{"id":61069,"date":"2021-10-16T13:37:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-16T13:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/\/\/?p=61069"},"modified":"2021-11-22T01:13:18","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T06:13:18","slug":"a-simple-system-for-staying-healthy-and-active-to-the-very-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/a-simple-system-for-staying-healthy-and-active-to-the-very-end\/","title":{"rendered":"A Simple System for Staying Healthy and Active to the Very End"},"content":{"rendered":"

Movement doesn\u2019t come naturally to some people. The modern environment has selected against it.<\/strong> Our genes were forged out of suffering and expect hardship.<\/p>\n

This means that deep down our DNA is constantly telling us to save our energy for the day there are no more pizza delivery guys, and we need to go hunt a pizza down ourselves. But barring a zombie apocalypse, this probably isn\u2019t going to happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We just want to keep moving for decades to come, not get type 2 diabetes, and then not die of pneumonia after falling and breaking a hip at 85.”<\/em><\/h3>\n

We know that movement can have a huge, positive impact on health. Despite this, the current guidelines that tell people to \u201cmove more\u201d have made no difference to our chronic disease rates.1<\/sup>\u00a0So what should we do instead?<\/p>\n

As ever, I look to science.<\/strong> I love science. Admittedly, there\u2019s a huge amount of rubbish out there in the world of research. However, I think some core overall principles are emerging that suggest how we can kick ass for as long as possible.<\/p>\n

It’s About Quality and Longevity of Life<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re more of a \u201cprepare for the zombie apocalypse\u201d kind of person, this probably won\u2019t be quite your speed.<\/strong> Equally, if you love the feeling of testing the limits of your body and mind under a barbell, over an obstacle course, or along hundreds of miles of endurance racing, please don\u2019t let me stop you.<\/p>\n

For the rest of us, the number of marathons we haven\u2019t run or the size of our snatch doesn\u2019t really matter that much. We just want to keep moving for decades to come, not get type 2 diabetes, and then not die of pneumonia after falling and breaking a hip at 85. This quality of life is easier than you think.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As everybody loves a pyramid, let me introduce you to mine.<\/p>\n

The Great Upside-Down Movement Pyramid<\/h2>\n

Maybe the name needs some work. But it definitely works better upside down.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Base: Sit Less<\/h2>\n

The reason this forms the base is because no matter how much you exercise, most of the benefit is lost if you spend the rest of the day sitting.<\/strong> There\u2019s some interesting research behind why this is the case (inflammation, insulin resistance, etc.), but the key point is that this finding has been replicated a number of times.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

“<\/strong>As the amount of time spent sitting every day goes above seven to eight hours, your risk of death increases, regardless of how much exercise you do.”<\/em><\/h3>\n

Just look at this graph from a recent meta-analysis (study of many studies).3\u00a0<\/sup>The different lines are from different studies, so focus on the average – the thick black line. As the amount of time spent sitting every day goes above seven to eight hours, your risk of death increases, regardless of how much exercise you do.<\/strong> Bugger.<\/p>\n

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Graph shows hazard ratio (HR) for death from any cause, adjusted for activity level. Baseline HR is 1, so an HR of 1.5 (i.e. 12 hours of sitting per day) indicates a fifty percent increase in overall risk in death.3<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n

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The Next Bit: Walk More<\/h2>\n

This is the boring bit that everybody skips. But brisk walking (imagine walking as if you\u2019re late for work) is the best-studied form of exercise, with the broadest range of benefits<\/strong>. It is also the basis of the most common activity guideline of 150 minutes of physical activity per week.<\/p>\n

The equivalent of fifteen minutes brisk walking to and from work, or half an hour during lunchtime, can halve the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and potentially cancer. 4-6 <\/sup>The health and weight loss improvements seen with increased walking seem to far outweigh the rather paltry amount of calories it burns.<\/strong> Magic.<\/p>\n

“[I]t probably doesn\u2019t matter too much what you do. Lift weights. Swing kettlebells. Do yoga. Do bodyweight movements in the park. Climb a tree. Give your kids a piggyback.”\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

Then: Move Stuff<\/h2>\n

In scientific research, this is usually called \u201cresistance training\u201d, and often happens on weight machines in the gym. However, doing any kind of resistance training appears to be hugely beneficial for long-term health.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The protocols studies use vary quite widely, which suggests that it probably doesn\u2019t matter too much what you do. Lift weights. Swing kettlebells. Do yoga. Do bodyweight movements in the park. Climb a tree. Give your kids a piggyback. All of this counts, because it can increase strength in every plane of movement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Resistance training is safe and improves outcomes in every disease it has been tested in, from stroke to heart failure to cancer. Lifting weights is also the best way to keep your waistline under control.7<\/sup> And stronger people really are harder to kill<\/strong>.8,9<\/sup><\/p>\n

Then: Move Really Quickly<\/h2>\n

Improving your cardiovascular fitness (often measured as your ability to use oxygen, or VO2) is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of death and chronic disease<\/strong>. A number of studies have shown that a few maximum-intensity sprints of 10-30 seconds for a total of around twenty minutes (including rest periods and warm-up time) can improve VO2 max as least as well as moderate intensity cardio lasting 45 minutes to an hour.10-13<\/sup><\/p>\n

“Improving your cardiovascular fitness… is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of death and chronic disease.”<\/em><\/h3>\n

If you already have some kind of chronic disease and are trying to improve your fitness, interval sprints are almost twice as good as traditional cardio.14<\/sup> More fitness in half the time? <\/strong>Gimme.<\/p>\n

(Bear in mind that it\u2019s easy to overcomplicate sprinting, which risks injury. I would suggest stationary bike, rowing, or running sprints, which is what most studies have used.)<\/p>\n

Finally: Move for a Long Period of Time<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m a big fan of more traditional endurance training, but most of the benefits of this type of training can be gained from the levels above. For instance, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise dramatically boosts aerobic fitness and improves immune function.15,16<\/sup>\u00a0However, if you\u2019re doing your brisk walking and sprinting, you\u2019ve got these covered already.<\/p>\n

Importantly, when it comes to running, more isn\u2019t necessarily better.<\/strong> Diminishing returns and adverse effects are seen above sixty minutes of endurance exercise per day for long periods of time.17<\/sup><\/p>\n

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As the cherry on your movement cake, longer cardio training sessions (cycling, running, etc.) are a great chance to get out of the city or train with friends. Both of these factors can have a wide array of benefits on health and longevity, because when it comes to life, some things are much more important than exercise.<\/strong>18-20<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Summary: How to Use the Pyramid<\/h2>\n
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  1. Make movement a habit rather than a chore.<\/li>\n
  2. If you\u2019re not managing to do the level above, don\u2019t do the level below.<\/li>\n
  3. As you use more levels of the pyramid, it becomes increasingly unstable. This means you need more time to recover – eat, sleep, rest.<\/li>\n
  4. If you can\u2019t recover better, don\u2019t add more.<\/li>\n
  5. Don\u2019t obsess over the details. Do what comes naturally and what you enjoy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Combinations:<\/strong> Though they haven\u2019t often been studied in a systematic way, things like fight training (boxing, martial arts, etc.) and CrossFit will often cover everything, from strength and interval training to endurance. However, if the coach at your CrossFit box has you doing soul-crushing thirty-minute metcons (metabolic conditioning workouts) every day, consider introducing him or her to the pyramid.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Disclaimer:<\/strong> If you have some kind of chronic disease, you should discuss various exercise regimens with your doctor. Movement can be better than medications and medical treatments, with fewer potential side effects. Some of the references here are a good place to start, including.21<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n

    Take a look at these related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n