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NancyLebovitz comments on Optimal Exercise - Less Wrong Discussion

50 Post author: RomeoStevens 10 March 2014 03:37AM

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Comment author: NancyLebovitz 10 March 2014 04:14:00AM 12 points [-]

Additional possibilities: optimal for not getting injured, for fun, for daily life capacity.

Comment author: iarwain1 10 March 2014 04:17:55PM 5 points [-]

Or for energy (might be what you meant by daily life capacity), or for mood since exercise reportedly boosts mood.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 10 March 2014 10:29:42PM 1 point [-]

That didn't occur to me, but it should be included. The "not getting injured" and "daily life capacity" were influenced by Scott Sonnon, and the example I remembered for daily life is that recovering from starting to fall takes explosive strength.

Comment author: diegocaleiro 12 March 2014 07:11:36PM 0 points [-]

Optimal for fun, given the PERMA model within Martin Seligman's happiness studies:

Should be a group activity Frequent goals, scores, or other sparks of dopamine. Or a feeling of constant flow. For males it can be positive to have women doing it, both motivationally and to diminish hierarchical male-only stress and bullying. You should probably not absolutely suck at it, after training, to avoid frustration.

I've found the most fun exercises to be, in this order:

Sex

Ecstatic Dance (oxytocin bonus points for touching)

Contact Improvisation (also a touch dance)

Ultimate Frisbee

Tennis

Dance Walking

Fighting waves in the ocean or bodyboarding them

Rollerblading.

Honorary status for Volley, Handball and Basket ball due to frequency of scoring, compared to others.

Not recommended for happiness alone would be: Lifting Running Speedbiking Competitive distance running Soccer Baseball (bad ratio of time doing stuff versus not, few hole in ones) Swimming (if you don't feel flow) Abs, push ups, all that stuff that you only do for instrumental reasons and for the endorphin, which all other exercise also provides. Yoga (if you don't flow or connect with the universe when doing it)

Comment author: sediment 16 April 2014 07:07:38PM *  0 points [-]

Honorary status for Volley, Handball and Basket ball due to frequency of scoring, compared to others.

Although of the other items you list, I tend to find that sex also effects frequent scoring.

Comment author: ephion 04 April 2014 05:32:26PM 0 points [-]

This list is highly subjective. I can't stand tennis, frisbee, or dance, and I really love lifting and yoga.