your health, but those that are at risk for type 2 diabetes should have a stronger focus on building muscle mass. This article on US News shares information on the benefits of gaining muscle for those in this position. The results of this analysis illuminate the importance of these findings.

"Researchers analyzed data from 13,644 adults who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III between 1988 and 1994. They found that for each 10 percent increase in the skeletal muscle index (SMI) -- the ratio of muscle mass to total body weight -- there was an 11 percent reduction in insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.There was also a 12 percent reduction in pre-diabetes, a condition characterized by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, said the researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles."

So pay special attention to building your muscles if you're concerned or at risk for type 2 diabetes. It'll keep your body strong and help you stay healthy.