{"id":34048,"date":"2025-06-24T09:54:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/?p=34048"},"modified":"2025-06-25T08:37:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T15:37:31","slug":"how-do-you-know-which-exercise-is-best-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medfitnetwork.org\/public\/all-mfn\/how-do-you-know-which-exercise-is-best-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Know Which Exercise Is Best For You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
ANY exercise is better than no exercise, but there\u2019s no such thing as one workout for everyone and everything. There\u2019s carryover between different kinds of exercise, but there\u2019s a lot that doesn\u2019t. Runners don\u2019t automatically become skilled martial artists. Specificity is a thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a limited amount of time to work with. Two, maybe 3 disciplines can be added before the logistics get prohibitive. There are no world-class ultramarathon powerlifting circus performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is yoga enough? A favorite sport? Lifting weights and running, followed by a little stretching?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s your yardstick?<\/p>\n\n\n
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It depends on what\u2019s important to you<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ask a doctor, and speaking as a doctor, the doctor will want you to optimize the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Muscle mass: for blood sugar, brain function, and mortality reduction<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Mobility: for fall reduction and general injury prevention<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Cardio: for blood pressure and cardiovascular risk reduction plus longevity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u200bAsk a martial artist and the qualities to develop will look different, possibly emphasizing endurance, quickness, and explosiveness. It will be different for a firefighter, a caregiver for the elderly, an elderly caregiver, and a traveling lecturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The argument has been made, very diligently by folks like Dr. Peter Attia, that there\u2019s a minimum core set of activities that all humans, regardless of professional or recreational needs, should maintain during their lifetimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s only a problem if there\u2019s a gap<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\ufeffIs where you are where you want to be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In your heart of hearts, are you satisfied with your health, by whatever metric\u2014weight, blood pressure, energy level, calmness, feeling warmly pleased?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If yes, then you\u2019re golden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If no, then one of two things logically follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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You\u2019re working on closing the gap<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Something is stopping you from closing the gap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u200bIf you\u2019re closing the gap, again, you\u2019re golden. Keep closing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bIf something is stopping you, then by definition, it\u2019s bigger than your health goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just had a heart attack? No one expects you to run marathons right away; the myocardial damage is bigger than your running goal, at least for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family or work objections halting your efforts? Very understandable\u2014but this means their peace of mind is bigger\/more important than your health. Is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too busy to put your health first\u2026 means pretty much what it says. You consider your health to be secondary to all the things you\u2019re juggling. Is it?<\/p>\n\n\n
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And if you have all the knowledge, support, and bandwidth to improve, and you still don\u2019t, then I suspect you\u2019re getting lost in all the pretty shapes and colors of the Internet\u2014doomscrolling about money, climate change, politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the alternative\u2014that you didn\u2019t really want to improve your health and well-being\u2014is the biggest nope nope nope of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bWhich is more likely in today\u2019s modern world? That you don\u2019t want what you want? Or that there are corporate, media, and tech level entities with vested interests in keeping you a distracted, docile, dependent consumer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Action Item<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This is about exercise, but it applies to any action you take to improve your health. Ask yourself if you\u2019re as active as you want or need to be. If you are, make sure you have a maintenance program to keep it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If not, examine what is in your way, and whether it\u2019s truly more important than staying as mobile and active as YOU choose to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Beck Kim, MD, is passionate about helping others stay healthy and active as they age\u2014whether that means getting back on the mat after 50 or pulling a 100 lb. warbow. As both a physician and an active practitioner of jiu-jitsu and archery, he understands firsthand that maintaining performance requires more than just strength and skill\u2014it demands resilience, strategy, and thoughtful planning.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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