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Processed carbs are the greatest contributors to dietary problems and anathema to the paleo diet. Is there an equivalent in exercise?

Just as there are poor ways to eat, are there poor ways to exercise? Or is exercise different because any type of exercise is beneficial?

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2 
 Queue up the hating on cardio crowd. :) – Matt Jul 3 at 15:45
yep, I expect to see two schools of thought emerging - the cardiophobes and the cardiophiles :) – meta Jul 3 at 15:54
also expect to see anti-isolation and pro-compound – meta Jul 3 at 15:57
so you already know the answer and are just looking to stir up a good fight? :) – Mike T Jul 3 at 17:18

9 Answers

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chronic cardio:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/p-nu/201103/cardio-may-cause-heart-disease-part-i

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1 
 Chronic cardio is SO paleo. Before agriculture and a steady food supply, our ancestors were forced to be entirely nomadic. Constant walking about at all hours of the day is chronic (low intensity) cardio. By necessity, one cannot do chronic high intensity cardio, because there always exists a tradeoff between intensity and duration. "paleo" is so full of contradictions. – foreveryoung Jul 3 at 21:46
...chronic cardio is the most paleo form of exercise there is. – foreveryoung Jul 3 at 21:48
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 intensity is not binary. it's a spectrum. there are clearly intensity levels greater than walking that can be sustained for extended periods of time. i.e., less than all out sprint, more than a walk. i believe in general, paleo man walked a lot and then did short burts of sprinting - hence the argument for hiit instead of an hour on the treadmill. i think a better counterargument to my answer would be this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_hunting – Mike T Jul 3 at 23:31
however, in general humans are extremely adaptable. just because one group did persistence hunting and survived, doesn't mean it's necessarily the best way to thrive. – Mike T Jul 3 at 23:32
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Isolation exercises (like cybex or nautilus machines) and an hour on the treadmill.

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If I hear one more person suggest the leg press is a substitute for the squat... – Mark Jul 3 at 18:32
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 I've heard people make plausible arguments that it's actually good for some things, but it's definitely not anything like doing a squat. – trjones Jul 3 at 19:01
on the other hand, repetitive isolation movements such as sharpening tools or other domestic support activities would not be out of the question either.. – meta Jul 4 at 2:30
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All exercise is non-paleo. Activity is paleo.

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interesting view.. – meta Jul 3 at 15:45
however, it is possible that our ancestors engaged in some sort of routine of activity that could be likened to exercise – meta Jul 3 at 15:46
@Harry: But they weren't doing it to "burn calories" or with the specific intention of building muscle, restoring insulin sensitivity, etc. They were doing it b/c they had to. (Carrying stuff to/from their home site, relocating, going out on long hunting/foraging trips, etc.) They might have had organized "sports" just for fun but I don't know if we'll ever be certain about that. – Amy B. Jul 3 at 15:49
is it out of the question that the activity was dopaminergic (i.e. gave them pleasure) and therefore habit forming? just like seeing animals at play – meta Jul 3 at 15:52
1 
 Wait a sec...I spoke too soon. I get what you're saying. All that normal activity for them is what we try to mimic by intentionally going for a walk, lifting heavy things, etc. It's a shame our lives have become so automated and sedentary that we sometimes have to intentionally put physical movement into our schedules. Oy vey...(Still, they never would have run 15 miles for "fun," I don't think. Modern ppl do that b/c for some it's the only endorphin rush they ever feel, and others are running from something...their own lives in some cases.) – Amy B. Jul 3 at 15:53
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I would also add extreme supplement-driven bodybuilding to the Chronic Cardio answers. Anything where you are chugging shakes that don't remotely resemble real food and popping a ton of lab-sourced pills to force yourself into a shape and bodyfat % that our ancestors would never have seen.

Lifting heavy things is fine, lifting heavy things to extreme, focusing on big muscle appearance rather than actual strength, and sticking chemicals in your body is too far.

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therefore synthetic endocrine enhancement would be anti-paleo? – meta Jul 3 at 15:49
Normally I would agree, but I think in the year 2012, "synthetic endocrine enhancement" is almost necessary, at least for most women. (But I think you're talking more along the lines of anabolic steroids, and I'm talking about balancing hormones that have gotten out of whack as a direct result of our deranged food supply and lifestyles.) – Amy B. Jul 3 at 17:32
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'chronic cardio'

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There's no more one right way for everyone to exercise than there is one right way for everyone to eat. Some combination of aerobic, anaerobic, and resistance training will work best for you, determined in the same way that evolution determines fitness: Trial and error.

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1

I'm currently doing a little N=1 on myself with adding a little cycling/cardio back in the mix. Interestingly enough, on my second ride (btw, just adding it a couple times per week JUST to see how I react) going about 22 miles of "hilly" riding (1 1/2 hours or so), I came back home afterward and did an afternoon/evening binge feast of just about everything in the house. Nothing too terrible, but some left over GF crackers from a shower over the weekend (damn those things!), WAY more fruit than normal, nuts galore, more fruit, some tuna, other lunch meats, and more nuts. Likely 3x+ the normal amount of food I would have throughout the day. I love to do this to mix it up and I do think doing a run or a ride once ever week or two is fine. I just know for me it might mean being on the "tread mill of life" to support this way of "exercise"...like I might be running/riding my way away from food - constantly.

I think our bodies are all different and react differently, but I'm thinking I like the intense type of workout a couple times a week with some sprints and lots of movement.

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This is also my experience. I do enjoy cardio, and certainly will continue to do it, but I am conscious of my hunger afterwards :) – Jen Jul 3 at 18:48
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I'm a chronic cardio addict so am extremely biased; I'd say isolated weight machines before cardio, I bet our caveman ancestors ran for distance before they sat on a rock and strength trained specific muscles!

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Any thing with Richard Simmons is guarenteed life long ban

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