Effects of meal form and composition on plasma testosterone, cortisol, and insulin following resistance exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of postexercise feeding on plasma levels of insulin, testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone:cortisol (T:C). Ten experienced, resistance trained males (20.7 ± 0.95 years) were given whole food (WF: protein 38 g; carbohydrate 70 g; fat 7 g), a supplemental drink (SD; isocaloric and isonitrogenous to WF), an isocaloric carbohydrate beverage (C), or a placebo beverage (P) immediately, 2 and 4 hours after a standardized weight training protocol on 4 days, each separated by 1 week, in a repeated measures design. Subjects also received a standardized meal at 7 and 12 hours postexercise. Insulin, testosterone, and cortisol were measured pre-exercise and during 24 hours of recovery (at 0.5, 2.5, 4.5, 8, and 24 hours) using venous blood samples. Significant (condition X time) interactions were found for insulin, testosterone, and T:C, but not for cortisol (p \u3c .05). The SD yielded a greater response for insulin than all other conditions. Conversely, P demonstrated the greatest values for testosterone and T:C at 2.5 and 4.5 hours postexercise. Cortisol did not vary between conditions and there were no condition effects for insulin, testosterone, cortisol, and T:C at 8 or 24 hours. In conclusion, the efficacy of postexercise feeding for optimizing T:C and muscle growth is unclear; however, consumption of SD appears to maximize circulating insulin for several hours following resistance exercise

Efficacy of instability resistance training

The use of the stability ball as a platform for upper-body resistance training has gained much attention in recent years. However, the efficacy of such training regimens remains largely unstudied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of platform (unstable vs. stable, stability ball vs. flat bench) on strength and work capacity during barbell chest-press exercise. We also sought to determine the effects of a barbell chest-press training program performed on a stability ball or flat bench on strength, work capacity, and abdominal power. Fourteen young women (20-23 yr) performed a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) barbell chest-press and the YMCA bench press test (YBT) on a stability ball and flat bench, as well as two field tests measuring abdominal power. The women were then assigned to perform 3 weeks of barbell chest-press training on a stability ball (SB group) or flat bench (FB group); assignment was balanced based on 1RM strength. Barbell chest-press training included 3 sets of 3-5 repetitions at loads greater or equal to 85% of 1RM. The 1RM barbell chest-press, YBT, front abdominal power test (FAPT), and side abdominal power test (SAPT) were used to evaluate changes in strength, work capacity, and abdominal power, respectively. The chest-press tests were completed on both platforms following the training program. Platform (stability ball vs. flat bench) had no influence on strength, but work capacity was initially 12% lower on the stability ball compared to the flat bench. In response to training, both groups significantly increased strength and work capacity, and there were no group differences. The increase in 1RM strength was 15% and 16% on the stability ball and flat bench for the SB group, and 16% and 19% for the FB group, respectively. The increase in work capacity was 32% and 13% on the stability ball and flat bench for the SB group, and 27% and 26% for the FB group, respectively. Both groups significantly improved on the FAPT, and there were no group differences. Performance on the FAPT improved by 5% for the SB group, and 22% for the FB group. Performance on the SAPT did not change. Barbell chest-press training performed on either the stability ball or flat bench increased strength and work capacity, and these changes were transferable across platforms. Thus, the stability ball is an effective platform for barbell chest-press training in untrained women over a short duration. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart

The effects of health coaching when added to a wellness program

To test whether health coaching would enhance the effectiveness of lifestyle medical advice, the authors examined health impacts of adding coaching to an employee wellness program. Random assignment of 302 volunteers to three coaching treatments or a control preceded 3 to 6 months of weekly 30 to 40 minute telephonic coaching sessions. All participants initiated a wellness program providing exercise programming options. Blood pressure, body weight, resting heart rate, fitness score, health risk appraisal, cholesterol, and glucose were measured at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months of coaching. Data inspection via latent growth curve analyses and ANOVA revealed blood pressure to be positively affected by health coaching. All other variables responded positively to wellness programming but health coaching did not add further benefits. In women, greater readiness to change behavior was related to better health profile (for example, resting heart rate at baseline: b = −3.13, p \u3c.001; b =.32, p =.77). Readiness to change behavior is a potentially valuable coaching tool that may have gender differences deserving of further study. Health coaching, with the present approach, results in important but limited additional benefits (lower blood pressures) when utilized in a generally healthy employee population and in conjunction with a comprehensive wellness program (education, support, access to exercise programming). female mal

Validity of the Fitbit Charge HR2 for Measuring Step Count and Heart Rate During Exercise

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