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Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#201

Post by sn9 »

dvcrn wrote: post #79

My problem with exercise is simply time. There are a million things I want to do and with a 10-7 work shift, I just can't do much. Staying 30 minutes longer happens easily so it's 7:30. Commuting to the gym would take another 20-30. 1h in the gym and it's 9 (or later). Commuting an hour home and it's 10. Go to supermarket, maybe cook something up and it could easily be 11 already. This leaves 1-2h max to do anything…

Put a treadmill in front of your TV and do all your media consumption from it.

Get some kettlebells and a pull up bar.

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#202

Post by shrimp_emoji »

ams6110 wrote: post #127
r_singh wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Precisely, one should quit all excuses! My father was prescribed to storvas (for cholesterol) over a decade ago... luckily he is an avid reader and soon found out what road the permanent meds lead to. He quit the meds and started working out consistently (never mind spondylitis which he combatted with bed rest) for 10 years (and still continuing). Today, he's over 50 and is killing it in every aspect in life. His min…

I just hate it. Not that I haven't tried. I've tried running, weights, walking. It's boring, and makes me feel tired and irritable. I just want to go to bed after exercise. Not my thing.

You don't get that rush of endorphins which makes you feel godlike, if only briefly? Then try doing it harder. (And with better music.)

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#203

Post by 3pt14159 »

ams6110 wrote: post #127
r_singh wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Precisely, one should quit all excuses! My father was prescribed to storvas (for cholesterol) over a decade ago... luckily he is an avid reader and soon found out what road the permanent meds lead to. He quit the meds and started working out consistently (never mind spondylitis which he combatted with bed rest) for 10 years (and still continuing). Today, he's over 50 and is killing it in every aspect in life. His min…

I just hate it. Not that I haven't tried. I've tried running, weights, walking. It's boring, and makes me feel tired and irritable. I just want to go to bed after exercise. Not my thing.

You just need to exercise every day for a couple of months. Bike everywhere, lift weights / do calisthenics / climb three times a week. After two months of this it starts feeling more fun because it's easier and you'll start seeing progress.

Five years seems like such a very long time when you start. Five years ago I was smoking, consuming way too much sugar, and eating tons of processed foods. Small changes over time and I'm at around 10% body fat, unbelievable lung capacity, and a much stronger psyche and work ethic. I feel like I've gotten younger from 26 to 31, and I'm 32 in June.

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#204

Post by 3131s »

stupidhn wrote: post #200
cpursley wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Gym is marketing bullshit I totally disagree. While you can absolutely get fit without a gym, it's difficult to serious build muscle mass without lifting weights.

> it's difficult to serious build muscle mass without lifting weights. Who said anything about building serious mass? There are many, say, professional fighters who do very little weight training and they look exceptional (literally). You want to get in shape, you don't need a gym. Do hard work for 30 minutes a day. Work that makes you sweaty and tired. Run, sprint, pushups, burpees, anything. You will get in shape.…

Wait until you get an injury. Professional fighters might be an exception because the type of workouts they do (like grappling) recruit many different muscles, but there's a reason that nearly all sprinters for example train with weights. If you don't do any weight training, definitely make sure to cross train with a variety of activities to avoid becoming imbalanced.

That said, you only need a rack, a bar, a bench, and some plates to get the best possible workout with weights. Doing squats, deadlifts, bench press, rows, and olympic lifts is all it takes to become extremely strong and hardened against injuries. Machines are totally unnecessary.

And I'm not even so sure about fighters. Which fighters do you have in mind that explicitly don't do weight training?

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#205

Post by cpeterso »

ams6110 wrote: post #127
r_singh wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Precisely, one should quit all excuses! My father was prescribed to storvas (for cholesterol) over a decade ago... luckily he is an avid reader and soon found out what road the permanent meds lead to. He quit the meds and started working out consistently (never mind spondylitis which he combatted with bed rest) for 10 years (and still continuing). Today, he's over 50 and is killing it in every aspect in life. His min…

I just hate it. Not that I haven't tried. I've tried running, weights, walking. It's boring, and makes me feel tired and irritable. I just want to go to bed after exercise. Not my thing.

I use running as an opportunity to listen to audio books. I've caught up on many classic books, thanks to Audible. I actually look forward to it. :)

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#206

Post by QSIITurbo »

zeteo wrote: post #156

Looking at the funnel plot in fig. 3 in the linked meta-analysis [1], the high precision studies (standard error "randomisation; allocation concealment; blinding of therapists (intervention supervisors); blinding of participants; blinding of outcome assessors; handling of incomplete data (use of intention-to-treat analysis); selective reporting and any other risk of bias." [1] Also, the result was only statistically…

If people used their time to study and learn new things instead of fretting about their exercise, they'd be able to interpret the results of studies like these.

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#207

Post by Zanta »

dv35z wrote: post #104
ck425 wrote: post #70

Does anyone else worry about staying fit as an office worker? As much as I enjoy my career, I might give serious consideration to moving into something more physical in future. While you can easily fit in a decent amount of exercise outside of work if you only work 40 hours, it strikes me as much more efficient to make your work exercise in and off itself. I spent one summer working as a software engineer intern with…

I have mentioned this in previous threads, but here goes: See if there are squash courts in your area. If so, take lessons (commit to 5-10 lessons), and ask the instructor to introduce you to other novice players. The game is exhilerating, easy to learn, low-inpact, high cardio, and has a huge supportive world wide community. In one year, I went from doing no gym / physical activity, to playing squash 3x a week (or m…

I loved squash through undergrad for exactly those reasons - structured, high intensity, fun, low time commitment. But I couldn't call it low-impact; I don't play today because I found the game had too much stop-and-go and heavy direction changes and it was killing my knees and ankles :(

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#208

Post by hmahncke »

zeteo wrote: post #156

Looking at the funnel plot in fig. 3 in the linked meta-analysis [1], the high precision studies (standard error "randomisation; allocation concealment; blinding of therapists (intervention supervisors); blinding of participants; blinding of outcome assessors; handling of incomplete data (use of intention-to-treat analysis); selective reporting and any other risk of bias." [1] Also, the result was only statistically…

Here is a recent Cochrane review looking at high quality studies of aerobic exercise and finding no significant effect in the meta-analysis:

http://www.cochrane.org/CD005381/DEMENTIA_aerobic-exercise-t...

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#209

Post by clock_tower »

interfixus wrote: post #141
theprop wrote: post #86

Do not say you're too busy to exercise. Your productivity is much higher when you exercise. Do not say you're too old to exercise. The older you are, the more crucial it is. Get in the habit. Start with even just 2 intense minutes a day. Once you're in the habit, you'll work out longer.

I can't really say I'm a fan of all the imperatives. I could even choose to consider them a bit on the rude side.

If it makes you feel any better, remember that a lot of these people would be preaching Anglicanism in Hawaii if they'd been born 150 years ago.

Re: Exercise 'keeps the mind sharp' in over-50s, study finds

#210

Post by stupidhn »

3131s wrote: post #204
stupidhn wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's difficult to serious build muscle mass without lifting weights. Who said anything about building serious mass? There are many, say, professional fighters who do very little weight training and they look exceptional (literally). You want to get in shape, you don't need a gym. Do hard work for 30 minutes a day. Work that makes you sweaty and tired. Run, sprint, pushups, burpees, anything. You will get in shape.…

Wait until you get an injury. Professional fighters might be an exception because the type of workouts they do (like grappling) recruit many different muscles, but there's a reason that nearly all sprinters for example train with weights. If you don't do any weight training, definitely make sure to cross train with a variety of activities to avoid becoming imbalanced. That said, you only need a rack, a bar, a bench,…

"Which fighters do you have in mind that explicitly don't do weight training?"

The fighters at my gym.

I guess I can't say for certain what the pros do or do not, but I assume some of the competition amateurs I see are doing the best they can. And they look like it. And I know that guys like Conor McGregor have made statements about doing purely "functional exercise". I'm sure some pro fighters weight-train, because it has obvious benefits. It's also hard to sustain muscle in a cardio-focussed sport.

I'm definitely a weight-training advocate, as well. I'm a believer that in order to "get stronger" you have lift heavier and heavier things. That's only really feasible at the gym. I try to get there a couple times a week.

On the other hand, so many people who are starting out try to get some heavy duty "system" in place before they feel they can begin. I see these people at the gym; there for 2 hours, putting everything in their phone, not even working up a sweat. It's not that complicated; just do work.

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