Recent Research Shows Ways to Lose Weight While Sitting at Your Desk

Chances are you might not be familiar with the exact location of your soleus muscles. However, as per a pioneering study conducted at the University of Houston, a simple movement of these muscles while seated could potentially aid in preventing high blood sugar and obesity.

Here is the account...

It has come to light that the soleus muscles, positioned at the rear of your legs (in your calves) from just below your knees to your ankles, possess unique attributes that distinguish them from most other muscles in your body.

The researchers from Texas propose that even a minor movement of these muscles can assist in drawing blood sugar and blood fats out of circulation, thereby enhancing your metabolism to burn calories for several hours.

Enhances Metabolism More Effectively than Cardio Exercise

The researchers in Houston have uncovered that despite these muscles constituting only about one percent of your body weight, they can have a positive impact on the metabolic health of the remaining 99 percent of your body.

They have devised an exercise targeting these muscles called the "soleus pushup," which can be executed while seated and improves the body's management of blood sugar. The findings indicate that the prolonged effects of the soleus pushup on oxidative metabolism surpass those of aerobic exercise, weight loss, or intermittent fasting. (Oxidative metabolism is vital for fat burning - it is the process where muscles utilize oxygen to burn blood sugar and fats.)¹

Researcher Marc Hamilton, Ph.D., states, "We never envisioned that this muscle harbors such potential. It has been present in our bodies all this while, yet no one explored how to leverage it to optimize our health until now. When activated correctly, the soleus muscle can significantly elevate local oxidative metabolism levels for hours, not just minutes, by using a different fuel mixture."

Why Activating Soleus Muscles is Important

Throughout the study, the researchers investigated what powers the movement of the soleus muscles and found that they consume minimal glycogen - the body's carbohydrate reservoir that fuels most muscle movements. While other muscles may fatigue as glycogen diminishes, the soleus muscles can persist by continuously extracting glucose and fats from the blood.

To execute a soleus pushup, sit with your feet flat on the ground and raise your heel while keeping the front of your foot planted. As the heel reaches its peak, relax the muscle and let the heel return to the floor. The aim is to contract the calf muscles as the soleus muscles are naturally activated by motor neurons.

The researchers also point out that although a soleus pushup may appear akin to walking, it differs significantly. While walking aims to conserve energy, the soleus pushup maximizes energy consumption by the soleus muscles.

Pioneering Study on Blood Sugar, Weight Loss, and Health

Dr. Hamilton considers this study as "the most significant investigation" carried out at the Metabolic Innovations lab at the University of Houston. He believes it could potentially address a wide array of health concerns linked to prolonged sitting and inactivity - the average American spends about ten hours sitting daily.

Extended periods of sitting, according to Dr. Hamilton, elevate the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Presently, more than half of all Americans - and 80 percent of individuals above the age of 65 - are grappling with metabolic issues associated with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

How to Integrate Soleus Pushups into Your Schedule

It is crucial to mention that the participants in the Texas study were hooked up to equipment that facilitated them in optimizing muscle engagement - equipment that is not readily accessible at home. Furthermore, the ideal duration for performing soleus pushups for desired outcomes remains uncertain. For instance, the study participants sat and performed their soleus exercises for multiple hours.

If you are keen on attempting the soleus pushup, Dr. Hamilton has an online video outlining his research and illustrating the exercise. (You can find it here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaK6TThRMdE) Dr. Hamilton mentions that his lab will soon release more details on how to carry out this exercise, and once available, that information will be shared.