The Fitness Brain Boost after Bariatric Surgery

Posted: Nov 09 in Weight Loss Blog by

After surgery for weight loss in Naples, boost your brain power as you lose weight by focusing on fitness.

The Fitness Brain Boost after surgery for weight loss in NaplesMost of us don’t associate working out with brainpower. Many high school jocks have fallen subject to the longstanding stereotype of the “meathead,” and those of us who followed the route to the library instead of gym class weren’t always looked at as the most athletic, either.

Well, new research is bringing an end to that one-or-the-other mentality. As it turns out, exercising can actually boost your brainpower, helping to improve your memory and cognitive function as you tone your muscles.

This is the message from multiple studies (of mice and men) released during the early months of 2012.

  • In one study, researchers from the University of Hamburg in Germany found that cycling improved memory function among men and women between the ages of 40 and 56 by an average of 15 percent.
  • In a separate study, researchers at the Institute of Aging found that improvement to muscle mass led to better memory and learning ability. While this study was conducted on mice, the researchers did take their findings as further proof that the benefits of exercise don’t stop at the physical level.

Getting Active

If you didn’t already have enough reason to start working out for the health boost after weight loss surgery, then let these mental boosts motivate you. You don’t have to go to the gym for an hour every day to experience these benefits. There are plenty of ways that you can become more active around your home, your office and your neighborhood.

  • One of the above studies found that coordination exercises stimulated mental wellness. You can do stretching and coordination activities at home or in your cubicle. For a few activities that are easy to do just about anywhere, refer back to our previous post about toning arms at the office.
  • Participants in the Hamburg study used stationary bikes to experience their mental boost, but you can get the same exercise in the great outdoors. Exercising outdoors has its own slew of health benefits. Dust off your old bike and take it for a spin through your neighborhood, or check out one of the many local nature trails here in Naples.

Remember: After surgery for weight loss, you’ll need to wait to start working out until you are cleared by your weight loss surgeon. Once you are ready to get active, find an activity you enjoy and start benefiting from the many mental and physical health factors that exercise delivers.

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