WTF?! A recent study found that swearing during exercise makes you stronger.
At the 2018 British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference, a group of scientists, led by Richard Stephens, Ph.D, from Keele University, U.K., presented evidence that cursing can actually enhance your physical performance during a routine workout.
So, what does this mean? It means that all those F-bombs you have probably already dropped while sweating through a Zumba class or session on the elliptical machine may have actually enhanced your fitness level.
If you are thinking to yourself that there is no way this could possibly be true, here’s a quick overview of the study. We hate to admit such a bizarre thing, but it's real.
How The Study Was Conducted
The study was broken up into two parts. The first part consisted of 29 people who were instructed to do sprints on a bike.
First, they performed the exercise while swearing. (Participants were allowed to choose their favorite curse word to yell out, but stick to it once selected.)
Then, after a rest period, they repeated the exercise while repeating a “neutral” word to test against.
The second part of the study involved 52 people who took part in an isometric hand grip test. Again, they were told to cuss out loud initially before repeating the experiment using a neutral word.
The Results Are In...
In both the bicycle sprint test and the isometric hand grip test, participants performed “significantly better” when they were swearing.
In fact, they performed physically up to 8% better when they screamed out words such as “motherf@#ker!” instead of neutral words, such as “table.”
Stephens previously lead a 2009 study involving swearing as a response to pain, which a press release written by Dr. Stephens explained, “We know from our earlier research that swearing makes people more able to tolerate pain. A possible reason for this is that it stimulates the body’s sympathetic nervous system – that’s the system that makes your heart pound when you are in danger.”
Questions That Remain
Researchers determined that people’s heart rates weren’t as elevated when cursing, which is the opposite of what the research team thought would happen.
If the sympathetic nervous system were involved, the heart rate would be increased.
This leaves Dr. Stephens and his fellow researchers back at square one in terms of figuring out exactly how and why cursing enhances your workout. Stephens admitted, “We have yet to understand the full power of swearing [during exercise].”
Currently, the study is under peer review, though they plan to continue investigating in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the total mechanisms involved.
Tips & Tricks To Enhance Your Workout Routine
Now that you know that there is no reason to hold back your curse words during a workout, here are a few more ways you can step up your workout routine.
● Short-circuit your routine.
Create a workout routine that combines cardio and strength training to get rid of fat fast and build muscle.
For example, do a set of squats, jump rope for 60 seconds, do a set of pushups, and hit the jump rope for 60 seconds.
Continue to alternate between cardio and strength to keep your heart rate up while building muscle.
Another good option is to take an hour-long Pilates class because you’ll speed up and slow down consistently.
● Don’t forget about the importance of nutrition.
Minimize the amount of refined carbs, such as white bread and rice, cereal, cookies, and anything with sugar and corn syrup, you consume, while boosting your protein intake.
Foods that are rich in protein include turkey, chicken, and low-fat Greek yogurt.
● Stay well hydrated with lots of water.
Your muscles are 70 – 80 percent water. As a result, dehydration can cause muscle breakdown.
To increase the production of new muscle tissue, it’s crucial that you stay hydrated with water the right balance of electrolytes, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium.
● Don’t give up.
This isn’t necessarily a trick or tip, but it is worth mentioning.
You may want to give up, but for the best workout results, you will have to continue pushing your body by upping your workout game.
Of course, don’t forget to let a few curse words fly. You’ll feel better and it’ll enhance your workout. It’s a win-win!
Citations
- https://www.bps.org.uk/system/files/user-files/Annual%20Conference%202018/AC2018%20ABSTRACT%20BOOK_web.pdf
- http://www.shape.com/fitness/tips/swearing-can-improve-your-workout
- https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/bps-sac050117.php
- http://www.newsweek.com/swearing-exercise-strength-pain-594686
- http://www.scarymommy.com/swearing-while-exercising-beneficial/
