Posted on 05/30/2017 4:48:52 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Though some people actually love physical activity and look forward to it, for many of us, exercising is a mighty drag. Exercise has also had an added PR problem in recent years: A growing body of evidence has shown that it’s not all that good for weight loss, which was probably many people’s reason for doing it in the first place. It may help with weight a little, especially for maintenance, but by and large, if you want to drop pounds, the most effective way is to eat less, not necessarily to exercise more. That said, research in recent years has also illustrated quite persuasively what exercise is good for—and it is actually good for a number of things, including some very profound things, like reducing dementia risk. Here’s what science tells us we should probably keep exercising for, even though we may not love every minute of it.
Reduces inflammation (and cancer and diabetes and…)
This one is a big one, since inflammation may be an underlying cause of a wide range of diseases and disorders in both body and brain. Exercise is known to reduce a number of inflammatory markers, like c-reactive protein (CRP) and internleukin-6 (IL-6), which are linked to a number of diseases.
*snip*
It triggers the growth of new brain cells
*snip*
Helps treat depression, and prevent it.
*snip*
Reduces dementia risk
I was a hyperactive child and as such recognized early on the benefits of exercise to help with this problem.
As a student, when I exercised (ran in those days), my grades were through the roof...when I didn't, my grades were fair to middling. And I was depressed.
Just mechanics I guess. But I got with the program and still struggle to stay there.
I am no longer a runner but am an indoor rower now (also lift weights regularly). I have recently upped my distance and time from 5K a day (about 30 minutes) to 12K a day (a little over an hour).
I have noticed a great change in my brain function. Something magical about exercising for over an hour.
My brain now functions.;-)
Might not last for long, but while it is still functioning, I thought I might post this article.
BTW, walking and hiking outdoors is a wonderful elixer for what may ail us.
Best of luck...and get going.
That said, it is rewarding, but it is painful.
It may take age and maturity to appreciate the value produced by pain and suffering.
I like the suffering but it ain't joyful in the moment.
The thing about indoor rowing is that it is done in your den and not on the road or in a pool.
It is convenient.
You develop a love-hate relationship with the machine.
The machine is good for you...may even love you.
But like a drill instructor, it pushes you to do your best.
It seems like the machine is trying to either kill you or save you.
If you wrestle with it, it saves you.
If you walk away from it, you are soon dead.
The REAL deus ex machina.
I don’t suffer well.
It hurts...but when it is over, we are larger...we have grown.
You have probably suffered more than you know. And are larger than when you started out.
Don't underestimate yourself.
I know you from FR...you have posted many great comments.
Keep up the good fight.
Oh TY, you too RoosterRedux!
If you try to lose weight by just cutting calories, you’ll tend to lose muscle and not much fat.
I’ve always been physically active, which I think saved my life in keeping my heart relatively strong so when ischemic heart disease struck I never had a heart attack.
I now am not only physically active as before, but I also exercise daily. For older people exercise is not optional.
I walk about 1.25 miles in the morning and again in the evening.
I was never into sports or exercise...just general physical work around the house and garden.
Anyway I started the "super slow" exercise routine 3 years age at age 72.
Increased my bone density by average of 4% in 2.5 years
Knees are a little "kinky" at 64 and had a hip replacement (lots of wear and tear for a person 5'11" and 185 lbs to do all that running) but am fit (home rehab for the hip said I didn't need them and they were looking at "an apparent 50 instead of a 64").
Periods when I got lazy were accompanied by weight gain and depressed attitude.
We’ve found exercise videos are excellent for getting a workout in. Try it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdzWI6L_rwk
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