This post is for those who fall into depression and despair at the thought of the gym or jog, most likes to sit at the computer and at the same time wants to lose a few kilos. Of course, nothing comes for a reason, and in order to lose weight, without getting up from your favorite computer chair, will have something to do - namely, to think.
Scientists from the Canadian University conducted experiments on students by measuring the amount of calories that consumes the brain. Three groups of students received different tasks, which had to deal with over 1.5 hours. One group did not do anything, the second - memorizing texts from paper, the third - to work on the computer. As a result, the group learns the texts of the books have spent 200 calories more than the students, bums, and those who worked at the computer, burned by as much as 250 calories more.
Researchers found that most of the calories consumed during brain concentration. During extreme concentration for 20 minutes, the brain is able to "eat" is the amount of energy that would not be spent, and for the entire day spent without mental activity. Therefore, it may be difficult to focus on anything more than 20-25 minutes - just the body is forced to maintain energy supplies.
How many calories you can burn actively thinking?
In the absence of mental stress, the brain burns 400-500 calories a day, and during vigorous activity of its costs increase by half. It is believed that when a person is straining the brain, it spends 1.5 kcal per minute, ie, 90 kcal per hour, and if this activity is unusual, its costs increase even more.
Another feature - the emotional experience increased energy consumption by 10-20%, and intellectual activity, accompanied by emotions, by 30-40%. Scientists from the Institute of Physiology. PC. Anokhina conducted another experiment, in which the measured energy consumption of students during exams. It turned out that three days before the exam intellectual student activity took 750 kcal, and during exam time - 1000-1100 kcal.
So, given all of the above, fans of a sedentary lifestyle can advise the following:
think more
Public Viewing in social networks, cheerful correspondence with friends or toys (except those genres where it is necessary to include brains) will not spend the extra calories. To lose weight at the computer, it is necessary to perform some intellectual activities such as reading difficult to read, interesting articles and books, to solve some task, solve crossword puzzles. Thus it is desirable not to distract longer maintain concentration on the subject.
The longer you concentrate, the more calories you burn.
Remove the food away from the computer
During mental activity in the body drastically decreases the level of glucose, the substances that nourish brain cells. To make up for the loss of mental activity when a person is very hungry. This does not mean that the body really needs extra calories, just he needs glucose.
Scientists believe that a cup of sweet tea will be enough to make up for the loss and give the brain the necessary feeding, so that after their intellectual exercises do not rush to eat chocolate or cooking dumplings — sweet tea, and let go of the feeling of hunger.
emotional distress
Of course, you will not be able to arrange a strenuous exams every day, but to do something is still possible. For example, solve logical puzzles on time or play with someone in chess. So intellectual activity adds an element of excitement. More excitement, more emotion, more than calories burned.
Something new
more energy consumes one area of the brain, which is in operation, so the power consumption can be increase, including alternately different parts of the brain, ie, solving tests or multi-piece playing Puzzle games.
Besides, brain consumes more energy, solving non-standard tasks. If you are a humanitarian, try poreshat logic puzzles, remember high-school geometry or algebra. In general, engaged in new types of intellectual activity - it not only increases energy consumption, but also helps to develop the brain.
And finally, not to mention that a simple walking burns 4 calories per minute, so if you are tired to think, go for a walk.