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What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

theguardian.com

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Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#21

Post by jedrek »

I think it's amazing the way we've completely sidelined physical activity - not exercise per se, but any physical activity - in our western lives. Unless you live without a car, there is no requirement for you to walk more than 1000 steps during the day. Wake up, drive to work, sit at your desk, drive to a restaurant for dinner, drive home, plop down on your couch. Rinse, repeat.

Even if you do decide to work out, it tends to be the first thing you drop when you don't have time. Or you worked late. Or you forget your gym clothes. Or you're just too exhausted to go.

We used to be active, our jobs required motion, we had to walk or cycle to work, or even take public transportation - which requires you to at least walk to the stop and back.

Now we literally sit on our asses, day in, day out, and wonder why so many people are obese.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#23

Post by DoodleBuggy »

blammo999 wrote: post #4

Ah yes, let me just conjure up some motivation to get rid of my lack of motivation.

You don't really need motivation to get started, you just have to do it anyway, motivated or not. Start small, go walk for 20 minutes around your neighborhood. Repeat until it becomes a habit and part of your daily routine.

If you like animals and you are responsible enough to be a pet owner, getting a dog can help too.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#24

Post by TheAdamAndChe »

jpm_sd wrote: post #20
TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many signs that testosterone levels today are considerably lower than they have been in the past[1]. [1] http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/18/modern-life-rough-o...

Some research suggests that this is due to endocrine disruptor (female hormone mimicking) pollutants.

It could be due to all sorts of things, like lower lead levels, endocrine disruptors like BPA, lower smoking rates, social and cultural affects that view masculine traits negatively, lower personal autonomy, declining quality of life for most lower and lower-middle class men, and many similar possibilities.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#25

Post by DoodleBuggy »

frankzander wrote: post #22

It's great to have a dog that will be walked every day on every weather. Ok if you have a cold it's not such a great thing but as a desk worker you must go out and walk at least one hour per day around.

I agree with this.

If you like animals and are responsible enough to have what amounts to a light version of a child, then dogs are excellent for encouraging activity since they require daily walks.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#26

Post by DoodleBuggy »

quadcore wrote: post #15

Just in case you need to read this again, exercise changed my life. It simply get rid of the fatigue. Dont take drugs to stay awake, go run half an hour (it really doesn't take more than that to feel tremendous effects).

Indeed, an early morning run or swim will wake you up better than caffeine will.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#27

Post by stinkytaco »

dabbledash wrote: post #13
mendelsd wrote: post #9

This is a UK article, and I'm going to post a UK-centric, male-centric comment (as a UK-based man), but I suspect my comment applies to both genders, and to many health systems around the world. I don't doubt exercise is extremely valuable, and that everyone should be following the advice in TFA. However, I am starting to think that lifestyle recommendations are a way for a public health system to wash its hands of i…

I think if 40% of middle aged men have a testosterone level that's below normal, we've probably misdefined 'normal'. (And conveniently misdefined it in a way that exploits men's fears about aging and masculinity to sell them things.)

I have no idea about the health claims being addressed, but I do feel obligated that normal != healthy and perhaps the original comment is conflating the two.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#28

Post by DoodleBuggy »

jedrek wrote: post #21

I think it's amazing the way we've completely sidelined physical activity - not exercise per se, but any physical activity - in our western lives. Unless you live without a car, there is no requirement for you to walk more than 1000 steps during the day. Wake up, drive to work, sit at your desk, drive to a restaurant for dinner, drive home, plop down on your couch. Rinse, repeat. Even if you do decide to work out, it…

> We used to be active

Being fit, or at least not fat, was also a cultural priority until relatively recently.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#29

Post by pjc50 »

mendelsd wrote: post #9

This is a UK article, and I'm going to post a UK-centric, male-centric comment (as a UK-based man), but I suspect my comment applies to both genders, and to many health systems around the world. I don't doubt exercise is extremely valuable, and that everyone should be following the advice in TFA. However, I am starting to think that lifestyle recommendations are a way for a public health system to wash its hands of i…

I've heard that the UK sets its hypothyroidism threshold lower than other countries, so it's harder to get treated. But I don't have the stats to hand.

> When it comes to chronic conditions and diseases of old age, you (or nobody) are the principal investigator.

Well put. This is very important no matter what system you're in. It's a real problem when mental health conditions impair your judgement and ability to make these kind of decisions yourself.

Re: What's the ultimate way to defy depression, disease and early death? Exercise

#30

Post by [deleted] »

jedrek wrote: post #21

I think it's amazing the way we've completely sidelined physical activity - not exercise per se, but any physical activity - in our western lives. Unless you live without a car, there is no requirement for you to walk more than 1000 steps during the day. Wake up, drive to work, sit at your desk, drive to a restaurant for dinner, drive home, plop down on your couch. Rinse, repeat. Even if you do decide to work out, it…

[deleted]
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