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Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

well.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#11

Post by tomjakubowski »

Swizec wrote: post #8
vsareto wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sometimes high intensity stop all other thoughts is exactly what the brain needs. HIIT has been great for the rest of the day as long as I don't overdo it, but yeah, completely focused on the workout during that.

I find HIIT doesn’t do it for me. Can’t push myself hard enough in such short bursts because I have ridiculous cardio conditioning* from running. Boxing is great because it’s hiit but with technique and tactics and strategy. * ridiculous conditioning in that I can keep average heart rate at 155bpm for 2 hours no problem. Most hiit isn’t long enough to get me above 110

What do you normally do to get to a 155 bpm heart rate? Not an expert but when I've done HIIT workouts, they've always started with a mild warm up to elevate the heart rate. Maybe you'd benefit from something more strenuous to start.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#12

Post by mantas »

Swizec wrote: post #5
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #2

Rodent studies aren't really great for measuring this because it's nearly impossible to control for the rodents' enjoyment of each exercise. We know that rodents enjoy running wheels because they use them voluntarily. It's not surprising that the exercise they enjoy is the one that seems to produce the most benefits. For humans: Doing any exercise is better than doing no exercise. Doing frequent exercise is better th…

Running and walking seems to be particularly good for thinking. Could be a link to our evolution, or the fact that it’s a simple exercise you don’t have to focus on and are free to think. Sports are great for getting in the zone but usually too mentally taxing for background thinking. Boxing, for example, is amazing relaxation but you really can’t think about anything else during a round. Sometimes high intensity sto…

As a cyclist, I noticed an interesting difference between road cycling and mountain biking. Road cycling is zen meditation. Great for coming up with solutions. Meanwhile MTB is entirely different. No chance to think. But great to remove built up stress.

In my experience, both is necessary in different life situations. And sometimes both. First reduce stress, then evaluate the source and remove it. Otherwise it’s permanent rollercoaster.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#13

Post by hnrodey »

Swizec wrote: post #8
vsareto wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sometimes high intensity stop all other thoughts is exactly what the brain needs. HIIT has been great for the rest of the day as long as I don't overdo it, but yeah, completely focused on the workout during that.

I find HIIT doesn’t do it for me. Can’t push myself hard enough in such short bursts because I have ridiculous cardio conditioning* from running. Boxing is great because it’s hiit but with technique and tactics and strategy. * ridiculous conditioning in that I can keep average heart rate at 155bpm for 2 hours no problem. Most hiit isn’t long enough to get me above 110

I have a lengthy background in hiit (specifically CrossFit). And I say this in the most polite way possible.

You're doing HIIT wrong if you cannot elevate your heart rate beyond 110 bpm. Whatever you're doing, there's a huge gap in the training programming/protocol.

Everyone suffers in CrossFit. Everyone.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#14

Post by dzonga »

huachimingo wrote: post #7

"Solvitur ambulando" - it is solved by walking[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvitur_ambulando

we've evolved to have two legs and walk efficiently. walking is greatly underestimated these days due to mechanical inventions. walk walk at least 5 miles daily. now I walk before starting work - feel a burst of energy, mind is cleared up. I try walk slowly.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#15

Post by conistonwater »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #2

Rodent studies aren't really great for measuring this because it's nearly impossible to control for the rodents' enjoyment of each exercise. We know that rodents enjoy running wheels because they use them voluntarily. It's not surprising that the exercise they enjoy is the one that seems to produce the most benefits. For humans: Doing any exercise is better than doing no exercise. Doing frequent exercise is better th…

> even if it's just getting outside and seeing other people in passing as you run past

There is nothing social about that at all, that's just not what the word means.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#16

Post by swader999 »

tomjakubowski wrote: post #11
Swizec wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find HIIT doesn’t do it for me. Can’t push myself hard enough in such short bursts because I have ridiculous cardio conditioning* from running. Boxing is great because it’s hiit but with technique and tactics and strategy. * ridiculous conditioning in that I can keep average heart rate at 155bpm for 2 hours no problem. Most hiit isn’t long enough to get me above 110

What do you normally do to get to a 155 bpm heart rate? Not an expert but when I've done HIIT workouts, they've always started with a mild warm up to elevate the heart rate. Maybe you'd benefit from something more strenuous to start.

Sprint up hill or grab onto straps and try repeated jumps into the air from a deep squat. Try adding a weighted vest if this isn't enough. If that doesn't work you should join the Navy Seals.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#17

Post by conistonwater »

Swizec wrote: post #8
vsareto wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Sometimes high intensity stop all other thoughts is exactly what the brain needs. HIIT has been great for the rest of the day as long as I don't overdo it, but yeah, completely focused on the workout during that.

I find HIIT doesn’t do it for me. Can’t push myself hard enough in such short bursts because I have ridiculous cardio conditioning* from running. Boxing is great because it’s hiit but with technique and tactics and strategy. * ridiculous conditioning in that I can keep average heart rate at 155bpm for 2 hours no problem. Most hiit isn’t long enough to get me above 110

HIIT means all-out sprints with short rests in between, but that's (unfortunately) not how it's presented in social media sometimes. No matter your shape, running all-out sprints in that particular way will get you to the max heart rate. It's just there are too many people misusing the word now.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#18

Post by bosswipe »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #2

Rodent studies aren't really great for measuring this because it's nearly impossible to control for the rodents' enjoyment of each exercise. We know that rodents enjoy running wheels because they use them voluntarily. It's not surprising that the exercise they enjoy is the one that seems to produce the most benefits. For humans: Doing any exercise is better than doing no exercise. Doing frequent exercise is better th…

I've always hated the idea of gyms or solitary exercize because of the social/fun factor. Why do a boring workout when you could play basketball or tennis or a hundred other active social activities. Admittedly it was easier to find sports partners when I was in college but it's still not that hard to find as an adult with a bit of effort.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#19

Post by ipnon »

Anecdotally, high intensity exercise like deadlifts or full sprints doesn't leave much room for thinking. But on a half marathon over a few hours, with nothing but the sound of the wind and your feet on the ground, after the first 15 minutes you've already thought through your plans for today, then after the first hour you've already thought back to that mistake you made last week, then it's uncharted territory. So the ability to do some thinking during low intensity exercise surely contributes some benefits to the brain. It's hard to feel any sort of neurosis at the end of a long run for example.

My guess is that increased heart rate and blood pressure increases, and sustains for a long time, blood flow in the brain compared to sedentary activity or short, high intensity exercise. From my experience, lots of lifting was great for improving mood, but it wasn't until I began running medium and long distances regularly that I felt any smarter than my couch potato baseline.

Re: Which type of exercise is best for the brain? (2016)

#20

Post by redis_mlc »

swader999 wrote: post #16
tomjakubowski wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you normally do to get to a 155 bpm heart rate? Not an expert but when I've done HIIT workouts, they've always started with a mild warm up to elevate the heart rate. Maybe you'd benefit from something more strenuous to start.

Sprint up hill or grab onto straps and try repeated jumps into the air from a deep squat. Try adding a weighted vest if this isn't enough. If that doesn't work you should join the Navy Seals.

Somebodu approaching a 4 minute mile runs at almost double the speed of normal people and is twice as efficient.

That might be what the person mentioned, and I hope he enjoys it while it lasts.

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