Re: What is exercise?

[Guest guest]

One person's def, I recall it is Covert , is that we need to get the large muscles working to the point where we can raise our heart rate to some % of max, and sweat, but still be able to talk clearly, meaning we're not so out of breath that we can't talk. At that level we get the benefit of aerobic exercise. That's sorta weak def, because as I get better adjusted to say 3 mph, I have to increase the load to get to the same point. Like walk more miles, run, use a higher grade.

Obviously, we can't increase that forever. So we need to define the level we need for the exercise benefit and that has been adequately determined - it's about 30 mins 3 times per week, or so. By taking blood pressure measurements, I decided that 3 miles - one hour was best for me, 2 or 3 times per week, but even one time per week is adequate to keep BP in control. And there is no pill or diet that alleviates that req't.

Walking is something you can do and get almost anyone to do regardless of size or age. My son got me to walk up stairs one day and I did 22 floors up and down while he did 26 floors up and down. The only thing that stopped me from going higher was my knee pain. So I think my cardio is not all that bad. I was 67 an he was 40 yo. I think walking prepared me for that better than the other exercise options.

People who do a lot of manual labor seem to suffer more problems than athletes, eg., at least, it doesn't stop them from getting the same stuff that office workers get. Why is that?

I'm not saying yoga isn't good, it just doesn't produce an aerobic action.

I like to do sit-ups, but they don't produce aerobic either. I like to do weight training with small weights, more reps, but that doesn't produce aerobic either. Circuit training might be ok for some.

Just my take.

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: lv2breathe@...

Cc: Lv2breathe@...

Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 6:04 PM

Subject: [ ] What is exercise?

In a message dated 9/25/04 1:16:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, writes:

Message: 2 Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004 06:35:39 -0500 From: "jwwright" <jwwright@...>Subject: Re: Exercise / Not Smoking / Nutrition / WineDefining what exercise IS may be the problem.Difficult to guess what "activity level" is.There's the diff in working a garden (not exercise), versus walking/running (exercise), versus calisthenics (may be exercise), versus stretching/yoga (not exercise), versus weight lifting (not exercise).

Hmmmm I disagree very much that gardening, yoga, and weight lifting are not exercise. They may not be very aerobic but you sure feel different after working a day in the garden and perhaps carrying some dirt bags around and heavy pots then if you just worked at your desk inside. I've worked in the garden on some days and even though tired, I felt very very good...as if I had done a good hike. And yoga and weightlifting are a whole other matter. There is a huge difference between a day without yoga and day with and that is because yoga is performing exercise on our body. You are stretching and deep breathing and your blood is being squeezed throughout your whole body...your glands and organs are being toned. It is most definitely exercise even though it may not be the huff and puff your heart racing a mile a minute kind of exercise.

a