TipTow eZine Article:
Laughter maybe your best trick for losing weight

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Is Laughter the best medicine for obesity?
By: Randall Gartman

Once there were these two Nuns and they.... Just kidding!! Do you feel any thinner or healthier? Well, according to recent studies, you might not in the beginning but over the long haul, you could actually drop considerable weight.

Now if you are laughing because you are binging on some kind of pastry or you getting trashed on alcohol, this might not be true but if you are laughing for other reasons, it could pay greatly by reducing fat around your waist and thighs.

First of all, we I am going dispel a few myths regarding this cortisol fighting snake oils that are being sold.

Cortisol is caused by physical and emotional stress! Cortisol is a hormone released by your adrenal glands in response to either physical or emotional stress and thus, is referred to as the "stress" hormone. Whether it's a lot of missed nights of sleep, an extremely low calorie diet or getting caught in a traffic jam, your body responds in much the same way. It secretes cortisol into your bloodstream, which then can cause even more problems.

This hormone is part of the "fight-or-flight" response that we have as human beings. Faced with stressful situations and danger, we are left to either run or fight. Your body secretes this hormone as a way of fighting off the stress and danger. One of its main functions is to increase the flow of glucose, protein and fat out of your tissues and into your circulation system. It is actually designed to immediately increase your energy levels in response to a physical threat.

The dangers of having these high levels of the hormone have been associated with storage of abdominal fat, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune system, and chronic depression.

Now that you are a little more educated, what do you think would be the best idea for preventing these deadly, hormonal, cortisol surges? Come-on, I know you know the answer. It isn't in some magic cortisol blocking pill, is it? That's right, you need to control your STRESS.

You can take all the cortisol blocking stuff you want, but if you aren't controlling your stress, you could easily be storing abdominal fat if you are a man and hip and thigh fat if you are a woman.

Now I am not saying that supplementation is not needed. I believe that if you aren't getting rest or you are unable to relax, you probably need some nutrients put back into your body. Remember though, supplementation does not mean replacement. Learning how to get your stress levels is the most productive thing you can do.

Also, if you are suffering with anxiety and depression, your body may need some real medical help to get your stress level down to something manageable. In fact, if you are under the kind of stress that causes weight gain, learning relaxation skills is probably the first thing your doctor will advise you to do. Also, if you are suffering with with anxiety and depression, don't be afraid to consult with a qualified physician because they can really help you get your stress levels under control.

Finally, I went a long way to say "laughter will do wonders for your stress levels". Relaxation doesn't always mean just laying down watching TV. Don't use this issue of the TipTow as an excuse for being lazy. You just need to learn how to calm down and recognize stress. Check out this research from Dr. Lee Berk.

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter (RESEARCH)

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

Following is a summary of his research, taken from an interview published in the September/October 1996 issue of the Humor and Health Journal.

• Laughter Activates the Immune System
• In Berk's study, the physiological response produced by belly laughter was opposite of what is seen in classical stress, supporting the conclusion that mirthful laughter is a eustress state -- a state that produces healthy or positive emotions.
• Research results indicate that, after exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including: An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells.
• An increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There are many T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to "turn it up a notch."
• An increase in the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections.
• An increase in gamma interferon, which tells various components of the immune system to "turn on."
• An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the greatest quantity in body, as well as an increase in Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video; there also was a lingering effect that continued to show increased levels the next day.
• Laughter Decreases "Stress" Hormones

The results of the study also supported research indicating a general decrease in stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. These were shown to decrease in the study group exposed to humor.

For example, levels of epinephrine were lower in the group both in anticipation of humor and after exposure to humor. Epinephrine levels remained down throughout the experiment.

In addition, dopamine levels (as measured by dopac) were also decreased. Dopamine is involved in the "fight or flight response" and is associated with elevated blood pressure.

Laughing is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body's ability to use oxygen.

Laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance – not replace -- conventional treatments. Hence it is another tool available to help fight the disease.

Experts believe that, when used as an adjunct to conventional care, laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process. For one thing, laughter offers a powerful distraction from pain.

In a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, patients were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered. Those exposed to humor perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn't get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.

Perhaps, the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is free and has no known negative side effects.

So, here is a summary of how humor contributes to physical health. More details can be found in the article, Humor and Health contributed by Paul McGhee

Muscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages.

Reduction of Stress Hormones - Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

Immune System Enhancement - Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.

Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person to "forget" about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc.

Cardiac Exercise - A belly laugh is equivalent to "an internal jogging." Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.

Blood Pressure - Women seem to benefit more than men in preventing hypertension.

Respiration - Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patient's who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

---End of Research Article---

Here is what you can do to help:

Check your shoulders and let them relax but keep your posture straight so you can breathe properly.

Breath in from your diaphragm to the count of 4, hold your breath to count of 4 and release your breath to the count of 4.

After you do that 10 times, I want you stand up (if you can) and put a big goofy smile on your face, cross your eyes and jump up and down like a crazy person. Don't stop until you are laughing!

Now that you know that laughter is awesome medicine for fighting obesity, how often do you think you could put a smile on your face?

Stay tuned for the Next TIP-Tow - "Do your thoughts compel you to take action?"

Randall Gartman
Certified Fitness Specialist and
Lifestyle and Wellness Coach
randall@randallgartman.com

Please visit these other sites:
www.randallgartman.com
www.stopbeingoverweight.com
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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: Online Fitness and Nutritional Counselor, Randall Gartman, author of "The the TipTow E-zine," is creator of the home study course, "eMpowering Physical Mastery." To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FR*EE fitness and nutritional articles and teleclasses, visit www.stopbeingoverweight.com!

Excerpt from Empowering Physical Mastery by Randall Gartman

"The 5 Steps you need to create a compelling future. These steps are probably the 5 largest emotional steps you can take for good health.

• How to create a visual image of a compelling future.
  
• Find out how to manage your thoughts for productive action.
  
• Learn how to create a vivid picture of who you really want to be?
  
• Making your Actions Real
  
• Match your new future with your new past

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Remember, we are measured by the foot; with each step you take, you are one foot closer to success!

Randall Gartman
Certified Fitness Specialist and Nutritionalist
Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

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