By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Published: 10 October 2007
Run, don't walk, if you want to maximise your chances of living a long and healthy life .
A survey by researchers from the universities of Exeter and Brunel found more than half of men (56 per cent) and over two thirds of women (71 per cent) believe moderate activities, such as walking, are most beneficial for health, counter to the evidence.
Gary O'Donovan, exercise physiologist at the University of Exeter and lead author of the research, published in Preventive Medicine, said: "Time and time again, the largest and most robust studies have shown that vigorously active individuals live longer and enjoy a better quality of life than moderately active individuals and couch potatoes.
Until the mid-1990s, the advice was that all adults should spend at least 20 minutes three times a week engaged in vigorous exercise such as jogging. Surveys in the early 1990s showed that 90 per cent of adults believed this was best for health.
The advice was changed in 1995 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise on five days a week, more than doubling the time involved. Evidence shows moderate exercise is beneficial – but not as much as vigorous exercise.
How much exercise is enough to stay healthy?
Experts recommend adults expend 400 calories a day in order to avoid gaining weight.
Approximate time it takes to burn 400 calories:
* Light to moderate activities: dusting and cleaning, 114 mins; vacuuming or mopping, 82 mins; walking briskly, 75 mins; cycling at 10mph, 71 mins; golf (walking and pulling clubs), 66 mins; mowing the lawn, 63 mins.
* Vigorous activities: tennis (doubles), 48 mins; badminton (competitive singles), 41 mins; circuit training or jogging at 5mph, 36 mins; swimming or running at 6mph, 29 mins; cycling at 16-19mph, 24 mins; running at 8mph, 21 mins.
Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
In order to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than the daily number needed to 'function' right. Weightlifting is very effective because muscles burn calories even when you're sleeping.
Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
format_quote Originally Posted by bewildred
In order to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than the daily number needed to 'function' right. Weightlifting is very effective because muscles burn calories even when you're sleeping.
S.
Jazakallahu-khairun,
Let's say I'm not interested in losing weight (I'm fairly lean). The way the article talks about living a long life, would weight-lifting be sufficient? I mean... is burning calories the main issue or are there other things which contribute to living a long life?
Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
salamualikum.
People should start joggin or run on there 3wheeler like my nan goes bike Windows Messenger riding ---------------------------
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Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
Stretching before you exercise may be 'a waste of time'
17th October 2007
Stretching before exercise may be a waste of time, a study suggests.
The elaborate limbering up routines favoured by many athletes and gym-goers do little to prevent muscle aches and stiffness, researchers found.
Stretching muscles after exercise may be equally pointless, they say. The findings, published today in a respected medical journal, are likely to prove fiercely contentious as fitness experts have long advised that stretching is vital to increase flexibility, improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
However, a number of studies in the last few years have cast doubt on the efficacy of stretching, some even suggesting that it may cause more problems than it solves. Having more pliable muscles, they say, could increase the risk of strains, while stretching can cause tiny tears in muscle tissue.
Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
format_quote Originally Posted by jimbo123
Jazakallahu-khairun,
Let's say I'm not interested in losing weight (I'm fairly lean). The way the article talks about living a long life, would weight-lifting be sufficient? I mean... is burning calories the main issue or are there other things which contribute to living a long life?
A proper diet really hlps. If you are skinny, try weigtlifting and eating lots of protein both in the forms of meats,eggs and in powered supplement form.
Re: Walking isn't enough to keep you fit, say experts
format_quote Originally Posted by Isambard
A proper diet really hlps. If you are skinny, try weigtlifting and eating lots of protein both in the forms of meats,eggs and in powered supplement form.
I'm not skinny and I'm not built, somewhere in-between. Funnily enough I just had a weight-lifting session.
Even if I was skinny, it's possible to have fat around vital organs and this is really bad.
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