# 23.5 hours: single best thing we can do for our health **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127 "2012-07-23T13:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/21 "2012-07-24T02:56:21Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I hope there are some benefits to what I am doing other than weight loss. I am 100 no now97 lbs overweight. Yes there are. First you are overweight but now probably not nearly as out of shape. Secondly, if it took you years to gain that extra hundred its probably gonna take about as long to loose it. But thats fine too. Imagine in a couple of years you’ll possiblly be way more fit and AND weigh much less if you can keep up this minor but very important trend. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/22 "2012-07-24T03:02:51Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Great, that’s just lovely. I’ve been trying to get to the gym as often as possible for the last couple of years. I currently have a two-month-old and a two-year-old at home. Do you have a video that explains how I can get them taken care of in the morning long enough for my wife to get enough sleep so that she can function, and still make it to the gym in time to do my daily 30 minutes and still get into the lab at something resembling a reasonable hour? Because that’s what I damn well need right now. And, oh yeah, I need to do this on a budget of exactly zero dollars, because I’m a piss-poor grad student. Just admit you don’t want to exercise. You don’t need to threadshit every fitness thread with your excuses. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/23 "2012-07-24T04:03:13Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I wonder if all the food commercials factor into it - I watch far too much tv in the evenings, and it’s wall-to-wall delicious, unhealthy food commercials. And _Law & Order_ reruns. Those cats are ALWAYS eating. Delicious takeout food too, just like you could have at your home in 30 minutes or less… ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/24 "2012-07-24T13:56:22Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I ride a bike 10 miles a day, canoe 5 miles twice a week and do stretching and general exercies 3 days a week. > > After following this for a month and watching my diet I have lost…!!!3 lbs. > > I hope there are some benefits to what I am doing other than weight loss. I am 100 no now97 lbs overweight. A couple of things. I don’t know if this is backed by science at all, but for me, it always seems that it takes a couple of weeks of exercise and eating well for things to kick in. If I am trying to lose weight, the first couple of weeks don’t do much, but then things start to move faster after that. YMMV Also, as has been said, even if you don’t lose the weight, you will have other benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/25 "2012-07-24T15:01:08Z")
Appearance-wise, you’re dead on. It generally takes a couple of weeks of weight loss before you start to notice a change in your body, and a couple of weeks past that before others notice. What I think is most frustrating for people is that they “seem” to be going nowhere at the beginning when they weigh themselves… as others in this thread have pointed out, muscle weighs more than fat. You’re much healthier at the same weight, but people get discouraged, quit, and insist “exercising doesn’t work for me.” ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/26 "2012-08-01T14:52:24Z")
Bumping this because I found [this](http://fitness.gov/mentalhealth.htm). > [@](#): > > Mental Health Benefits of Physical Activity > > Reduced anxiety > Best results with “aerobic exercise” > Best after weeks of regular exercise > Best benefits to those who are low fit to begin with > Best benefits for those high in anxiety to begin with > > Reduced depression > Best after weeks of regular exercise > Best when done several times a week > Best with more vigorous exercise > Best for those who are more depressed (needs more research) > > … > > SUMMARY > > The research literature suggests that for many variables there is now ample evidence that a definite relationship exists between exercise and improved mental health. This is particularly evident in the case of a reduction of anxiety and depression. For these topics, there is now considerable evidence derived from over hundreds of studies with thousands of subjects to support the claim that “exercise is related to a relief in symptoms of depression and anxiety.” Obviously, more research is needed to determine if this overall relationship is “causal,” and there is also a need to examine further some of the variables that are believed to moderate the overall relationship. > > ``` > For many of the other variables related to mental health, the initial meta-analyses have shown evidence that is promising. Compared to the area of depression and anxiety, however, there is either a need for more research on these topics or more quantitative reviews of the expansive research that already exists. For example, the relatively new research into the influence of exercise on positive mood states is in need of more research studies, whereas the area of exercise and self-esteem needs quantitative reviews of the expansive research literature that already exists. At the present time, it appears that aerobic exercise enhances physical self-concept and self-esteem, but more research needs to be done to confirm these initial findings. Exercise is related not only to a relief in symptoms of depression and anxiety but it also seems to be beneficial in enhancing self-esteem, producing more restful sleep, and helping people recover more quickly from psychosocial stressors. None of these relationships is the result of a single study. They are based on most, if not all, of the available research in the English language at the time the meta-analytic review was published. The overall positive patterns of the meta-analytic findings for these variables lends greater confidence that exercise has an important role to play in promoting sound mental health. > > ``` Yesterday, I skipped exercising because I had a pretty rough day and felt too down to exert myself in the evening. Today I’m going to exert myself. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/27 "2012-08-01T15:13:04Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Great, that’s just lovely. I’ve been trying to get to the gym as often as possible for the last couple of years. I currently have a two-month-old and a two-year-old at home. Do you have a video that explains how I can get them taken care of in the morning long enough for my wife to get enough sleep so that she can function, and still make it to the gym in time to do my daily 30 minutes and still get into the lab at something resembling a reasonable hour? Because that’s what I damn well need right now. And, oh yeah, I need to do this on a budget of exactly zero dollars, because I’m a piss-poor grad student. Running after two little kids counts as exercise too, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/28 "2012-08-01T15:45:51Z")
I agree that exercise is a terrific antidote for anxiety and depression - especially outdoor exercise, where you’re getting fresh air and sunshine. I always feel better after I’ve been outside (I’ve heard rumours that sunlight stimulating your pineal gland through your eyes is a good mood-booster). ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/29 "2012-08-01T16:08:53Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Great, that’s just lovely. I’ve been trying to get to the gym as often as possible for the last couple of years. I currently have a two-month-old and a two-year-old at home. Do you have a video that explains how I can get them taken care of in the morning long enough for my wife to get enough sleep so that she can function, and still make it to the gym in time to do my daily 30 minutes and still get into the lab at something resembling a reasonable hour? Because that’s what I damn well need right now. And, oh yeah, I need to do this on a budget of exactly zero dollars, because I’m a piss-poor grad student. Firstly, you don’t have to do it in the morning. I don’t work out until after dinner/dishes/housework are done in the evening. You could go for a walk at lunchtime/afternoon break. You could set up a walking club at work (we have one here and, frankly, I just can’t stand the people in the club but they are getting good health benefits). Second, if you DO need to do it in the morning, you will have to take the young’uns with you. They will think it is cool (well, the two year old anyway) because they are with Daddy. Thirdly, I sounded like you only a couple of months ago. I made every excuse imaginable to my doctor for not exercising. It has taken consideration on my husband’s part for me to be able to go off and work out. He has to pick up some of the things that I would have been doing had I been home. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/30 "2012-08-01T16:18:06Z")
I agree with you, **perfectparanoia** - if there’s a will to get exercise, you will find a way. I tend to not just go for a walk - I need to feel like I’m going for a walk for a reason, so I got a little cart, and I walk for groceries at least a couple of times a week (I have three supermarkets in walking distance). I have a shopping mall in walking distance, so I like to walk over there to do some shopping (which often results in not buying anything, but I like to check things out and walk around in the stores). My bank is in walking distance, so I often wander on over there to do my banking. I have a library in walking distance, too, so I can always wander over there to pick up some dvds or something. Things like that get me motivated to get off the couch and get outside. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/31 "2012-08-01T16:30:51Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Great, that’s just lovely. I’ve been trying to get to the gym as often as possible for the last couple of years. I currently have a two-month-old and a two-year-old at home. Do you have a video that explains how I can get them taken care of in the morning long enough for my wife to get enough sleep so that she can function, and still make it to the gym in time to do my daily 30 minutes and still get into the lab at something resembling a reasonable hour? Because that’s what I damn well need right now. And, oh yeah, I need to do this on a budget of exactly zero dollars, because I’m a piss-poor grad student. Run for 15 minutes, twice a day. Budget: $0. Well, maybe a little bit of extra wear and tear on the sneakers. If you’re a grad student, you have a lot to do, but for the most part it’s on a pretty flexible schedule, so you should be able to fit it in _somewhere_. If you want to, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/32 "2012-08-01T16:31:28Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I agree with you, **perfectparanoia** - if there’s a will to get exercise, you will find a way. What if you don’t have a will? How do you get it if you don’t have it? I have no motivation whatsoever to exercise (I might even have a _negative_ motivation; I’m tired of getting teased by random strangers - and no, it’s not a common occurrence, but it’s the ones you remember), no one to inspire any motivation from outside, and no urgent “oh my God I have to or I’ll die” reason. All I have is this conception that I _should_ (it would be great for my state of mind sometimes, if previous posts are any indication - not that it’s at all serious, but who couldn’t use a mental pick-me-up?), but the minute I come home after eleven and a half hours away at work or on a commute, a mere conception won’t be enough. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/33 "2012-08-01T16:36:07Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I ride a bike 10 miles a day, canoe 5 miles twice a week and do stretching and general exercies 3 days a week. > > After following this for a month and watching my diet I have lost…!!!3 lbs. > > I hope there are some benefits to what I am doing other than weight loss. I am 100 no now97 lbs overweight. There sure are. You’re going to be in much better overall physical shape, as long as you do that sort of exercise. Dunno what you’re doing on the diet front, but don’t expect much in the way of weight loss from exercise: it takes a really impressive amount of exercise to burn the 3500 calories (IIRC) that represent one pound of weight. If your goal is losing weight, you adjust your diet. If your goal is being in good physical shape for whatever weight you’re at, you exercise. If you want to lose weight _and_ get in better shape, you diet and exercise. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/34 "2012-08-01T17:34:34Z")
I always thought it would be neat to hook the TV up to a treadmill so you’d have to walk/run to power the TV. Wonder if you could generate enough power by walking? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/35 "2012-08-01T18:16:31Z")
I don’t have a cite for this, but I’ve read (maybe in Reader’s Digest?) of a study that showed that after 6 weeks of regular exercise, the participants in the study reported a marked improvement in their self-esteem, regardless of the amount of weight lost. Like I said in my OP, it’s not about weight loss. It’s just about exercise. No matter what you weigh or what fitness level you’re at (or no level at all), exercise significantly improves your quality of life. If you’re 500 pounds and you exercise, you’re much better off than if you’re 500 pounds and don’t exercise. And like the video in the OP says, it doesn’t have to be doing a triathalon. Just move more. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/36 "2012-08-01T19:29:07Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > What if you don’t have a will? How do you get it if you don’t have it? > > I have no motivation whatsoever to exercise (I might even have a _negative_ motivation; I’m tired of getting teased by random strangers - and no, it’s not a common occurrence, but it’s the ones you remember), no one to inspire any motivation from outside, and no urgent “oh my God I have to or I’ll die” reason. All I have is this conception that I _should_ (it would be great for my state of mind sometimes, if previous posts are any indication - not that it’s at all serious, but who couldn’t use a mental pick-me-up?), but the minute I come home after eleven and a half hours away at work or on a commute, a mere conception won’t be enough. I just spent the last five minutes staring at this post. It’s such a good question. It reminds me of the Chuck Palahniuk quote that’s currently written on an index card in my purse: “All the effort in the world won’t matter if you’re not inspired.” In order for you to succeed at anything, you have to want the benefits of one action more than the benefits of the alternate action. In other words, until you want to be healthy and in shape MORE than you want the pleasure of getting home from work, putting your feet up, and relaxing, you won’t have the proper motivation to get in shape. (Although I feel compelled to comment that when I frequently had to work 11 hour days, I made sure to work out before I got in to work in the morning.) Anyways, the best advice I can think to give is to read up on the benefits of exercising versus being sedentary, consider them, and just let it roll around in your head. Don’t force yourself, because, to be perfectly honest, it’s just not going to work until you honestly want it (and I have never seen anyone successfully force themselves to want something). Just to add a little anecdote: I have a friend who has spent years letting her weight get out of control. She would have these little spurts of motivation to exercise, which would peter out within a week. She finally got so big that when she flew in an airplane she had to ask the flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. She felt so ashamed and embarrassed that she firmly resolved to take control of her weight, and she’s lost nearly 70 lbs. since that incident on the airplane. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/37 "2012-08-01T19:54:51Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > (Although I feel compelled to comment that when I frequently had to work 11 hour days, I made sure to work out before I got in to work in the morning.) If I had the motivation to get up at 5:50 am to work out and still leave enough time for me to get to work, I wouldn’t be having a motivation issue in the first place. 🙂 Thanks for the rest of your thoughts, though. I’m not sure I’m in a state yet where I’ll honestly want to do a damn thing (I’m also not overweight, which is a key motivator, despite all the posts here that say that exercise is not a part of weight loss), but who knows. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/38 "2012-08-01T20:17:34Z")
Great video. 🙂 For a long time I found it difficult to get enough “exercise”. I’ve found the best and easiest way to get and stay active is to make it a necessary part of your daily lifestyle. Between working a physical job, walking my dogs, commuting via bike, taking the stairs everywhere I can, doing isometrics when I am sitting, etc, I’d say I wouldn’t have the energy to use a gym membership - but I totally would. I also do some strength training at home. The more I do, the more I am capable of. I have more energy (and strength) now than I ever did in the past 10 years, much of which I spent being sedentary. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/39 "2012-08-01T21:15:42Z")
This thread inspired me to become more active. I’ve been trying to get out for a walk every day. I’ve known for a while that exercise is a keystone habit (one of those habits that generally leads to other good habits), but having it put this way in the video, I’d feel stupid not to make a change. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127/40 "2012-08-01T21:26:33Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I always thought it would be neat to hook the TV up to a treadmill so you’d have to walk/run to power the TV. Wonder if you could generate enough power by walking? [Already been done](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxFFL_FkcuY) (would work better if a battery was added; the TV used is a 12 volt DC powered TV but you could also use an AC powered TV without an inverter by bypassing the AC-DC power supply, maybe also add another load if the TV doesn’t draw enough power by itself for a good walking speed, or use a (larger) CRT TV). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/23-5-hours-single-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-health/629127.md?page=3)