How much exercise is enough?

TheGeneral+ · May 14, 2003

IN TRYING TO make sense of contradictory fitness headlines, experts say, it’s important to realize that exercise studies may reach opposing conclusions because they involve different age groups or sexes, people with different risk factors (some may already be at risk for heart disease, some may be overweight) or those with vastly different fitness levels to begin with.

So it’s not always possible to make direct comparisons from one study to the next. Findings that hold true for sedentary women in their golden years, for instance, may have little bearing on active college men.

And researchers do not all agree on how to interpret study findings and translate them into general recommendations for the public. Should the focus should be on minimum exercise requirements, so people aren’t discouraged before they ever start, or on higher, more intense levels of activity that may offer greater benefit?

The bottom line is that no one knows the “ideal” amount of exercise. And one-size-fits-all exercise recommendations may not fit you. The perfect exercise prescription is likely to vary to some extent from one individual to the next, experts say, because of such factors as your age, health status and, importantly, your ultimate fitness goal.

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mr.teaser · May 14, 2003

Aerobic 6 days a week weights 3 days a week and eat alot of chicken and fish lost 20 lbs and i am in the best shape of my life. The main concept that people miss is the fact that they workout right but dont eat right it is a combination of both along with not eating 2 hrs before bed. Good Luck!1

sphincter · May 14, 2003

general.....don`t be afraid to hit the weights(if you aren`t involved in a serious athletic pursuit....to much muscle can be counter productive)....

but,if you are just trying to get back into shape,definitely do some weight training.....muscle burns calories faster than anything....and it`s addictive....i feel as though my metabolism slows to a crawl when i stop weight training....

i also yo-yo back and forth between a nordic track and one of those tony little gliders to keep cardio from getting stale....the glider was only like $89.00 on sale at k-mart(a few years ago,though)