Okay, somebody give me a cord. I want to strangle a researcher. First, they say don’t eat eggs, high cholesterol. Then they say, can eat eggs. Then, they say every day must take vitamins. Then, they say taking vitamins may be bad for you if you exercise. Then, they say every day must exercise for at least 30 minutes and now they say …
… 6 minutes of exercise A WEEK is enough to get fit. What the …??!!!
According to the Wellness blog at NYT, some researchers in Japan – after completing another grueling study on the collagen-boosting properties of wasabi sandwiches, I’m sure – decided to dump a bunch of rats in a big pot of water. One group (let’s call them Rodents A) was made to paddle for six hours and the other group (let’s call them Rodents B) was made to paddle furiously for 20 seconds. To make things more interesting, the researchers piled weights on Rodents B (what savages – and by savages, I mean the researchers, not the rodents). Rodents B was then allowed to rest for 10 seconds and then, dunked back to swim intensely for another 20 seconds. This was repeated 14 times, totaling about 4 over minutes in time. Then all the rodents were scientifically poked and prodded, and researchers found that the molecular changes – whatever that means – were the same in both groups of rats.
So the conclusion was, and I quote, “Six minutes or so a week of hard exercise had proven to be as good as multiple hours of working out for achieving fitness.”
And then, the killer question: Could it be that most of us are spending more time than we need to trying to get fit? Apparently, more and more sports scientists are beginning to say, “Yup.”
Aiya, so what is it now? 90 minutes, 60 minutes, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 6 minutes? A month, a week, a day? Morning time, afternoon time or evening time? Rats or rodents? Gerbils or hamsters? Come on, hurry up. I haven’t got all day, you know. I have to go drown myself in a pot in precisely six minutes.
10 Comments
July 8, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I think the rule of thumb is: Workout for as long as you are happy.
July 8, 2009 at 1:24 PM
such wise words … thanks Quasimodo. if i were to take your advice, the grand number would be (drumroll – brrrrrrrrrr) 6 minutes … a week!! Well, whaddayaknow. those researchers may have something after all
July 8, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Why do I have so many nicknames.
July 9, 2009 at 12:47 AM
because you don’t have so few
July 8, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Winnie.. those group B rats were made to do what I recently told you about lor: Crossfit training!
July 9, 2009 at 12:58 AM
haha … probably. i checked out the website like you suggested. very Spartan, very brutal. i don’t think I’m Rodent B enough for it
July 9, 2009 at 1:04 AM
If it takes only 6 mins I’ve been doing waaaaaay too much already woman!
July 9, 2009 at 1:44 AM
Not just you la; me also! So now, no need to work so darn long … just go really really hard for one minute a day for six days and we’ve got it made
July 9, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I do not like being compared to rodents. That’s all I’ve got to say
July 9, 2009 at 2:19 PM
I also don’t like leh, but psychologically, they are a lot like humans, so what to do? they’re out best bet! PS: Is it just me or are the emoticons looking especially adorable recently?