At that point if you don't walk 10k+ steps a day nor lift weight every other day you can't say you care about your long term health.
Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
71–80 of 189 posts
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#72Tabata et al.[1] found in the mid-1990s that just 2-4 minutes of "high-intensity intermittent training may improve both anaerobic and aerobic energy supplying systems significantly." This was popularized as "Tabata training" 20+ years ago. I generally believe that brief bouts of exercise can be very beneficial, especially because they're easier to do consistently over the long-term vs. more time-consuming routines. F…
I think for the average person, looking too carefully at individual studies is failing to see the forest for the trees.
Basically any time we do a study which asks "Is doing a bit more exercise better for you?" the answer is yes. Like doing a single walk around the block every week is better than doing none. Even five minutes of exercise is better than zero. But obviously these have much less positive impact than several hours of moderate to intense exercise weekly. There are diminishing returns but they don't really kick in until you're already pretty fit, they are only really a concern that athletes need to think about.
So in terms of individual decision making things are really simple. Are you not fit? Do you feel bad? Are your basic markers for this looking bad (blood pressure, weight etc.)? Do more exercise. Do what you enjoy, do it safely, and do as much of it as you can as intensely as is reasonable, and the numbers will go in the right direction. This will put you way ahead of the average American in terms of fitness, it's not until a higher level that things really start to get technical.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, I personally do not. I was about to be put in blood pressure medication. Then I started a gym, with a trainer. I noticed that, after the exercise, blood pressure would immediately drop and stay low for a few hours. Over time, the amount of time it spent lower than average increased, and it got lower and lower. It crossed 24h. Now? I can go to the gym Mon/Wed/Fri and it will remain low at all times. I did stop f…
And it could skyrocket for example if you get into a stressful situation. And you wouldn't notice that you are over 180+. And one day you get a stroke and become paralyzed. Sure, do not take the medication. These exists since the 40s, there is nothing wrong with them.
Do you have a well-regarded source that recommends taking medication for blood pressure that is well-managed by exercise and diet?
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#74the research metric I'm interested in is "if you exercise for 5 minutes, you should expect to live 1 minute longer" and I would look at that and say "so I lost 4 mins? no thanks" but if it ever comes out with a surplus, I'll turn on a dime (and turning on a dime for 5 minutes a day probably lowers blood pressure)
You need to consider quality of life too. Maybe you only gain one minute, but you'll age much better with a habit of exercise and stretching.
your point gets made over and over and over, I get it, health nuts have a list of things that they think are healthy.
My point, that there's a cost to all this that might not get repaid, is a fresh take that you never see unless you've read one of my other comments making the point.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#75Tabata et al.[1] found in the mid-1990s that just 2-4 minutes of "high-intensity intermittent training may improve both anaerobic and aerobic energy supplying systems significantly." This was popularized as "Tabata training" 20+ years ago. I generally believe that brief bouts of exercise can be very beneficial, especially because they're easier to do consistently over the long-term vs. more time-consuming routines. F…
I think for the average person, looking too carefully at individual studies is failing to see the forest for the trees. Basically any time we do a study which asks "Is doing a bit more exercise better for you?" the answer is yes. Like doing a single walk around the block every week is better than doing none. Even five minutes of exercise is better than zero. But obviously these have much less positive impact than sev…
While it's true that doing any amount more exercise is beneficial to the average person, they may not necessarily know/feel it. As we so often see super fit people in the media, it's easy to think we need to do hours of exercise daily for any benefit. Easy to then think "what's the point? I'll never be super fit" and do nothing. Recinforcing the narrative (including publication of studies) that no, even a small amount of execise is quite beneficial, is encouraging for the average person.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#76GASP, exercise is good!? No way. The hard part is finding time and having the motivation. Particularly the latter. There's constantly about 49 other things that feel like they need doing more than purposely exercising and wearing myself out even more than I'm already worn out.
The greatest misconception about exercise is this "if you're tired your best course of action would be to abstain from the thing that will make you more tired" train of thought. Exercise doesn't always work like this. Yes you'll have bad days, but you'll find yourself more energised most of the time and mentally more at peace. Thinking it will make you more tired can often be just a preconception. It's like that clas…
> Exercise doesn't always work like this. Yes you'll have bad days, but you'll find yourself more energised most of the time and mentally more at peace.
Is there anything that will convince you this isn't true for all (perhaps not even most) people?
The right type of exercise matters. I've often gone on bouts of cardio on a treadmill for months at a time (multiple times a week - at least 30 minutes each session). It never ceased to suck.
I can do a hike and never feel bad. But a treadmill or cycling device? Always feels bad. I hope it benefits me in the long run, because it definitely reduces the quality of life on days I do it.
My only real hope is to find some other kind of cardio that doesn't annoy as much.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
Youtube debates sound like a way to raise blood pressure immensely
There is trump vs harris; or vi vs emacs. One will raise blood pressure more than the other.
Especially when you discover that Trump uses Emacs, and Harris uses vi. No wonder she lost the election. Trump simply typed M-x win-election.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
The greatest misconception about exercise is this "if you're tired your best course of action would be to abstain from the thing that will make you more tired" train of thought. Exercise doesn't always work like this. Yes you'll have bad days, but you'll find yourself more energised most of the time and mentally more at peace. Thinking it will make you more tired can often be just a preconception. It's like that clas…
> Exercise doesn't always work like this. Yes you'll have bad days, but you'll find yourself more energised most of the time and mentally more at peace. Is there anything that will convince you this isn't true for all (perhaps not even most) people? The right type of exercise matters. I've often gone on bouts of cardio on a treadmill for months at a time (multiple times a week - at least 30 minutes each session). It…
BeatSaber maybe? Something addictive is better even if it is less effective. I also do FitXR, which is more effective, but requires more of a grinding mindset so I often mix it with BeatSaber, which doesn’t grind.
I would experiment at least, there are things. A good instructor in an aerobics class can also help, although I find that too hit or miss to be sustainable.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#79Tabata et al.[1] found in the mid-1990s that just 2-4 minutes of "high-intensity intermittent training may improve both anaerobic and aerobic energy supplying systems significantly." This was popularized as "Tabata training" 20+ years ago. I generally believe that brief bouts of exercise can be very beneficial, especially because they're easier to do consistently over the long-term vs. more time-consuming routines. F…
Nitpick: In Tabata's research, "high intensity" meant 170% of VO2max - definitely not easier to do consistently, even if you can voluntarily sustain 170% VO2max. Popular "HIIT" methodology is only loosely inspired by it, and the mechanisms for their merits would be largely unrelated to that of the original Tabata protocol's benefits (which was about demonstrating a way for elite athletes to push anaerobic capacity at…
>I agree shorter workouts are much easier to stick to though, especially since I'm easily bored.
Walking is one of the best mild exercises, if you can do it in a safe place, where you can't trip or fall into a hole or be mugged (or some other risk), because you can think while walking. So you can use the time to think about your work (if applicable, like for software people, at least in some cases), or your life, or anything else. You can also not think deliberately (although thoughts may come anyway), and just enjoy the walk.
For example, I think about my side projects while walking, and have been surprised to find that I have sometime made good progress on some of them while doing so.
Re: Five minutes of exercise a day could lower blood pressure
#80For anyone over 60 I recommend 3 sets of full squats before bed for a good night's sleep and strength for hill walking and climbing stairs.
I'm not over 60, yet, and I feel there are likely many, myself included, who don't know what a "set of full squats" is, exactly.. when you recommend such things could you at least say what that is thanks?