Is exercise pointless?

lotusfromthemud

Maybe hangin' out under a bridge somewhere, looking for goars, I'da know.

I do know this - a year ago I could barely get off the couch. It was all I could do just to stagger through a day at my lame *kitten* desk job. Now I feel like bionic superman on crank. Oh yeah,,, sit on the couch if you wanna'... I like to move it move it. :laugh:

Preach it! "bionic superman on crank" is now my new favorite descriptor. I shall be "bionic wonder woman on crank".:laugh:

HealthyChanges2010

I agree with Vinjama.
Do not feed the troll!

oh NO, this is a question asked by a number of ppl a week, this is a definitely geniune question some ppl just don't get at first.

I workout for all the reasons already listed and well, I hear ppl say they workout for food, I used to laugh now it makes me sorta half roll my eyes. Excercise for food, really? I never think of eating more food when I am working out, I may earn more cals back but it's not something I actually run out and do to eat an extra sandwich or hot fudge sundae. Maybe I'm missing something? Oh wait, I'm not.:flowerforyou:

For me excercise is done because I love how my body feels while doing it, after doing it and the whole day long I get benefits. It's good stuff, healthy stuff!

Really try it,
You'll love it
Becca:flowerforyou:

HealthyChanges2010

100 Benefits of Exercise


A major and often overlooked benefit of exercise is that it helps you to sleep better.

But the benefits of exercise don't stop there. Below are 100 other benefits of exercise (not necessarily in order of importance).
1. Reduces blood pressure
2. Reduces cholesteral levels
3. Increases the concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol in the blood)
4. Reduces chances for coronary heart disease
5. Increases efficiency of heart and lowers resting heart rate
6. Makes heart muscles stronger
7. Improves contractile function of the heart
8. Strengthens lungs
9. Improves respiratory function
10. Improves cardiovascular endurance and performance
11. Provides more oxygen to body, including organs and muscles
12. Provides more nutrient supply to the body
13. Reduces chances for stroke
14. Helps to alleviate varicose veins
15. Increases metabolic rate
16. Stimulates digestion
17. Makes digestion more efficient
18. Stimulates intestinal movements, resulting in better elimination of wastes
19. Reduces changes for colon cancer
20. Strengthens and develops muscles
21. Increases efficiency of muscles
22. Benefits joints due to stronger muscles
23. Helps maintain cartilage health in the joints
24. Eases muscular tension
25. Alleviates back problems
26. Increases muscle flexible and agility
27. Improves speed of muscle contraction and reaction time
28. More healthy skin due to the fact that skin pores open more during exercise, resulting in more efficient removal of dirt and impurities
29. Burns up and removes toxins from body
30. Increases blood flow to the brain
31. Stimulates growth of nerve cells in memory center of the brain
32. Improves various indexes of psychological functioning
33. Enhances brain functioning by increasing the amount of oxygen available to it
34. Increases sense of well being
35. Increases resistance to pain because endorphin levels are elevated
36. Increases sense of excitement because hormone epinephrine is elevated
37. Alleviates boredom
38. Lessens worry and tension
39. Reduces stress by removing lactic acid from blood
40. Alleviates anxiety and/or pain because tranquilizing effect of exercise lasts for several hours
41. Enhances mood
42. Reduces anxiety more effectively and safely than anxiety-reducing medication
43. Boosts energy
44. Improves self-esteem and self-confidence since body and mind are improved and strengthened
45. Increases sense of self control
46. Provides source of pleasure and fun
47. Releases anger and negative emotions
48. Reduces depression more effective than short or long-term psychotherapy
49. Enhances coordination, power, timing and balance
50. Boosts immune system functioning
51. Reduces severity of asthma
52. Improves functioning of organs
53. Can relieve tension headaches
54. Can reduce the urge to smoke because the adrenaline rush and stress relief from a brief workout can replace similar feelings smokers get from tobacco
55. Burns calories
56. Causes body to use calories more efficiently
57. Causes weight loss
58. Allows one to keep lost weight from returning
59. Can act as an appetite suppressant
60. Decreases fat tissue
61. Improves physical appearance
62. Enhances one's image and opinion of the body
63. Improves bone density and prevents osteoporosis
64. Reduces joint discomfort
65. Help manage arthritis
66. Allows one to feel better about their bodies and enjoy sex more as a result
67. Provides enhanced ability to achieve orgasm
68. Allows for greater sexual satisfaction
69. Can reduce or eliminate impotence due to increased blood flow
70. Prevents or manages type 2 diabetes
71. Helps insulin work better, lowering blood sugar
72. Has a significant salutary effect on fibrinogen levels
73. Alleviates menstrual cramps
74. Improves athletic performance
75. Can add years to one's life
76. Enhances quality of life
77. Reduces pain and disability
78. Improves glycogen storage
79. Reduces risk of developing certain types of cancers of the colon, prostate, uterine lining and breast and other chronic diseases
80. Regulates hormones
81. Allows you to overcome illness or injury more quickly
82. Can lessen medical bills
83. Reduces anxiety by causing fewer worries about health
84. Can allow for better performance at work
85. Allows one to stay independent as they get older
86. Can keep health care insurance premiums lower
87. Makes one more attractive to potential mates
88. Allows for healthy pregnancy
89. Increases energy and ability to do things one likes
90. Allows you to be more productive and less stymied by stress and depression
91. Can help make possible increased income due to increased energy
92. Allows one to become more familiar with their body and its functioning
93. Can stimulate mentally
94. Lets one eat more without gaining weight
95. Provides a healthy break from work
96. Adds variety and spice to life
97. Gives one increased ability to defend oneself and loved ones if needed
98. Provides a natural high afterwards, such as runners' high
99. Provides heightened alertness
100. Reduces inflammation


http://www.sleeplikethedead.com/exer-100benefits.html

:flowerforyou: This is terrific, glad the OP asked the question, look at all the great responses we got

Thanks for this wonderful list:bigsmile:

denmother46

The more I exercise the more I can eat! Funny though, when I am working out alot I lose the desire for bad/junk food. Also, I don't want to be unable to run around,ride horses,hike and bike when I'm 60 ( which is getting closer everyday). I am just back on MFP after a years absence since 10 lbs have crept on in the last 6 months and they WILL be gone by the end of June. I love food too much so the only waythat works for me is exercise and more exercise.

DocNorton

Right - I'm gonna sit on the fence here (cop out I know)

Yes it SEEMS pointless spending 1 hr doing cardio to "only" burn 500 calories which would equate to:

2 doughnuts
a prepackaged BLT sandwich
1 can of coke, choccy bar and packet of crisps (chips for you guys over the pond) - this was my fave mid afternoon snack !

I could go on with a shed load of foods that add up to 500 calories - such a small amount of food in comparison to such a huge amount of cardio.

BUT

Since I've started doing regular cardio exercise I've not needed to visit my chiropractor - I slipped my L3/4 disc years ago and would guess I have spent approx £2000 ($3000) getting treatment.

I joined my gym 18 months ago and have only spent £500 ($730) and I have never had any problems with my back since - i had one check up and my chiropractor was amazed at how quick my disc had repaired itself.

All that with a little bit of hard work and determination.

Cardio is crap (in my opinion) unless you can find something you love doing and don't see it as mundane repetative cardio exersise.

I started Kick Boxing which I did twice a week and loved it - you get to socialise a lot more than the gym as you have to interact with people.

If you have to do the running machine or cross trainer - get an iPod - or join a gym with a TV on the wall... You'll be surprised how quickly 30 mins can pass when you are watching that episode of Friends or Scrubs or listening to a Podcast or Audio Book etc... Or sticking some music on will help keep the timing for you running etc.

Stick with it - don't feel like it's a chore - think of it as part of your every day life like going to school or work and going to bed... If you see it as an inconvenience you will never want to do it !

Chin up

Chris...

sandyriley

I lost weight on the low carb diet and I discovered that when I exercised I lost weight slower. As soon as I stopped the exercise (3 times a week), I started back loosing again. Exercise is a healthy thing, of course, but I don't think you have to obcess over doing it. I never eat those extra calories it allows you anyway.

crobby

AHHHH I think I gave off the wrong impression. Don't get me wrong! I run three miles every day. BUT, I was just wondering if you do eat up those extra calories gained doesn't it just cancel out what you burned?

MercuryBlue

AHHHH I think I gave off the wrong impression. Don't get me wrong! I run three miles every day. BUT, I was just wondering if you do eat up those extra calories gained doesn't it just cancel out what you burned?

Nope 'cause MFP already calculates a deficit for you. So even if you eat everything you burn, the deficit that MFP created is still there.

Also, exercise is good because it helps get rid of flab!

Lol. When I lose weight through diet alone, I'm skinny but still flabby. When I work out, I'm skinny and hard-bodied and much nicer to look at.

crobby

Thanks for your answers errrbody

ChadRademacher

Or you could just not make up the extra calories that you burn from exercising and you will just lose the weight even quicker. If you exercise enough to lose 500 calories a day for 7 days that is 3500 calories extra you burned that week which equals one pound of fat that you just burned off your body in a week. if you are set to lose 1 pound a week through diet, then you just doubled your weight loss for that week., and I think losing weight is the biggest point of being on this site, so no, exercise is not pointless.

Mirlyn

I think i just need to qoute "Elle" from leagally blonde. Excersice gives you endorphines, endorphines make you happy! Happy people just don't kill people. They just don't.

Hahah that says it all!

MercuryBlue

Yes it SEEMS pointless spending 1 hr doing cardio to "only" burn 500 calories which would equate to:

2 doughnuts
a prepackaged BLT sandwich
1 can of coke, choccy bar and packet of crisps (chips for you guys over the pond) - this was my fave mid afternoon snack !

I could go on with a shed load of foods that add up to 500 calories - such a small amount of food in comparison to such a huge amount of cardio.

500 calories is a LOT if you're eating the right foods.

500 calories, for me, is both breakfast and lunch some days.

Cardio is crap (in my opinion) unless you can find something you love doing and don't see it as mundane repetative cardio exersise.

Yeah, cardio can suck and be repetative, but it's SO GOOD for your heart. And it burns far more calories than any other form of exercise. Of course the ideal exercise plan includes a combination of strength training, cardio and flexibility training.

rlinson

Let's get something straight - A calorie is actually a unit of ENERGY!!! It takes 3500 calories to lose or gain 1 pound. To lose that pound you can do it by eating less, working out more or both. Most likely doing both will provider the faster and more beneficial loss.

Basically think of it like this, if you eat 200 calories worth of food, that is 200 calories of energy you need to do something about. Our bodies need a certain amount of energy every day just to function normally. Simply put, going over that amount will create weight gain, and going under will create weight loss. I think there is a lot more proof on this site that exercise and food consumption control is VERY beneficial and not pointless. In the 5 months I have been doing this I have lost more weight than I expected and realize that my goal IS attainable. Great posts on here btw.

crobby

Yeah, that's what I do on most days but I always get the "starvation mode" warning, so I wasn't sure if it was a good to exercise and not make up the calories.

kgasser

Besides...how else you gonna eat them M&M's and lose weight????
(Oh, come on, you know you all wanted to say it, but everyone else was being so healthy minded that you couldn't!:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :laugh: :bigsmile: )

sonjavon

Or you could just not make up the extra calories that you burn from exercising and you will just lose the weight even quicker. If you exercise enough to lose 500 calories a day for 7 days that is 3500 calories extra you burned that week which equals one pound of fat that you just burned off your body in a week. if you are set to lose 1 pound a week through diet, then you just doubled your weight loss for that week., and I think losing weight is the biggest point of being on this site, so no, exercise is not pointless.

NOT necessarily! As has been stated MFP has a deficit already calculated... if you exercise and burn a lot of calories and then choose not to eat them back - depending on your current state of health, caloric intake, etc... you may actually slow your rate of loss.

Crobby - if you're getting the starvation mode warning - you need to eat back more of your calories. You do not want to net under 1200... your body will begin holding onto as much as it can instead of allowing you to burn the excess.

sonjavon

Besides...how else you gonna eat them M&M's and lose weight????
(Oh, come on, you know you all wanted to say it, but everyone else was being so healthy minded that you couldn't!:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :laugh: :bigsmile: )

Mine is not for M&M's - but yeah, I've been known to find myself on the treadmill at 8PM so that I can earn my Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich!

July24Lioness

Am I the only one that doesn't see the purpose of exercising just to eat a few more calories? It seems to just cancel itself out!

Umm, how do you want your body to look? Lean, long and strong? Or, flabby, weak and "skinny fat"?

That is what you need to ask yourself.

Besides, exercise has a lot more benefits than that..............

Better sleep quality
More Energy
Less Stress
Builds Self Confidence
Better Sex Life (higher Libido)

And that is just to name a few!!!!

lds25

I think i just need to qoute "Elle" from leagally blonde. Excersice gives you endorphines, endorphines make you happy! Happy people just don't kill people. They just don't.

I have to say that I have occassionally lived by this quote. I agree that endorphins definately makes me a much happier person!!

whyflysouth

I'd like to hijack this thread a little and put a twist on it:

Exercising 30 minutes 3 days / week & eating back burned calories

vs

Exercising 45 minutes 5 days / week & eating back burned calories

vs

Exercising 60 - 100 minutes 1 or 2 days / week & eating back burned calories

...
Ultimately, is there really a significant difference between the three when it comes to weight-loss? I'm not saying exercise isn't beneficial, but I'm wondering where the necessity to do it everyday comes from? It is really that imperative that we need exercise and attend the gym the amount of times we do or could we get close to the same results in a less time consuming manner? Trying to find the most efficient time to exercise relationship...

spiralgirl71

Diet and weight loss aside...exercise is important for a healthy heart. I just lost my mom due to heart failure and I have wondered for years if this was avoidable had she exercised at some point in her life...at any point. Based on the age of death of others in her family...she lost 10 years and we all lost having her a bit longer. Exercise is very important. Also, if you build your muscle strength you can avoid some aches and pains because you have a strong body.

jrlenig

No not at all, my constant back pain no so constant anymore. My body now has curves instead of lumps and hey I get to wear clothes from a normal store. I think maybe while you are exercising reminding yourself of why you are doing it will help you remember that exercise is not the point but only the method we have to travel to get to the point!

Yurippe

I agree with Vinjama.
Do not feed the troll!

Troll?? I'm lost, but that's not unusual.

Maybe hangin' out under a bridge somewhere, looking for goars, I'da know.

LOL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

"Do not feed the trolls" and its abbreviation "DNFTT" redirect here. For the Wikimedia essay, see "What is a troll?".
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[2] In addition to the offending poster, the noun “troll” can also refer to the provocative message itself, as in that was an excellent troll you posted. While the term troll and its associated action, trolling, are primarily associated with Internet discourse, media attention in recent years has made such labels highly subjective, with 'trolling' being used to describe many intentionally provocative actions outside of an online context.

Jcrowe0317

Think of exercise as a way of taking care of you. I know that exercise helps prevent many diseases. A good strong body can fight off health. Do the exercise not to loose weight but to improve your overall health. Walking is a good start! By the way, you don't necessarily eat all the calories you burn.

crobby

Okay, so I think I've answered my own question. Last week, I was exercising and not eating back the calories, usually leaving an extra 500 hundred or so. The results weren't great
THIS WEEK, i decided to eat back the calories after the gym... 4 pounds lost!
booo yeah! mfp is a god.
thanks everybody

peggyann47

JUST have to say - I love your profile picture. And I understand your thoughts on exercise.

crobby

JUST have to say - I love your profile picture. And I understand your thoughts on exercise.

thanks