14 DAY TRIAL // A new study hopes to offer the key for more exercise. Performed on two groups of overweight women aged 25-40, the study shows that keeping the hands cool actually translates into a boost in workout, MSN Health reports.
Stacy Sims, a research scientist and exercise physiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, conducted the study on 24 women of good health, save for being overweight.
None had worked out long term before, and all were against the idea of sweating and fatigue that comes with intense cardio.
The women were divided into two groups: both used a device that is already used by professional athletes to keep their palms cool, but one was filled with water at 16 degrees Celsius, while the other at 37 degrees.
For 12 weeks, the two groups worked out together for a one-hour weekly session, which included strength training, cardio (treadmill) and core strengthening exercises.
However, it was only the women in the first group – those who could chill their hands – who actually recorded considerable improvements through the duration of the study, MSN Health reports.
“The cooling group shaved more than five minutes off their time for the 1.5 mile treadmill test. They averaged 31.6 minutes at the start and 24.6 minutes at the end. Their exercising heart rate went up, too, 136 beats per minute to 154 beats per minute – a good thing,” the publication says.
“The cooling group also took more than two inches off their waist by end of the 12-week study. That improves not only appearance, but health, since big waists are linked with heart disease. Their blood pressure also went down, from 139/84 to 124/70,” it adds.
By comparison, women in the other group did not register any progress in terms of weight loss or other workout benefits.
Even more, some even dropped out of the study altogether or would skip sessions regularly, presumably because of the discomfort and fatigue they felt while exercising.
“If you reduce the heat stress, you reduce fatigue, sweating and discomfort. You reduce a lot of the physiological barriers that [make] people say, 'I don't want to continue',” Sims says.
She wants to continue her studies on the device on a larger group of people. At the same time, she suggests a little trick for those who work out less regularly: freeze a bottle of water and take it with you when you run; it will keep you palms cool and, as it melts, you can drink the water.