The MediumBrow Weight Loss Method

I'm fortunate enough that I don't need to worry too much about keeping off unwanted pounds.  I do try to keep some simple principles in mind (e.g., limit sweets and avoid idle snacking).  That said, it doesn't mean I can't devote a little brain power (hmm...) to the more serious weight problems a lot of people deal with.  And I nailed AP Bio back in the day, good times.  Yes, I think that's expertise enough for a blog post.

With those qualifications in mind, I just may have come up with a few different, possibly revolutionary ways to burn calories that actually involve little physical effort.  Intrigued?  Read on.


Technique 1: Think Harder

Consider that for a second...  Feel any lighter?  Ha OK, but seriously for a minute, the brain requires a disproportionate amount of blood flow - some 20% for just a few pounds of body mass.  Instead of working out other muscles, why not do a handful of brain teasers or something along those lines?  A well-exercised brain may not be the same chick magnet as other developed muscles, but it should be able to burn calories just as well.


A different common-knowledge brain factoid refutes this idea a little.  Supposedly (and this may be an urban legend), we only use 10% of our brain at a time.  And I'd imagine most of that is subconscious, managing bodily functions and so on.  So unfortunately, increasing voluntary mental activity may only burn a few calories more than doing nothing at all.


Technique 2: Breathe More


Going back to 11th grade bio, I seem to recall that oxygen and carbohydrates are converted into energy in a set formula (outside of anaerobic exercise).  So, to burn more carbs, wouldn't you need more oxygen?  To the best of my memory, there's no process to convert ATP back into sugars, so once those carbs are gone, success.

Obviously, MediumBrow does not advocate hyperventilating.  But would a slightly, consistently elevated breathing rate cut back on that fatty tissue?  In my opinion, these serious questions have been insufficiently studied.