Sprints vs Walking What Is Better For Longevity

[Razwelll]

Do you know? HIIT seems overkill to me.

[maxlharris]

I don't know that anyone knows what is better for longevity. What is better for quality of life years is probably some measure of HIIT. As to whether it's overkill or not, I guess that depends on the baseline you're starting from and your interpretation of HIIT. I find my HIIT sessions challenging, but not overkill. But then again, I do 20 minutes, maximum, like the directions usually read.

Welcome to the board. I'd suggest asking with a little more info for better results. What you mean by HIIT (specific training sessions, with intervals, rests, etc) might go a long way to determining whethere you're talking overkill (intervals 6 days a week at an hour a session would indicate overkill, and perhaps a form error as well).

[chip]

Walking is mild exercise, which can't hurt assuming your knees aren't damaged. Sprints-HIIT-show faster weight loss than most anything else. But HIIT requires good conditioning. Without it you'll do a poor job of it or more likely you'll injure yourself.

Recent studies show what's better for longevity is CR.

[maxlharris]

recent Studies Show What's Better For Longevity Is Cr.

Cr ?

[LisaS]

cr=calorie restriction

(at least so I assume given the context)

[maxlharris]

My reading suggests that the type of CR noted for longevity in animals is not necessarily worth the effort for us upright walking big brained, super intelligent apes.

Of course, there are levels of CR. From 3000 to 2000, worth doing. From 2000 to 1500, possibly of value, depending on who you are, from 1500-1000, starting to get tight and below 1000, probably not the best idea. It's all relative, like everything else. Probably a Power-Law function in there somewhere.

[bigdawg_SLC]

Longevity ... who wants to live until there 100????? :)

My understanding is from a "fitness and overall health" point of view, the HIIT is optimal! However, coming from someone who at one point was so OUT OF SHAPE, starting from a brisk walk is definately better then not moving at all! Once you get to the point, health and strength wise, that you can do HIIT -- Go for it! And welcome!

[maxlharris]

Last thought on CR:
I will take quality of life years over more years. The CRON people I've seen on shows like 60 Minutes look like the living dead. I'd rather pack it in at 75 and live healthy and eat well and live fully. Maybe that's just me.

Course, when I'm 75 and run down and ready to run out of gas, I might wish I had lived more years eating raw food and CRON'ing. But it's probably better to regret the stuff you did do than the stuff you didn't.