'Aerobic exercise'... a myth..?

Alan_Cross

theoretica wrote: »

I hadn't thought there was a lower point where you switch from underdoing exercise to doing it - rather a continuous change where strolling is better than lying down and brisk walking better than strolling etc. Even minor and desultory exercise will be aerobic, if not giving much benefit for the time spent.

Yes BUT your 'minor and desultory' stuff will indeed hardly give 'much benefit' and as such what use is it? Your point is scientifically correct but practically discountable.

The OP is looking for a pointer as to minimum exercise level - not too much to ask, one would think. Probably to be measured in pulse rate, as I understand it - and he is finding it impossible to gain any authoritative pronouncement.

I am not surprised because this has been my own experience too.

Personally, I think the medical people are running scared of lawsuits if they lay down any hard and fast targets which prove damaging, as they are bound to be on the law of averages, in the case of occasional individuals.

stephen77

Alan_Cross wrote: »

Personally, I think the medical people are running scared of lawsuits if they lay down any hard and fast targets which prove damaging, as they are bound to be on the law of averages, in the case of occasional individuals.

They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Everybody is different so its very hard to be quantitative for how YOU train.
Guidelines will often work to the lowest common denominator.

Shame really as some people could get more benefits by training harder but been advised against it.

Gra76

Only the OP will know when he's exercising sufficiently.

Existing fitness levels and an individuals own body will dictate what level of exercise is suitable. There are simply too many variables to give an exact answer. The general answer would be to exercise to a point where you feel you are exerting yourself. When my dad was recovering from a quadruple heart bypass a walk up and down the garden was enough to get him out of breath to start with but within a year he was back playing golf again and strolling around the golf course like nothing had ever happened.

There is no 'one size fits all' answer unfortunately. You'll have to work it out yourself as only you know your fitness level. Start gently and work your way up. Your body will let you know when you've hit the right level.

VestanPance

To train by heart rate and know your aerobic limits you need to take a VO2MAX test. This test will let you know your maximum heart rate limit when exercising and from that you can calculate the heart rate required for different training zones. If you are training this way then you should retake the test every 12 months, as your fitness level will increase/decrease. The test should cost no more than £200/250 at a private clinic. I doubt the NHS would ever offer this service.

I use this to train and can tell you exactly what my effort level is based on my heart rate. I can also tell you when I'm going to be ill before the symptoms hit due to changes in my resting heart rate.