There’s something I call the Oprah Syndrome (O.S.).
Let me give you an example to illustrate the O.S.
My cousins invited me for a home cooked dinner. They are in their 80’s, in fairly good health and are aware of health foods and making the best nutritional choices possible.
Before we started the meal, they gave me a piece of bread and told me to dip it in olive oil and eat it first before eating anything else.
I asked them when and why they started this new custom.
They told me they were watching Oprah and a guest on her show suggested doing this.
Oprah Syndrome in action; whatever Oprah says, does, or her guests say and do must be correct, so I’ll do it too!
While I have great respect for Oprah and all the success she’s had, sometimes this copycat behavior really irks me. Particularly when I’m in disagreement with the suggestions.
Here’s my case in point.
These past few years Oprah has been using walking as her primary exercise and so have millions of her followers. Yet, she’s still overweight and still looking to get leaner.
While walking is better than no exercise at all, if you want a lean body it’s simply not sufficient exercise. It won’t help you burn fat.
Why?
Because in order to burn fat your body needs to produce fat-burning compounds known as catecholamines. When you produce them, they bind to metabolic receptors on the outer membrane of fat cells, causing their destruction. That’s the scientific explanation, but all it means is that fat cells will shrink.
And what creates this fat burning effect?
This only happens when you exercise at 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. Calculate this range with this formula: 220 minus your age times .60 equals your target heart rate zone.
When you exercise by the numbers and understand what’s required, you’ll burn fat.
So, yes, the Oprah Syndrome can lead you in the right direction, but in this case it’s important to add the missing piece that will get you RESULTS!
shelli
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