Can breathing really affect potential weight loss?
Actually, the answer is yes. If you allow both your
subconscious and conscious mind to simultaneously control your heart with
properly executed breathing techniques, you can easily improve your
performance and health. New Zealand researchers now believe that relaxation
and breathing techniques actually work without biofeedback. In fact, they
were able to show that several athletes in the study were still more
powerful and had more endurance when biofeedback information was not
provided. However, that's not the same as saying that biofeedback wasn't
needed during the learning process. This kind of information was crucial as
the athletes gradually developed the ability to lower their
oxygen-consumption and ventilation rates thus creating optimum performance
levels and strong energy levels.
The chemistry involved in utilizing a range of established breathing
techniques is actually very straightforward. Human body fat is a combination
of three elements:
Add extra oxygen to the body fat, it will inevitably break down into two
well known substances: H²O— water, which enters the blood stream, goes
through the kidneys and is then excreted via urination, and CO²— carbon
dioxide, which is excreted via respiration. Breathing techniques are used by
a number of alternative medicine practitioners around the world. It is far
more popular in Europe, Australia and New Zealand than in the U.S.
Practitioners are also found in Canada and Mexico.
Due to chemical composition of body fat, do breathing
techniques work for weight loss?
A number of instrumental books have been written
promoting special breathing techniques for weight loss. Although there are
skeptics, there are also many people around the world who swear by the
success they have achieved in losing weight via these breathing techniques.
The bottom line is that breathing techniques are certainly worth a try. Use
them immediately before a race or training session for the breathing
techniques to give you optimal results. Another key point is that you must
somehow not only be centered and relaxed, but also determined enough to work
at your goal velocity. In a race or high intensity workout setting, that is
a true juggling act, because determination often produces increased muscle
tension and higher heart rates, not relaxation.
Proper breathing techniques aren’t just for athletes
For the average person, there are only a few things you
need to keep in mind regarding breathing techniques In general, inhale
slowly and deeply through the nose. A healthy inhale takes about five
seconds. Then exhale slowly through the mouth. Empty your lungs completely.
Good breathers focus more on thorough exhalation than on inhalation. Engage
your diaphragm for good breathing. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle
along the top of your abdomen that pulls your lungs down to draw in air, and
then pushes your lungs up to expel carbon dioxide. With a good inhalation,
your lungs puff up as your diaphragm drops. With a good exhale, your
diaphragm rises. If you don't feel this muscle moving, deepen your breaths
even more. Work toward breathing just six or eight deep breaths per minute.
Most of us breathe more than 20 times a minute. As always, with any change
you plan to make with your body, speak with your physician or a qualified
health care professional if you have any special needs that might interfere
when it comes to breathing techniques. If you are unfit or overweight you
should consult with your doctor before starting anything new!
