April Healthy Living Thread

Care to share about April exercise and activity goals? And anything else health oriented...

I've only been walking daily and doing some yoga practice. It's time to restart exercise classes and I'm headed for one tomorrow morning, time to let go of not being in close proximity to others in group activities since Covid....
My intent is to return to class 2 and 3 times a week.

I need to continue my running and do more high intensity work like hill sprints and intervals, as well as some longer 7-8 mile runs. Looking forward to the lighter warmer evenings as gives me more opportunity to run after work instead of trying to squeeze in during the afternoon somewhere.

First I'm trying to fix my sleep, as exercising without any sleep was making me feel pretty bad and affecting my usually robust immune system, I think.

Imho, high impact aerobic exercise like running is a bad idea, even if you'd got decent running shoes. Cycling or walking is better, but that's just my 2 cents.

From what I have come to understand, the impact on the skeletal system created by it is hard on anyone, damaging to the spinal column eventually for many.

Walking is one of the best there is. Take it as you can, do it as and how much you want and do it as easy as you like.

I respectfully disagree. In what way is it a bad idea? My resting heart rate is 56, which is classed as "athlete" in my age group. So I'm probably not having a heart attack any time soon. My sister has never ran and has all kinds of degenerative joint problems. I have been running for 15 years now and feel a lot healthier than when I didn't run.

The idea that running is bad for you is a common misconception that is often come up with by people who do not have a thorough understanding of the sport or who have experienced negative outcomes from running themselves. However, scientific research has consistently shown that running is a safe and effective way to improve overall health and well-being (see source below)

One of the primary concerns that people often express about running is the impact it can have on joints and bones. While it is true that running can cause some stress on the body, studies have shown that it can actually have a protective effect on bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other conditions related to bone loss. Additionally, proper training and equipment can help mitigate the risk of joint pain or injury, allowing runners to enjoy the benefits of the sport without any negative consequences. Also bones and joints are not metal things that have a finite life, they regenerate and strengthen in response to stresses. Look how muscles grow when you lift weights - the muscles aren't ripped to bits and worn away!

Another concern often raised about running is the risk of cardiovascular complications. However, research has consistently shown that running is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. Studies have shown that regular runners have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke compared to non-runners.

The idea that running is bad for you is a myth that is not supported by scientific research. Running is a safe and effective way to improve overall health and well-being, as long as it is done properly and with the right training and equipment. So if you enjoy running, there is no reason to let misconceptions deter you!

Maybe it's bad for your knees?

Erm, nope:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27333572/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28504066/


I'd be interested to know in what way you think it's a bad idea. I agree that people who do it to excess or elite competitive runners it's another level and research backs this up also, but for most people running a 5k a few times a week is not going to destroy their body inside or out and could well be a life saver. There's a big difference between that and running 120 miles a week and trying to shave 100ths of a second off a world record. But even water drank to excess will damage you.

I think the conclusions that you can come to based on these studies are limited. One reason is that the control group is either non-running, or specifically sedentary.

I think it's credible that just about any form of aerobic exercise is better than being sedentary. Also, someone who is sedentary might also have other bad health habits, like smoking, eating junk food, etc.

It's also worth noting that being sedentary may make you sick, but being sick may also make you sedentary.

Beyond this, even if you were comparing different exercise groups against each other, they would be self-selected groups rather than taking a large group and then randomly assigning each to a type of exercise.

I used to be a runner, but I never had knee pain. Personally, I think walking or cycling are better forms of exercise, but that's from personal experience. I have to admit that I haven't found studies that make a good comparison between different types of exercise, duration, and intensity, that examine a full range of health consequences, and that can also eliminate confounding factors.

Along with the physical aspects which can make for variances in best fit in exercises for people is the mental aspect. With some exercises the viewing it as work may put some off. A person who walks 20 minutes around their block may see it as a stroll. Biking or running the same they might think of sounds too much like work. I can really see it if they are just starting or getting back into working out a bit.

I'm just not sure why you came into a thread about people's healthy living goals and decided to criticise and cast doubt on someone's choice of exercise.

I wouldn't have come here and said "walking isn't any good as exercise so don't bother" so I found it a tad upsetting to be told something that has given me a lot of joy and good feelings and kept me healthy and made a ton of social connections over the years is "a bad idea".

Any exercise is good, it's a matter of finding what works for an individual that they can stick to. I used to walk a lot, these days a walk round the block doesn't do it for me, sprinting up a hill does. It's about finding what works for a person individually, one person's enjoyment is another person's torment. I utterly hate cycling, the last time I tried it I got a case of proctalgia so bad I couldn't walk for a week. Running keeps me healthy, I enjoy it, I don't care who tells me it's going to be bad for me, but it does irritate me when people pipe up about running being bad for you.

April is fasting month for me, so no problem. hahahaaha Time flies and I'll be fat again after.

It's not meant as a personal attack, and I can understand wanting to defend something that you believe in strongly. The reason I would cast doubt on a health-related practice is that I want people to be healthy and happy, so if I think something is not good for them, I would want them to know.

I have to admit now that I don't have research that backs up my point of view. Previously, I had heard of research that suggested that there were problems with running. I also think that the problem of self-selection and use of sedentary populations as the control group makes it difficult to come to good conclusions about what's good or bad about different types of exercise.

I think my opinions could be wrong, but so could yours. One thing that seems to be pretty clear though is that any form of regular, moderate aerobic exercise is better than being sedentary.

I've been doing intermittent fasting for the last few weeks. I've built it up gradually but I'm now fasting for 18 hours, only eating between 4pm and 10pm. I've lost 16lbs so far. Not bad considering I've given up smoking at the same time. It's doing wonders for my waistline and my bank account

My friend and I are restarting the Couch to 5K too (sorry Mr May!). We did it last summer but then went into hibernation for the winter so will need to start from scratch again. I must admit it tends to be more of a fast shuffle around the local forest (we look too ridiculous to be seen on the roads!) than a run - my daughter came out with me one day last year and walked faster than I ran. But it gets me out of the house with a good friend and it gets my heart pumping. I find it easier to stick to than walking. When I walk I find that I've slowed down to a dawdle without even realising it when I get out of breath whereas with running I know when I've stopped.

If I can afford it I'm going to rejoin the health club at a local hotel. The gym is pretty small and basic but I love the swimming pool and they've started doing classes now too. I'd love to learn to swim properly rather than my head-out-of-the-water half breast stroke that seems to be my signature swimming style

Let's keep this thread healthy and supportive of anyone who engages in self-care and exercise that they enjoy.

I certainly plan on going outside more when the weather warms up, going on walks. We currently have no car, so we already walk more to places like the post office or the park.

I wish I could go swimming, but since I'd be alone, I need some superhuman motivation. ^^

Also, we are supposed to play Beatsaber on VR (except I was recently sick), which is like exercising arms to some awesome music.

My dear old dad lived until he was 91. He used to run/jog daily for several years in his 40-60s. It kind of did a number on his knees, but then so did the 60+ years of downhill skiing he enjoyed. He also did long distance bicycling trips. What was of more risk and what was of more benefit to him — exercising or the cumulative strain when he was in his late senior years?

I see so many runners around my neighbourhood. I see soccer teams, baseball teams, busy tennis courts, a few outdoor swimming pools in the summer. Generally and specifically, exercise is good for people. Risks can be mitigated and kept in mind.

Yes, some sports can have a high impact on the body in terms of pounding and/or straining certain joints, muscle sets, and so on. My niece ruined her knee at age 30 on the soccer field. A cleat caught and her forward motion kept going (due to the laws of physics). She tore everything. It’s not something she could have foreseen. Should people stop playing soccer?

I’m not sure we have the actual right to say that something is too dangerous for someone unless we are their physician.

Isn’t the point to do things so that we get the health benefits, and we do things as safely as possible so that we hopefully don’t cause ourselves inadvertent injury? In my dad’s day, people didn’t connect the skiing and running with joint issues. My niece didn’t mean to catch her cleat and injure herself. I wouldn’t have thought to tell either of them that they should not do those activities. I might have noted that there are risks. However, my dad and my niece would know that anyway.

Everything – EVERYTHING – can carry a risk. Unless we are someone’s physician, I don’t think it’s our place to tell others that normally healthy sports are not good for them. Sorry I ranted. I hope for us to be supportive of how people try to care for themselves. Just my two cents.

I’m hoping to get a walk or some sitting cycling in today.

Congratulations on no cigarettes! Yay! And I hope you can join the health club and take the swim classes you want to

Although other than fasting, I love eating dates and eats anything that has 95% of water in it like watermelon, banana, cucumber, etc. I watch what I eat and drink that can help me last all day, I really like the fact we still carry on with our day despite without eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, I would only not be productive if my sleep worsens which is validated. Fasting during ramadan is healthy, we can distract our thoughts from fatigue and hunger, not only praying but also do alot of good deeds during this month and cleanse your soul a lot. Yea, and the blessing of this month with other religions and friends be considerate not to eat infront of us or sometimes with generousness, treats each other.

I'll be continuing to cycle to work, just about to pass 1000km for the year so far, target being 3000km. Whilst I realise people cycle loads further, I'm only doing it commuting to work, and the occasional cycle to town to go to the library/give blood. To be honest, I don't really enjoy it!

Also, 1st of April sees the 6 year anniversary of me quitting smoking!

breaking the fast with honey lemon and chia seed water, oh ya and dates! so refreshing 😸

This month I plan on working on my walking. Its Autumn here so on good days I'll try getting out for a walk. At the end of last month I started making healthy smoothies, they are a yummy way for me to get some fibre in my diet.

This sounds nice.

I wanted to go to the gym today but missed due to there being 8 to 10 inches of snow in the driveway. I really need to make sure I get to the gym 4 days a week I have gained so much weight since getting Covid and skipping a lot I need to be disciplined I love my hit workouts I feel like I have done something healthy for myself afterwards. I also need to start doing more walking when the weather gets warmer.