Drugs that Give the Effects of Exercise Without the Workout Discovered

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What could possibly make exercise irrelevant? It's hard to think of a answer. In the sedentary life that people live today, exercise is a must. But there were a couple of drugs found to be effective in replicating the effects of exercise on the body. If these drugs are administered into your system, your body is switched into exercise mode instantly but without the need to do anything but sit back and relax. You burn fat and your muscles grow.

What are these drugs? They are AICAR and GW1516 and their effects were studied and reported in the first half of 2008. What they do is to activate the two proteins (AMPK and PGC1-alpha) that rev up the metabolic processes of muscles during exercise. Ronald Evans of the Salk Institute in La Jolla says the drugs turn on the endurance gene network. Tests have been done on lab mice but the drugs' use for rehabilitative purposes seems promising, not to mention their use in commercial products to help in physical improvement for those who wish to get mor muscular and burn fat in the process.

But since these drugs aren't approved yet for use by people, you'll just have to settle for now with good old fashioned fat burning exercises and dieting.

Watch the related video above on exercise drugs.

The Secret to Eating at Thanksgiving Gatherings Without Worrying about Getting Fat

Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year to be with family. It's when you can't help it but eat and keep eating as long as you see others eating and there are lots of food on the table. That's what the pioneers of old first did in the early days of America.

As a cultural tradition that's been one of the first to be observed yearly by the early colonists, it's best for modern-day Americans to keep remembering that day by serving turkey and to eat it along with the rest of the food.

But in the old days, people didn't have to worry much about getting fat. Food was not readily available in shops and people had to raise, scavenge, or hunt for it. There were lots of activity for people to do back then, and even without formal exercise regimens (Jane Fonda wasn't born yet), they always had a reason for their muscles to get toned and for fat to get burned.

These days, it's different. You eat and then you sleep. If you have to go to work, you usually sit in front of a desk doing nothing but type on your keyboard (that's the case for some of us). This modern lifestyle lets the fat accumulate in our body and it only takes the holidays starting with Thanksgiving and ending with the new year celebrations (sometimes even longer) to gain a few pounds, and yes, people notice! Easy come, but not easy go.

The basic trick really is to eat a lot of fiber and belly-filling but low-calorie foods before you jump into the Thanksgiving celebrations. This means eating a lot of vegetables and fruit.

Taking these simple methods into account will help you to turn your back on the turkey - or at least just take a bite or two so as not to offend your host. Just avoid the skin because that's where much of the fat is.

Well, those are the basic tips and it only takes a bit of willpower to give them a try. Just keep in mind it's for your own good. Here is a video with which you can learn more ways to prepare healthful food, keep the weight down, and essentially watch your health while still being happy on Thanksgiving.


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