Excessive workout and Aging

It seems people who workout often or do extenuous exercises get to age faster. It kind of made me happy... :rolleyes: I am so lazy!!!

I found it interesting because I always found it was not very natural to take your body to extremes, whatever they may be, and I think it's a good piece of advice to tell people to respect their bodies limits.

Heavy diets have been accused of the same sin and it's not difficult to notice that people reaching old age are usually very moderated in everything they do. No heavy drinkers, heavy athletes (athletes actually often have shorter life spans, go figure), etc.

Moderation is the key. ;)

Maria - where did you find this info? I would def like to read it!\
I can understand the diet part, but exercise builds strong bones, aids in circulation, flexibility. I can't understand how this would make you age faster unless it has to do with hormones released or something like that.

TIA

I will find the article as soon as I have some free time, but girls, have you read my post well?

It says excessive exercise, not moderate!!! :rolleyes: ;)

As I said there, moderation is the key. You may exercise everyday and still be on the moderated side. I also workout, especially here in Brazil and feel great. I am very careful with my diet, too, but I never go on radical diets. :)

If anything, Maria, I find exercise helps you age slower. I've been working out since 1985 (I started at age 23) and to this day, women have told me that I look younger than my actual age.

And in reference to what both Obsessing and Kimmy said, exercising totally strengthens the muscles and bone. My years of weightlifting allowed me to heal alot faster after my knee surgery than most patiences, according to my doctor's opinion.

It all depends on how much and what kind of exercise you do. The key word here is excess.

Got it? ;)

I wish I remembered what article I read Maria... because it talks about this....

It was showing Madonna and how she excessivly excersises at her age and her face looks horrible at least in ths picture I saw..... I think to much sometimes is to much..Excersise in moderation like everything else...

Originally posted by MariaLux
It all depends on how much and what kind of exercise you do. The key word here is excess.

Got it? ;)

Okay, I see.
In my case, it's weightlifting which helps tighten the skin while building muscle. So that would do it.

Yes, Maria is right. Excessive exercise is not good. Plus, if you do it in the evening, it can prevent you from going to sleep at a reasonable hour. Beauty sleep is not a myth. When we get sleepy, it is our body knocking out our brain so that the body has time to perform maintenance and repair (this advice coming from someone who gets only about 5 hours of sleep on workdays--I don't take my own advice--but I get 9 or 10 on weekends, so at least I don't look too haggard on Saturday and Sunday).

Like Kimmy, I try to eat well and exercise moderately every day, so I do make up a little bit for my lack of sleep. No meat or fish or margarine for me, mostly whole grains, raw nuts, tofu, soy milk, good yogurt, vegetarian cheeses, teas, butter, good oils, raw vegetables and fruits. I do have my treats, but I make myself pay for quality desserts--it is too expensive to binge that way--no Twinkies. An occasional Diet Coke is permitted for medicinal purposes.

The most that I would ever spend in the gym is 2 hours (1 hour of cardio/1 hour weights). I never understood how most professional bodybuilders have written of how they'd spend as much as 4 hours in the gym. Hell, I get bored after an hour.

Daymn!!! I guess I'll be 50 by the time I'm 30!!! :eek:

I constantly heavy iron in the gym for my sport of powerlifting. I mean, squatting 500 lbs isn't necessarily good for just anyone, you have to periodize your program and work up to that weight, or any weight for that matter. It's all about exercising correctly, safely, and SMART. From what I'm reading and learning in school at the present, exercise lowers the aging process and makes people of any age feel younger, if not, more vibrant, energetic, and a sense of overall fulfillment.

I have never heard of exercise making someone age quicker. I see women in the gym who are 40, look 23 because they have been working working out all their lives. I see men who are 50+ in my gym, that look like their in mid to late thirties because they too have been training consistently, and heavily all their lives.

But the key thing is not to go to extremes unless you're in a competing sport such as powerlifting, bodybuilding, olympic weightlifting, Ms. Fitness America training and the like (of course, this would be done throug periodization, as well as knowing when to push the body to its limits). However, I do agree that everyone should exercise in some way, shape, or form to live longer, feel and look younger, and enjoy life-long benefits that come with exercising. :)

Ill need to find the article that I read....it was published in a medical journal several years ago....very similar to what Maria said....EXCESSIVE exercise is not good...but what I found interesting was their view of cardio health....the article basically said that the heart is an organ that has so many beats per lifetime....when we exercise STRENUOUSLY and cause our heart-rate to constantly stay in the above 70th percentile (on the standard exercise 'heart rate' chart.)....we are over using that muscle...that moderate exercise will condition the cardiovascular system without causing overdue stress. Americans have been so obsessed with weight loss that I think we have skewered our perceptions of cardio health and what kind of exercise it takes to be effective. It IS true that in order for the body to burn FAT....carb stores must be depleted...it is faster to do that process by working HARDER and LONGER....thus strenuous exercise over the same period of TIME will produce USUALLY faster weight loss results than moderate exercise. My guess is that moderate exercise would be different for each individual...based upon previous levels of fitness and whether the exercise is aerobic or anaerobic....for overall cardio health. I'd be interested in reading the article too maria...if u come across it.

Originally posted by Joe
:eek: I have never heard of exercise making someone age quicker. I see women in the gym who are 40, look 23 because they have been working working out all their lives. I see men who are 50+ in my gym, that look like their in mid to late thirties because they too have been training consistently, and heavily all their lives.


I agree with Joe. Back in New Orleans, I used to work out at a Powerhouse Gym and World Gym with a 62 year old woman. She explained to us how after her ex-husband left her, she began exercising. I can honestly tell you that this 62 year old woman had the shape of a 20 year old woman. She appeared to be very healthy and in great shape. She honestly did not look her age.

And Joe, please refrain from posting your powerlifting results bro.....LOL My last heavy squat was 450 and that was when I felt some serious knee pains. After these 2 knee surgeries, I don't see me doing anymore powerlifting again. DAMN, I MISS POWERLIFTING!!!

guys youre missin the point, LOL...we arent AGAINST exercise, quite the contrary..and btw...most strength training ISNT really considered aerobic activity...that's why you see lots of powerlifters that cant run to their own mailboxes....I KNOW that too is controversial...but unless you can move between sets at a quick enough pace to SUSTAIN heart rate and do it safely without compromising form...then it really is strength-conditioning work. What Maria was saying is that EXCESSIVE exercise MAY lead to aging...I love working out and have all my life...EVEN SOMETIMES OVERDO and it feels great..well until day two/three;)....just that as a LIFESTYLE...constant overworking (and again that is individual....for joe and you, chosen.....you are probably working out moderately....take your heart rate and find out;))can lead to faster aging. There are OTHER factors that must be considered there too...such as genetic predisposition/health factors for lifespan/aging. Muscle knows no age and it is possible to sustain and grow well into old age...I think it's great that the woman did and I probably will too-strength training prevents tons of illnesses women are prone to having as we mature....increasing muscle strength and bone density is one of the GOOD things about strength work and it CAN be accomplished without pushing the heart rate to extremes.

Originally posted by kimmy
Actually, I just read a study that said having orgasms keeps you young. I suppose that makes sense. Okay, I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz searching for something that was with her all the time.;)

So 111 orgasms would make you how old...?:p :D :cool:

I find it funny how you guys insist on deviating the thread from its original meaning (EXCESSIVE WORKOUT) to some supposed criticism of normal, healthy exercise.

Is that some kind of new pathology I am not aware of? Like acute argumentatory againstitis? :rolleyes:

Go ahead have fun! :D

On a serious note, I am finding loads of articles like the one I had read, I will take a while to come back with them, and I accept help. I am having busy days at the hospital right now (there's a virus having a party in São Paulo right now!) and can't find much free time to do the research...:)

As for the orgasms thing, I would have to go deeper into the subject before pronouncing any opinion. :p

It's all your fault Maria!!! I'm never working out again!!! :D


j/k


I know what you meant. I agree that going beyond the body's limits can be detrimental to one's health. And like stated before, moderation is the key. ;)

BTW, you're funny on the phone!!! :D

Joe, how did Alex end the evening? That poor Englishman... I can imagine him calling you Bro'...

I had fun talking to you all, too! :)

Funny you should ask Maria! :D

He was doing pretty good. After a few Smirnoff Ice's he can get pretty funny! I was showing him hand signs to show people but decided it wasn't a good idea as he was using them excessively LOL!!! He learned some slang like "bro," "brutha'," "sweeet!", "homey," and all other sorts of slang terms. Showed him how to shake hands and what we call things around here . . . and he was preparing me for London as well. I tell you what though, he's in love with our food! He ate the whole dang thing and I thought he was gonna eat the plate and the bottle the beer came in!!! :eek: He's not used to eating our good food. I told him that's why we're so fat and happy over here in the states!!! I think Tru was in shock in how Alex was learning everything I was showin' him! :D

After we left, I think Tru might have put him on a leash LOL!!!

Oh, and Maria, I was impressed that you knew the slang I was speaking when I talked to you on the phone! Way cool!!! :D

Originally posted by kimmy
. . . as old as you want me baby! This theory definitely needs to be scientifically proven . . .



hmmmmm.... is - 21 years old an option?

:mad:Okay Kimmy and Manofmisteree, Get out of here with that mess and go GET A ROOM!!!
:D

Originally posted by kimmy
I have something clever I could say here, but I told Maria I'd be good.;)
:o ;) :D :D :D :D :D :cool:

Originally posted by kimmy
I have something clever I could say here, but I told Maria I'd be good.;)
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Originally posted by Joe
I tell you what though, he's in love with our food! He ate the whole dang thing and I thought he was gonna eat the plate and the bottle the beer came in!!! :eek: He's not used to eating our good food. I told him that's why we're so fat and happy over here in the states!!!

Joe, dear, the man comes from England, what did you expect???? :D :D

And do I smell some romance going on in this thread? ;) I think I will start a thread for those folks! :p

Originally posted by Joe
I think Tru was in shock in how Alex was learning everything I was showin' him! :D

After we left, I think Tru might have put him on a leash LOL!!!

:D

Yes sir...you got that right!! My proper British gentleman is now a member of some Texas gang I think.... (well, at least it is TEXAN)

I will be watching you two guys in London...well, till I get too drunk to focus. :P

Originally posted by Tru
Yes sir...you got that right!! My proper British gentleman is now a member of some Texas gang I think.... (well, at least it is TEXAN)

I will be watching you two guys in London...well, till I get too drunk to focus. :P

hehe. . . so what is it you're drinking now Tru, hold on, I'll go get it! :D

Oh, Tru, we all know you don't have to keep en eye on Alex, YOU are the dangerous one!!! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by MariaLux
Oh, Tru, we all know you don't have to keep en eye on Alex, YOU are the dangerous one!!! :rolleyes:

Shhh.....they will all find out soon enough! :D

Oh yeah they will!!! :p