Health benefits of regular exercise

[ultimate]

Most of us train to look better. Have you ever wonder what are the health benefits of regular exercise? Reduce risk of cancer, cardiovascular, physical injuries (like broken bone), diabetes, obesity etc? What are benefits anaerobics versus aerobics, flexibility is part of the fitness equation etc.

[jonathan]

For me, it's rather simple.

Assuming I live to be sixty, seventy, eighty and beyond, I want to be like those very elderly Japanese sensei, can eat, sh*t, sleep, squat and train as per usual. As far as I know, there are a few ways to achieve this. One is to constantly practice martials arts. The Japanese have plenty of sprightly old men doing kendo, karate, judo, blah blah blah. Another is to lift heavy stuff. The 40s strongmen of the West all lifted heavy stuff and most lived hale and healthy till their 60s and 70s. We have Tan Howe Liang in his seventies, and still lifting, as a local example.

Reduce risk of cancer and whatnot, well, can't really do anything about that so shan't worry. What I really fear is to have bad joints, bad back, weak everything, can't walk, have to wear pampers, can't feed myself, hooked onto an IV stuck on a bed just waiting to die. No thank you. Illnesses and diseases, another story, but I ain't going to be the sort to fall down, break my hip and then die a few weeks later.

So I choose to lift heavy stuff, because it's something that benefits me for life and can be done for as long as I live. Any exercise you can do regardless of age is a good, regenerative one. Beware of denegenerative "exercises"! I.e. Those that only the young do. If only the young can do it and the old can't, you've got to wonder about the "benefits".

[ultimate]

jonathan said:

For me, it's rather simple.

Assuming I live to be sixty, seventy, eighty and beyond, I want to be like those very elderly Japanese sensei, can eat, sh*t, sleep, squat and train as per usual. As far as I know, there are a few ways to achieve this. One is to constantly practice martials arts. The Japanese have plenty of sprightly old men doing kendo, karate, judo, blah blah blah. Another is to lift heavy stuff. The 40s strongmen of the West all lifted heavy stuff and most lived hale and healthy till their 60s and 70s. We have Tan Howe Liang in his seventies, and still lifting, as a local example.

Reduce risk of cancer and whatnot, well, can't really do anything about that so shan't worry. What I really fear is to have bad joints, bad back, weak everything, can't walk, have to wear pampers, can't feed myself, hooked onto an IV stuck on a bed just waiting to die. No thank you. Illnesses and diseases, another story, but I ain't going to be the sort to fall down, break my hip and then die a few weeks later.

So I choose to lift heavy stuff, because it's something that benefits me for life and can be done for as long as I live. Any exercise you can do regardless of age is a good, regenerative one. Beware of denegenerative "exercises"! I.e. Those that only the young do. If only the young can do it and the old can't, you've got to wonder about the "benefits".

I am starting to wonder that aerobics seems to have a bigger anti-cancer and anti-heart attack effect as they do seem to limit growth (more control cell division) and condition the heart more. Weight training is good for speeding up the metabolic rate, strengthen the joints and prevent osteoporosis.

[Hardcore]

All i care is when I get to the gym... i'm the strongest

[jonathan]

ultimate said:

[I am starting to wonder that aerobics seems to have a bigger anti-cancer and anti-heart attack effect as they do seem to limit growth (more control cell division) and condition the heart more. Weight training is good for speeding up the metabolic rate, strengthen the joints and prevent osteoporosis.

The funny thing about aerobics... recently three people in the SAF died just like that during or after running. Every year or two someone has to die from running. I've yet to read "Gym user collapses whilst lifting and dies". ;D

[lok3]

jonathan said:

ultimate said:

[I am starting to wonder that aerobics seems to have a bigger anti-cancer and anti-heart attack effect as they do seem to limit growth (more control cell division) and condition the heart more. Weight training is good for speeding up the metabolic rate, strengthen the joints and prevent osteoporosis.

The funny thing about aerobics... recently three people in the SAF died just like that during or after running. Every year or two someone has to die from running. I've yet to read "Gym user collapses whilst lifting and dies". ;D

Erm the ppl doing aerobics:ppl doing anerobic exercises is like 999999:1 so definately, more incidence of sudden death will happen to the aerobic group ;D

[hermanchauw]

Ah, aerobics. The fad is still going around. Only the hardcore people know what to do.

[ultimate]

jonathan said:

ultimate said:

[I am starting to wonder that aerobics seems to have a bigger anti-cancer and anti-heart attack effect as they do seem to limit growth (more control cell division) and condition the heart more. Weight training is good for speeding up the metabolic rate, strengthen the joints and prevent osteoporosis.

The funny thing about aerobics... recently three people in the SAF died just like that during or after running. Every year or two someone has to die from running. I've yet to read "Gym user collapses whilst lifting and dies". ;D

I think either they already have signs of arteriosclerosis which progress from young or they fail to warm up and cool down properly. I used to only do gym three times a week and laughed at the treadmill. But not anymore. Nowadays I do weights, aerobics and stretching for a more all-round health benefits.

[Oracle]

Destress! very impt.. got whacked by customers, colleagues and tight deadline. People will say "go home and rest" but the next day, i will feel mentally tired and down. Buuutt.. after 1 heavy session which u give out ur best, woa, the endorphin flow thru' ur body.. shiok.

[jonathan]

lok3 said:

jonathan said:

The funny thing about aerobics... recently three people in the SAF died just like that during or after running. Every year or two someone has to die from running. I've yet to read "Gym user collapses whilst lifting and dies". ;D

Erm the ppl doing aerobics:ppl doing anerobic exercises is like 999999:1 so definately, more incidence of sudden death will happen to the aerobic group ;D

I've thought of that, but come on, how many years has it been? And not even one lifting-related death? Give you another ten years, still absolutely zero? ;D

[jonathan]

ultimate said:

jonathan said:

The funny thing about aerobics... recently three people in the SAF died just like that during or after running. Every year or two someone has to die from running. I've yet to read "Gym user collapses whilst lifting and dies". ;D

I think either they already have signs of arteriosclerosis which progress from young or they fail to warm up and cool down properly. I used to only do gym three times a week and laughed at the treadmill. But not anymore. Nowadays I do weights, aerobics and stretching for a more all-round health benefits.

In others words, they are just sia suay?

[ultimate]

jonathan said:

lok3 said:

Erm the ppl doing aerobics:ppl doing anerobic exercises is like 999999:1 so definately, more incidence of sudden death will happen to the aerobic group ;D

I've thought of that, but come on, how many years has it been? And not even one lifting-related death? Give you another ten years, still absolutely zero? ;D

My opinion is weight training probably do not cause sudden death during the execution itself, hence you dun see reservists died during doing chin up station ( just joking). But seriously, for weight training the injuries are more like joints injuries, sprains, muscle tears (the worst), dislocation etc. I think I ever come across for weight trainers who dun do aerobic, the adaptation for their heart is the left ventricle walls becoming thicker rather than the whole heart becoming bigger. For aerobic the chance of sudden death is much higher because you are directly training the heart. Warming the heart up before going higher intensity and slowly decreasing intensity will minimise the chance of irregular heat beats. This is especially important for those last minute trainers for the IPPT and those who never exercise for ages. SAF always emphasise to their reservist runners not to try too hard for the monentary, your life is more important, if you are feeling uncomfortable (in doubt, not sure what-so-ever), do not push yourself to the limit or over the limit.

[jonathan]

I understand your first point, but the rest is rather fuzzy. I don't think we've ever read of reservists dying during their 2.4kms. Logically yeah, it makes sense not to suddenly push and conk yourself out after not exercising for a long time. But how is it those who die are the regular runners? Granted, odds are greater something will happen since they do it much more often, but doesn't the body adapt? Sometimes I get the chills after reading of such deaths (today a teen soccer player collapsed and died during training), thinking I could have died just like that when I ran distance.

By the way, in what way does lifting train the heart? Or it doesn't?

[lok3]

jonathan said:

I understand your first point, but the rest is rather fuzzy. I don't think we've ever read of reservists dying during their 2.4kms. Logically yeah, it makes sense not to suddenly push and conk yourself out after not exercising for a long time. But how is it those who die are the regular runners? Granted, odds are greater something will happen since they do it much more often, but doesn't the body adapt? Sometimes I get the chills after reading of such deaths (today a teen soccer player collapsed and died during training), thinking I could have died just like that when I ran distance.

By the way, in what way does lifting train the heart? Or it doesn't?

Lifting trains the heart for sure ;D Try squatting and see ur heart pop out ;D Sudden death is usually a result of hearth failure due to existing heart problems like heart palpitations ect Plz dun run if u feel unwell, have flu ect

Sudden death can occur during lifting too, most probally is due to a burst vessle or something/ ;D

[jonathan]

lok3 said:

[I
Lifting trains the heart for sure ;D Try squatting and see ur heart pop out ;D Sudden death is usually a result of hearth failure due to existing heart problems like heart palpitations ect Plz dun run if u feel unwell, have flu ect

Sudden death can occur during lifting too, most probally is due to a burst vessle or something/ ;D

Yar lar, lifting anything heavy will make the heart race! ;D But is it a different kind of stress?

Not that I want to see someone die, but this "death from burst vessals" seems like an urban myth, who has ever died that way from lifting?