This week read about how endurance sport can improve how we respond to stress, motivational self talk, whether icing injuries delays recovery, cotton workout clothes, superfood combinations, and more.
Does endurance sport make athletes better at coping with stress?
Stress isn’t always a bad and shouldn’t be avoided, according to health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, a topic she explores in her new book The Upside of Stress. Competing in endurance events teaches athletes to embrace stress. According to McGonigal, one of the best ways to get good at stress is practice, and anyone who’s competed in endurance sports knows that athletes have plenty little stresses to deal with during races. “Through endurance sports, you are learning to see yourself as someone who can choose to engage in difficult things, get through them, and evolve in consequential ways.” (Brad Stulberg, Outside Magazine).
In this great talk Kelly McGonigal shows how making stress your friend can actually benefit your health.
Motivational self talk and sports performance
Last week I linked to a study looking at how motivational self-talk improved a 10-km Cycling Time-Trial. (Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2015 Mar;10(2)). Yann Le Meur has nicely summarized this study in one of his great infographics below. If you like these graphic summaries of research, be sure to visit Yann Le Meur’s website, which he updates regularly with new research (or follow him on twitter at @YLMSportScience).
Other Links of Interest This Week
Celebrity Chef’s ‘Paleo for Babies’ Book On Hold Over Infant-Death Fears. Yet another reason why not to trust diet or health advice from a celebrity or self-proclaimed expert. (Time)
Before You Go Low-Carb, Read This. Some excellent information here! (Fooducate.com)
Are cotton workout clothes really that bad? Study looks at performance benefits of synthetic garments. (Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: March 2015 – Volume 29)
Can ice delay recovery? New research questions standard recommendation for icing injuries. (Athletics Weekly)
Beauty and the Brain: Understanding Our Responses to Art. A neuroscientist examines why we favor some shapes over others. (Science Friday)
Olympian Hilary Stellingwerff won her first race back after pregnancy. Canadian Runnings talks to her about her road back from pregnancy. (Canadian Running)
To reduce body fat, eating less fat may be more effective than eating less carbohydrate. This is the first study to investigate how the same degree of calorie reduction (either fat restricted or carbohydrate restricted) influenced body fat (all food eaten was strictly controlled and the daily activities of the participants were monitored). Researchers found that consuming fewer % calories from fat led to greater body fat loss in men and women with obesity (Science Daily, reporting on ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in San Diego).
11 Superfoods That Work Better Together Some good combinations for nutrition and flavour. (Time)
Ottawa Citizen Profile. This week the Ottawa Citizen Sports page profiled me in a story and video.
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