It turns out that music increases the amount of endorphins (happiness hormones) in the body by 9% in just a quarter of an hour. If it sounds in time with the beat of the heart, it normalizes blood pressure and eliminates shortness of breath, relieving asthma attacks in just 5 minutes. By regularly listening to certain compositions, metabolism improves and blood circulation improves. And not so long ago, scientists conducted an interesting study: they alternately played hard rock and classics in a restaurant. In the first case, visitors ordered mostly junk food (fatty fried meat, strong alcohol) and in large quantities. In the second, we stopped at dietary salads and light wines, and without going overboard in serving sizes.
Based on these facts, psychotherapists and nutritionists concluded that music can be useful for losing weight if you listen to it correctly. How does this happen and what exactly do they offer?
Music for weight loss - research
It turns out that a pleasant melody affects the brain no worse than chocolate. Both increase levels of the happy hormone dopamine, which lifts your mood. It seems that from an evolutionary point of view, listening to music is not at all a useless activity.
After scanning the brains of 217 volunteers, physiologists from McGill University in Montreal found that melodies act on our well-being like chocolate. At the peak of emotional experience, the sounds of beautiful music send a pleasant shiver down your back, and the production of the pleasure hormone is stimulated in your brain.
The person feels joy and peace. An important amendment: you must definitely like the music. First, the experiment participants listened to melodies that seemed exciting to them. Then – neutrals. Then they alternated. So, the level of dopamine in the blood of volunteers increased by 9% precisely at the moments when they listened to their favorite music.
“Slight tremors or goosebumps are an external indicator of the highest delight,” says study leader Professor Robert Zatorre. “The scanner at this moment records the maximum production of dopamine.” At the same time, volunteers were asked to bring discs only with instrumental music. Verbal accompaniment in songs could cause unwanted associations and blur the effect.
“The most important discovery here is that an abstract stimulus (music) causes the same biochemical reaction in us as a real physiological one (food and sex),” says Vicki Williamson, a music psychologist at the University of London. “Now it’s clear why music has always been so highly valued in any human society: everything is tied to biology.”
Placebo effect?
It would be like this: I inserted the CD into the player, pressed the button, and went to bed. And in your sleep you lose weight. Well, or at least while awake... But there is such an opportunity today. For example, I found a video especially for you - turn it on and enjoy. Just don’t listen for too long - the recommendations say that you need to get involved in the process gradually. Yes, don’t forget to record your weight before the session, and after half an hour, step on the scales and immediately share your results here, on my website.
How much did you lose? Because, by the way, you just listened to a song at a frequency of 295.8 Hz, the same one that, according to numerous sites on the Internet on this topic, burns fat, using the so-called binaural beats and isochronic sounds that are used in the synchronization of brain waves . That is, we conducted a music therapy session.
But seriously, what is hidden behind this? Self-hypnosis? Bridget Jones, well known to film and book lovers, once wrote in her diary the words that “2 pounds burned spontaneously from the joy and prospect of sex...” and I think that she was not lying. It’s not for nothing that they say, “if you want to lose weight, fall in love,” consciousness plays a big role here.
Music instead of food - is there something to it?
What I'm most interested in is, can we benefit from this discovery in terms of weight loss and healthy eating? In other words, does it make sense to use music to curb false hunger when tempted?
“It’s possible, although such a utilitarian approach to high art seems blasphemous to me,” says pianist Anna Lurza. – When I listen to a piece of music, the feeling of hunger does not just disappear, it is completely canceled, just like the sense of time, gravity. You absorb the energy of sounds, instruments, and the playing of musicians. You're fed up with music. But when I play the piano myself, on the contrary, I spend a lot of mental and physical energy and after the concert I always feel brutally hungry. But I've never used music to lose weight."
“Perhaps the physical pleasure from your favorite music can be compared to the pleasure from food,” musicologist Larisa Semenikhina told me. – The sense of rhythm is inherent in us by nature, just like the ancient reflex of absorbing food. But you are unlikely to experience the thrill of music if you do not have a developed musical taste. Pleasure is always associated with recognition. We rarely like dishes the first time, and it’s the same with music. You need to listen more than once to fall in love with the melody.”
Personally, this idea is very close to me: a portion of music instead of a portion of sweets to forget about troubles and perk up.
Forward to achievements
What conclusion can be drawn based on all of the above? Personally, I decided for myself that I will not sit on the couch listening to beautiful melodies and waiting for the kilograms to go away. Music is created to inspire, give motivation, encourage you to do some good deeds. So let this action be running in the morning, going to the gym, or just an evening walk. And all this under your favorite tracklist.
Music for stress
Music is the most harmless and safe sedative, along with sex. While most meditation techniques require silence, some experts, such as Dr. Frank Lipman, a consultant to Gwyneth Paltrow and Donna Karan, suggest using slow, rhythmic music for meditation.
On your way to work, at home or anywhere, you can relieve anxiety and stress by listening to calm music. It slows down the rhythm of the heart and breathing, creating a feeling of peace. A normal resting heart rate averages about 75 beats per minute. Select pleasant musical compositions after listening to the beginning of each with a stopwatch. Rhi per minute music will help you achieve a relaxed and calm state.
Zumba
Zumba is not really a dance, it's more like dance fitness. This is an aerobic workout, which is based on rhythmic movements performed to energetic music. It is a mixture of salsa, cumbia, flamenco, calypso, mamba, rumba. It's not only useful and energy-consuming, but also really fun!
Effect. The workout uses all muscles, but the main load falls on the lower body - legs and buttocks. Zumba develops plasticity, flexibility, endurance, trains the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and, of course, improves mood.
How much can you burn in an hour of training? 400–500 kcal.
Difficulties. None! In fact, this is the only type of dancing for which you do not need any special physical training. At the end of the lesson, you do not need to combine the learned sequences into a beautiful dance, you can improvise, and the trainer will not force you to perfectly repeat all his movements. You just dance, rejoice and get rid of extra pounds.
Here's a little workout to let you know what Zumba really is:
Listening to weight loss music at home
Pleasant relaxing music, which takes you back to the memories of the most pleasant moments of life, is woven with specially selected sound frequencies that normalize metabolic processes in the body and are of a targeted healing nature.
In addition, music, by conducting sound vibrations through the body that are characteristic of its organs in a healthy state, has a general healing character. Music for weight loss works ideally with aromatherapy and visualization techniques.
What to remember
- It has been scientifically proven that favorite melodies have a positive effect on our body, mobilizing it for achievements.
- The hypnotic effect of specially selected audio materials with appropriate visuals has also been substantiated by doctors.
- The best results are achieved with a reasonable approach - less words, more action. At the same time, there should actually be more to do - play more sports, watch your diet, walk in the fresh air, devote time to your hobbies. And all this to your favorite performers.
All the best and see you again on the pages of my blog.
Exercises
Among the ways to keep yourself in shape on your own, abdominal crunches, squats and simple exercises are popular. Home ways to lose weight can also include cycling, walking and training on home exercise equipment.
While many are trying all known methods in order to achieve the cherished numbers on the scales, the most accessible method remains little known. Listening to music for weight loss is also an independent way to lose weight. Why?
Try doing exercises without music one day, and doing fitness with music for weight loss the next. Record your feelings. Which day will you enjoy working out the most? That's right, in the second. Compare your results.
Thanks to the fact that weight loss music is played, you will perform the same exercise, but at a different speed and a different number of approaches. After practicing with music, you will feel a surge of good mood and strength.
If you've ever lost weight in a fitness club with the help of a personal trainer, you've probably noticed that he played melodies of different tempos, depending on your load.
One of the ways to get rid of those hated pounds is to passively listen to music while doing household chores. Moreover, there is special music for losing weight while you sleep, without any physical activity.
Let's listen and enjoy
If you want to achieve a more effective effect of music on your body, then prepare special conditions for the perception of music: accompany listening to your favorite compositions with visualization techniques and an aromatherapy session.
For example, like this:
- To begin, take a few deep breaths and exhale.
- Then gradually calm down.
- Imagine yourself with the figure you dream of, noting every detail very carefully.
The room at this moment should have aromas of citrus fruits - orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon, or aromas of cinnamon, vanilla, mint, green apple.
Well, from the music you can choose something in the chillout style, or just compositions that help you relax and tune in to the positive.
Published: May 16, 2012
Belly dance
Belly dancing is one of the sexiest and most sensual dances. Do you think it does not contribute to weight loss, since only the stomach is involved, and all movements are smooth? In fact, belly dancing works many muscle groups, and this is a very effective way to tighten your figure and lose unnecessary pounds.
Effect. Of course, the abdominal muscles have the hardest time. The oblique muscles work especially actively, which can be difficult to reach even in the gym. In addition, the muscles of the shoulder girdle and back are strengthened, beautiful hips are formed, and extra centimeters are removed from the waist. It is believed that belly dancing has a beneficial effect on the female reproductive system and also normalizes metabolism. And of course, a woman performing a belly dance feels attractive, desirable and beautiful!
How much can you burn in an hour of training? 350–400 kcal.
Difficulties . Yes, belly dancing is far from the easiest dance style, but at the same time, the load on joints and ligaments during classes is minimal, which means that a woman of any age and any weight can master this dance. You can dance every day - you won’t need rest between workouts to restore your muscles.
Video of mesmerizing belly dance:
Latin American dances
Incendiary, energetic, emotional Latin American dances are definitely what you need to quickly burn fat. Bachata, salsa, cha-cha-cha, rumba, jive - the choice is huge! Fatigue, weakness, bad mood - these concepts simply do not exist when you dance salsa or rumba. In addition, most Latin American dances are performed in pairs, which means you can’t be lazy while dancing, so as not to let your partner down.
Effect. During the training, all muscle groups are involved, but the emphasis is on the abs, thighs and buttocks. You will learn to hold your back, monitor coordination, move plastically and feel your body. Latin American dancing will tighten your figure and help you get rid of extra pounds. And of course, fiery dancing is the perfect cure for the blues!
How much can you burn in an hour of training? 400–500 kcal.
Difficulties. Not everyone can perform movements at such a frantic pace as required by Latin American dances. To see results, you must give 100%.
Take a look, would you like to dance salsa just like professional dancers do?
We advise you to pay attention to bachata. Like all Latin American dances, it helps to open up, shake off complexes, strengthens the cardiovascular system and keeps the body in good shape.
Bachata is also quite simple in choreography (which is especially important for beginner dancers). So much so that even people with certain physical disabilities can perform it. Actually, bachata is known as a healing dance that helps strengthen muscles after injuries.
