Exercise Using Data

18 April 2014

There are many choices when looking at nutrition, exercise and medicine. Most people in the US and Europe suffer, pay, and die from chronic 'lifestyle diseases.'

One of the best ways to be healthy is to be moderately active. That's not news, and it raises a confusing question:


I suspect having so many choices is a challenge on its own. It's easy to pick between 3-5 options; it's impossibly hard to pick from thousands. Being healthy is a data problem.




Researchers asked this question, and found several reasons:


Finding exercises that work for each person isn't a marathon, it's a maze.


People avoid expensive exercise. After all, the median US income is ~$51,000 per household; it's only logical to worry about money.

However, "expensive exercise" is a matter of perspective. Exercise is far cheaper than $6,000/year for heart disease, or $11,700 for diabetes.


Exercise takes time, and there are no shortcuts. You can't fit 30 minutes of exercise into 5 minutes.


"Time wasted on exercise" is again a matter of perspective. The time isn't wasted, it's traded. What do we trade this time for?




The best sports are the ones suited for each time and place. Nobody likes to run when it's snowing outside. There are also many, many ways to be active indoors.

Know Thyself

Humans avoid behavior that isn't rewarding or seems disappointing. Our largest hurdles are often between our ears. A common mental barrier is social. We each react differently to social situations:

It's important to know this, because it's important to develop exercise as a habit. After all, we each have a finite amount of willpower each day.

The Power of Language


I don't use sports terms when exercising because I was the slow kid in gym class, and don't enjoy remembering embarrassing moments. I think of exercise as leveling up.



Go Forth, and Be Healthy