Exercise Archives

diet vs exercise

[ Exercise Archive ]
[ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ]
[ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] 		   Search this site!
 
        

diet vs exercise

Posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 08:02:01:

Like many, I've been watching the Olympics on tv and I am completely fascinated by Michael Phelps who is on his way to win 8 gold medals.

What I find fascinating is that Phelps said that he doesn't have a special diet that he follows. I always thought that Olympic athletes ate extremely well but not Phelps. He does have to eat between 8,000 to 10,000 calories but he says that he eats whatever he can. Like for breakfast he'll have two egg and cheese sandwiches, a bowl of grits, more eggs and some chocolate chip pancakes. He also said that he loves to eat fast food and never cooks so he spends his time eating in restaurants.

His diet doesn't seem to affect him negatively since he's the best in the world and wins almost effortlessly. He also said that he has some problems keeping weight on and has a great metabolism.

I understand that he needs a lot more calories than the average person because of what he does, but will his bad diet affect his health negatively in the future or can he eat whatever he wants as long as he works out like he does? In other words can rigourous exercise replace a healthy diet?

Thanks.

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise

Posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [668.4757] on August 12, 2008 at 08:16:31:

In Reply to: diet vs exercise posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 08:02:01:

Hi kiwigurl,

Are you asking this question for him or for yourself? He seems to have (at this point in his life) one of those special bodies different from what most of us have.

I've heard testimonies from other athletic people that a bad diet and too much exercise eventually caught up with them -- and even ruined their health.

For most people (me and you!), the keyword to both diet and exercise is balance. That means, a predominantly healthy diet and not too much exercise. That is, so we can stay in optimum health (a much different goal than winning olympic medals).

Best wishes,
Jan

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise

Posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 12:01:25:

In Reply to: Re: diet vs exercise posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [668.4757] on August 12, 2008 at 08:16:31:

Hi Jan,

I guess what I'm asking is if someone exercises more, can they be more flexible with their diet? Let's say my diet is perfect, free of processed foods, refined carbs, sugar, transfats and any other unhealthy food you can think of, but let's say I exercise moderately. If I started exercising intensely, could I be more flexible with my diet by allowing myself to eat more unhealthy foods since the extra exercise would compensate for that?

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


he's 23!!!!!

Posted by Trish [296.2857] on August 12, 2008 at 13:37:22:

In Reply to: diet vs exercise posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 08:02:01:

People that age can eat rocks and thrive! (LOL). Olympian or not, that diet will catch up with him if he eats this way into his 30s and 40s. The body can just forgive so much. He IS awesome, though.

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: he's 23!!!!!

Posted by ukchris [10820.4773] on August 12, 2008 at 15:22:08:

In Reply to: he's 23!!!!! posted by Trish [296.2857] on August 12, 2008 at 13:37:22:

And I'm wondering.... if he did eat a much better diet, say WFD... then maybe he'd be *even* better, if that's imaginable.



Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise

Posted by Jan DeCourtney, CMT (Happygal) [668.4757] on August 12, 2008 at 20:16:15:

In Reply to: Re: diet vs exercise posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 12:01:25:

Hi kiwigurl,

Well, the way I understand it, it is like this. Exercise that is too intense is harmful, not helpful.

If a person has a balanced wellness program, though, and you're doing moderate exercise, doing your SR regularly, and have been eating a very clean or perfect diet for a while, then your health -- which by this time is really good -- will accommodate some slacking off.

But intense exercise to be able to eat a crummy diet -- doesn't sound like a good idea to me, either for the exercise or the diet.

Best wishes,
Jan

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise -- Archive in exercise.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on August 13, 2008 at 07:17:20:

In Reply to: diet vs exercise posted by kiwigurl [10284.3349] on August 12, 2008 at 08:02:01:

Thanks, Kiwigurl.

In my opinion, if he maintains this unhealthful diet (by ALL experts' estimation) past his first 30 years, I GUARANTEE that he will eventually pay a big price.

He will be a headlines, someday: "Former olympic champion dies tragic early death!"

He currently is living on empty calories and cannot help but pay an eventual price. Just think how good he might be if he ate sensibly.

Walt

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise -- Archive in exercise.

Posted by VF [4572.1399] on August 13, 2008 at 07:55:58:

In Reply to: Re: diet vs exercise -- Archive in exercise. posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on August 13, 2008 at 07:17:20:

Walt, what if half his food had empty calories and half had full? He probably eats some of both with eggs, cheese, and probably a lot of meat, and whatever else he eats with them. I was always said to be a meat and potatoes eater, because I ate so much of them, but I ate most veggies, but they weren't my primary foods, since they didn't satisfy my hunger and fuel my activities as well. Might be I would have to eat more than I could consume to satisfy me. I figured out at holiday meals, that I would eat and eat till I was stuffed, and still not be satisfied, and when the fullness went away, I would eat more. Figured out that when there was no beef, I overate. When I started the meal with some bread and butter, I didn't overeat, and was satisfied. I was never a big fish eater, though I didn't dislike it, but always felt it lacked what I needed. I dreaded Friday's, since we had fish. It was good, but not what I prefered. When on my own I changed that, and now the church has. I eat fish when I want it, which may be every few months.

It's funny that I had a weight problem when young. I was probably eating what Others Thought I should. When I got older I was a normal weight, and when I went on my own, my BMI was what they say it should be, but of course, I was told I was too thin, but I never felt or functioned better. It was interesting to hear what my weight should be when they revised the #'s, since that's where I was.

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


Re: diet vs exercise -- Archive in exercise.

Posted by Walt Stoll [93.3349] on August 14, 2008 at 07:12:12:

In Reply to: Re: diet vs exercise -- Archive in exercise. posted by VF [4572.1399] on August 13, 2008 at 07:55:58:

Hi, VF.

If he would post a meticulously accurate diary of his intake for about 2 weeks, I could have a comment. Obviously, ANY trace nutrients ingested would help.

Walt

Go to First Post in this Thread

Follow Ups:


[ Exercise Archive ]
[ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ]
[ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] 		   Search this site!