There's an active discussion going on over at Diet Blog in response to a survey on eating and exercise habits. One figure that stands out:
Theory of Relativity
It's a case of relativism. What is vigorous to one person, is nothing to someone else. For some people a 100 meter walk might feel 'vigorous'.
Which begs the question: What is vigorous to you?
I had no idea until I started doing CrossFit workouts. If that's not vigorous I don't know what is. I am still having to significantly scale the workouts (but have had quite a setback with a bout of flu virus).
Here is a recent workout:
Now THAT is vigorous exercise.
40% of obese people claimed they did 'vigorous' exercise at least three times per week.I find that difficult to believe - and it's not about being obese or skinny (in fact many skinny people are woefully unfit).
Theory of Relativity
It's a case of relativism. What is vigorous to one person, is nothing to someone else. For some people a 100 meter walk might feel 'vigorous'.
Which begs the question: What is vigorous to you?
I had no idea until I started doing CrossFit workouts. If that's not vigorous I don't know what is. I am still having to significantly scale the workouts (but have had quite a setback with a bout of flu virus).
Here is a recent workout:
- 400m run
- 30 (yes that's thirty repetitions) 'Thrusters' at 65 pounds weight. A thruster is a front squat (i.e. bar across the chest/shoulders). However when coming upward from the squat, some explosive power is required to thrust the bar above your head (i.e. a shoulder press).
- 30 pull-ups (okay so I'm years off achieving this).
Now THAT is vigorous exercise.
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6 Comments:
I think part of the problem is that when one is first starting to exercise a 100 meter walk just might be vigorous. After a short while, it will no longer be, but people just keep walking that 100 meters, or doing their 20 minutes on the cardio machine of their choice without ever upping the intensity or changing machines or going longer. You have to keep pushing yourself all the time because eventually your body will adapt and your vigorous exercise will be easy. If you can read a book on your machine you're probably not working hard enough for your workout to be considered "vigorous." Push yourself, breathe hard, do intervals, race against yourself. Make it fun! Peddling on level 5 for 20 minutes is boring, doing intervals on the hill setting is a blast. Breaking a personal record for 500 meters on the erg is a thrill. Don't just do cardio machines, get out into the weight room and lift some free weights. Find a workout that's fun and challenging and don't be afraid to change it when it becomes boring and mundane.
By Sweet Tart at 1:16 PM
Good advice. How many times do you see people hardly breaking a sweat, no elevation in breathing.
I think "what's the point?" Why pay for an expensive gym membership just so you can read old copies of Us magazine or something?
By Jim at 1:40 PM
I consider running moderately heavy; bicycling (14-16 mph) moderate.
The only exercise I consider vigorous might be my speed work sessions for running.
However, did the survey define vigorous? I might have said I did vigorous exercise if asked like that; because I think most would consider running vigorous...
By Heather at 6:51 AM
I personally consider running in any form to be vigorous.
As for the survey - I believe the term "vigorous" was used as it applies to you - i.e. your own interpretation,
By Jim at 1:16 PM
Vigorous training? How about 90 minutes of Krav Maga?
By feitpingvin at 12:30 PM
quite simply, the best way to lose weight is keep your heart rate at 60-65% for the longest time possible during exercise, while eating a balanced diet. People do have different conceptions of vigorous, not just because some are "soft" or "weak", but because their VO2 maximums are lower. I'm a naturally fat individual, so I get up and run for an hour every morning, keeping my heart rate at 130. If I want to be fit, I do other training (i'm a semi-pro rugby player) during the day / evening. Its easy to have a go at people for not putting the effort in, how about they spend less time on blogs (hypocritical of me writing that I accept) slagging other people off and get a proper sport other than going to the gym! If I could be fit without trying, i'd take that over the slog i go through every day in a second! Fitness is never fun, but its a must if you want to play sport, live longer, and avoid being a chubber.
By Anonymous at 5:19 AM
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