'Time' misuses the facts about exercise

[Marlow]

I enjoy reading Time magazine because it usually piques my interest in things I didn't even know I was interested in. This week's cover article is about exercise and on the cover it states, "it won't make you lose weight", which, though literally true, is so misstating the case for exercise as to be grossly subversive. Of course if you exercise and all other things stay equal, it will help you lose weight. It's just that (as they later point out) people tend to eat more after exercise than if they didn't exercise at all. If you restrict the diet of a 100-mile-a-week marathoner to the 2500 calories per day that is best for most adults, of course s/he'll end up thinner. :evil:

[Pego]

I did not get to the newest Time yet, so let me just ask you a question. Isn't an active life style full equivalent of exercise? If I weed the garden, plant thousands of bulbs every year, build sidewalks, haul the groceries up and down stairs, walk around town, shovel the snow, is it not an equivalent of "formal" exercise program?

[Marlow]

I did not get to the newest Time yet, so let me just ask you a question. Isn't an active life style full equivalent of exercise? If I weed the garden, plant thousands of bulbs every year, build sidewalks, haul the groceries up and down stairs, walk around town, shovel the snow, is it not an equivalent of "formal" exercise program?

I would think so. If your pulse is elevated for 20+ minutes, Mr. Cooper says you're aerobicizin'! But look how many people DON'T do much of anything and wonder why they're so . . . y'know. :x

[lovetorun]

Most people don't get enough cardio/aerobic exercise even with an "active" lifestyle. You need to do at least 3-4 sessions per week of 20-30 minutes where your heart rate is about 70% of Max. None of those activities you mentioned except maybe the walking (it would really be fast walking!) would suffice. The stair climbing is great, but you won't be doing that for more than a minute or two.

[Pego]

Most people don't get enough cardio/aerobic exercise even with an "active" lifestyle. You need to do at least 3-4 sessions per week of 20-30 minutes where your heart rate is about 70% of Max. None of those activities you mentioned except maybe the walking (it would really be fast walking!) would suffice. The stair climbing is great, but you won't be doing that for more than a minute or two.

You say "you need to". You need to to accomplish what?
Feeling better? Perhaps for some.
Stay "in shape"? Yes.
Be healthier? No.
Live longer? No.

Is there anything else I left out?

[Daisy]

Is there anything else I left out?

Look good? Everyone wants those six pack abs.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: 'Time' misuses the facts about exercise

I enjoy reading Time magazine because it usually piques my interest in things I didn't even know I was interested in. This week's cover article is about exercise and on the cover it states, "it won't make you lose weight", which, though literally true, is so misstating the case for exercise as to be grossly subversive. Of course if you exercise and all other things stay equal, it will help you lose weight. It's just that (as they later point out) people tend to eat more after exercise than if they didn't exercise at all. If you restrict the diet of a 100-mile-a-week marathoner to the 2500 calories per day that is best for most adults, of course s/he'll end up thinner. :evil:

It should have read-"it won't necessarily make you lose weight", You can wipe out a 5 miler with a big piece of apple pie alamode, calorie wise. If you really, really want to be fat you can achieve that goal. :P

[The Kitchen Cynic]

'Time' misuses the facts? I'm shocked . . . shocked . . .

[TrackDaddy]

Time just discouraged millions of people who dont understand the balance.

Exercise (activity) may not in and of itself be enough for sustained weight loss, but it's critical for overall fitness and health.

And you gain lose inches (without losing weight) and become overall leaner from exercise even without dieting.

[Marlow]

Time just discouraged millions of people who dont understand the balance.

Zackly. Literally millions just found a good excuse NOT to drag their sorry butts out of bed or over to the gym or out on the run or bike or swim.
I did an extra 20 minutes in the weight room today in their memory!

[lonewolf]

I found that when I was capable of "getting in shape", I did not lose weight but concentrated the same weight in less volume and sorta re-distributed it.

[TrackDaddy]

Y'all are gonna deny it, be we three think alike.

[Helen S]

Focusing on what you bathroom scale tells you does not really tell the whole story. I am sure lots of people start an excercise program, work out for six weeks, and give up in disgust when their scale says they did not lose any weight. What they don't know is that they really lost 3 percent of their body fat, and grew some muscle to replace that wieght.
I also felt that blanketing all exercisers as rewarding themselves with extra calories was incorrect.

[lovetorun]

Most people don't get enough cardio/aerobic exercise even with an "active" lifestyle. You need to do at least 3-4 sessions per week of 20-30 minutes where your heart rate is about 70% of Max. None of those activities you mentioned except maybe the walking (it would really be fast walking!) would suffice. The stair climbing is great, but you won't be doing that for more than a minute or two.

You say "you need to". You need to to accomplish what?
Feeling better? Perhaps for some.
Stay "in shape"? Yes.
Be healthier? No.
Live longer? No.

Is there anything else I left out?

I think there is no question that you would be healthier...the live longer question is not so clear. BTW I have never exercised to live longer, but to have a better quality of life as long as I do live.

[Pego]

I think there is no question that you would be healthier...

I beg to differ that a formal, regular aerobic exercise would lead to health any more than an active lifestyle. That is my contention from the beginning. You say, there is no question about it. Your opinion, or do you have supportive evidence?