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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)

#61

Post by hluska »

hi41 wrote: post #60
hluska wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey friend, you have no reason to apologize. That idea comes from a former endurance athlete turned fitness blogger named Mark Sisson. It’s quite a famous article amongst competitive long distance athletes, mostly because it ignores how we actually train. Mark Sisson’s entire idea is based off of the idea that long distance athletes train at what’s called tempo pace. Tempo pace is about 80-85% of maximum heart rate.…

Wow, I didn’t know there was so much backstory to this one. Thanks!

No problem at all. You asked a really good question and deserved a suitable answer. Take care and if you get into running, I hope we get to grind hills together someday!!!

Good luck!!!

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

#63

Post by mikestew »

hluska wrote: post #47
mikestew wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense, but we're supposed to counter argue against an anonymous "someone" for which you don't even provide a source? Post a link, we can go from there. That said, I've been a competitive distance runner for over 40 years. What adverse effects should I be seeing? 'cuz I can't think of any.

This idea comes from Mark Sisson and frankly, if you’ve been a competitive runner for that long, you should likely know that and be prepared to argue it. I’ve been a competitive runner for a fraction of that time and have had this conversation so many times it’s muscle memory. The article this idea comes from is based on the idea that long distance runners spending their whole runs at 80 - 85% of their max heart rate…

So it’s based on a crap premise? No wonder I’ve not heard of it, and for that I make no apologies.

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

#64

Post by johnohara »

tomjakubowski wrote: post #56
johnohara wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Continuous fartlek style running will get you to 155+ bpm. Back off the pace to actively recover to 120 bpm, then go after it again. Problem is, you need to be fit to do this right, reducing the risk of injury. Always preferred fartlek to repeat intervals on the track. Both have their place however.

Oh yes, I remember giggling at Fartlek in high school.

Few terms are more perfectly suited to the high school mind.

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

#65

Post by hluska »

mikestew wrote: post #63
hluska wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This idea comes from Mark Sisson and frankly, if you’ve been a competitive runner for that long, you should likely know that and be prepared to argue it. I’ve been a competitive runner for a fraction of that time and have had this conversation so many times it’s muscle memory. The article this idea comes from is based on the idea that long distance runners spending their whole runs at 80 - 85% of their max heart rate…

So it’s based on a crap premise? No wonder I’ve not heard of it, and for that I make no apologies.

No but you could have been kind and helped someone learn. Instead you chose to respond with ego...just like you did now!

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

#66

Post by cma »

tejtm wrote: post #22
llarsson wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, whether results for rodents on a seven week exercise program actually transfer to humans remains to be seen. But I would like to point out that besides subjective preference and enjoyment, it is quite clear to me that humans are pretty crap compared to everything physical, except for long-distance running. We are not the fastest. Not the strongest. Not the best swimmers or climbers. But as an animal, and on a po…

It is the lack of fur allowing sweat cooling that prevents heat stroke that made us the apex predators; we jogged all mega fauna we met to extinction.

Other animals sweat though, like horses, hippos (no fur).

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

#67

Post by AtlasBarfed »

High intensity aerobics probably maximizes anaerobic threshold (if you push hard enough and have a good instructor) with both mental activity (remembering what to do) and the neurocomplexity of dance moves.

Pickup basketball is pretty good too, if you can stay on the court and try hard on defense.

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

#68

Post by JesseMReeves »

They should try qigong.

It’s movement meditation and has existed for thousands of years.

Probably there was a reason why the Chinese didn’t find weight training and endurance exercises as useful, although it was as accessible to them as it is to us.

Difficult to do in rats though.

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

#69

Post by failwhaleshark »

This makes anecdotal, qualitative sense: low-/medium-intensity cardio for extended durations. The challenge is to do volume of such exercise with minimum body impact (not running, especially not barefoot running downhill). Swimming, elliptical, and possibly bicycling seem ideal for least risks of debilitating joint wear and arthritis in later life.

Furthermore, exercise involves inflammation and cellular damage. Does extreme exercise volume increase the risks of cancer, aging, and/or reduction in lifespan?

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

#70

Post by hnrodey »

Swizec wrote: post #58
hnrodey wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I agree. My problem is that I am unable to push myself hard enough for such short periods. My explosivity isn’t good enough. And I have fast recovery which makes typical rest periods too long compared to how hard I’m able to push myself during the thing. Probably would work better if I got a personal trainer to push me specifically rather than in a group/video setting HIIT with heavy weights works very well for me, b…

The training with weights is something else. Olympic weightlifting as part of a metcon is just a different level of physical fitness.

Good luck finding stuff that keeps you interested. That’s all that matters.

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