SubscribeExercise Pill: Would You Still Work Out?
Don't get excited, scientists haven't invented one yet. But how many times have you heard that if they could put exercise in a pill it would be a miracle drug because of all incredible health benefits exercise provides?
It's an interesting mental exercise to pretend that it's already happened. Suppose there was now a pill that could burn the same number of calories, build the same muscles, and provide all the same health benefits as any amount of exercise you could do.
How much exercise would you get?
- Would you ever go to the gym again?
- Would you keep doing your favorite run every day? Walk it instead? Or stay inside and relax with a good book?
- Would you still stroll the neighborhood streets just to see what's going on? Or would you just wave to your neighbors from the inside of your car?
- Would you go on a pretty nature hike that was a mile long? Ten miles long? Or go to a movie instead?
When we were children, we got plenty of exercise spontaneously; we called it "playing." But as adults, we often tend to think of it as something virtuous. It feels strange to contemplate exercising without getting any "credit" for it--or remaining sedentary without feeling the least bit guilty.
To separate the two helps you realize all the things you naturally appreciate about your physical activities. But it also allows you to give yourself credit for doing a whole bunch of things consistently that you might never do again for pure pleasure.
I suspect for me, there might be an extended period of Complete Couch Potatohood, in which I'd keep reminding myself "I'm getting as much exercise as if I were running a marathon!" And then I'd giggle and decide to take another nap.
Eventually though (I hope!), I'd be out doing a fair amount of walking again. I'd want to feel the breeze and smell the flowers and notice all the things one can't see from inside a house or a car. But that treadmill and those barbells--they'd go straight to the dump!
How about you? Would you even take the pill? And if you did, what would be different?
This post reminds me of a particularly interesting physiology class I had in undergrad. The professor began the lecture by announcing the discovery of a new drug and was excited to tell us the proposed benefits of this drug. He began with little things like increased metabolic rate and increased heart rate and moved on to more impressive effects such as suppressing appetite, reducing depression, increasing cardiac output, and improving memory. By that time, the class was hooked on his every word...
Yes the new drug was "exercise" and all of the effects he had attributed to the pill were all the effects of exercise supported in research. An excellent lesson!
Replygood one eric!
ReplyDont they call this pill, "adderall", in Hollywood?
ReplyIf the pill gave me that sweaty, self accomplished, exhausted, awesome feel you get after a 3 mile run. I'll take it. If not, no thanks. I like to get up and go; I can read books and smell roses along the way.
ReplyThat's a great observation Amanda because I love that feeling too! But I'd worry that over time the feeling of "accomplishment" would diminish if you really could get all the same benefits from a pill--including the endorphin rush.
It's weird to think that with all the researchers out there working on this type of stuff, such a pill might actually exist someday. I don't know whether to hope for it or dread it!
ReplyI might take it, as insurance. But I'd never stop exercising. That said, it would be useful for those people with impaired ability to move or other problems that make vigorous exercise impossible.
Reply1. I wouldn't trust it.
2. It couldn't give me the feeling of accomplishment, even if it could mirror the euphoria.
I might skip some weight lifting sessions if my worries were addressed and it really provided all the health benefits without a lot of risk, but my running and bicycling is mine, mine, mine.
ReplyI'm with Heather ... if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. We'd all take it and six months later grow tails or horns or experience crazy mood swings.
This reminds me of Nozick's "experience machine" where he asks us if plugging into a machine that gives us an experience (say, winning the Nobel Prize) without knowing that we're plugged into that machine when we're having the experience is the same as having the experience.
I love the feeling I have leaving an intense 90-minute bikram (hot) yoga session. That seems hard to replicate in pill form.
ReplyExcept for the fact that I try to avoid medication as much as possible (because you never know!) I would totally take it. I would still do the 'fun' stuff I do that I don't do for exercise - hiking, swimming, raquetball, attempting to ride around on my boyfriend's skateboard - but I'd definetly ditch the weights and the running shoes.
I'm missing whatever part of the brain that lets exercise junkies get high on exercise. I'm a book geek darnit, and I'd rather be at home with a good book!
ReplyI still play,dancing around my house singing silly songs and once in awhile I go for a walk...for FUN!
I'd still excercise but it wouldn't be planned and I wouldn't be thinking of it as work.
ReplyImagine the side effects of this pill? lol
ReplyDoes it cause one to be periodically injured, as does my weight training? I'd love it some people took a pill and then suffered from tendonitis and torn muscles, let alone DOMS and neurological fatigue.
ReplyI would take the pill and keep running too. I'd hope that I'd get thinner that way, since my body refuses to go any lower running my current 50 miles a week, I'd take the extra exercise for no extra time!
ReplyShallow I know.
Id never give up my yoga. I live Northeast Ohio and I'm looking for something to replace my morning run. But there's nothing quite like the real thing.
If the pill could come in the form of ice cream my boyfriend would totally be on board.
ReplyReminds me of Archie Bunker saying (could be paraphrase) "I need some kind of pill."
That aside, there wouldn't be much point in having bodies if we didn't use them.
ReplyI would keep lifting weights while taking this pill so I could become a huge hulk-like monster.
ReplyThanks for this post. It really made me realize how much I loathe the gym, but enjoy doing things outdoors. The gym would definitely go. Actually, it probably should anyway, since I hate it so much. I'd rather buy a decent bike and hit the trails.
ReplyCan you imagine the windfall this would get on the market?
ReplyBut if it really did exist, I like to think that I would still exercise, just for the stress relief it gives me.
Of course I would ditch the out of breath sweatiness, weight lifting, aerobics classes, ect. for good!
I'm totally with Brittany, my sneakers and exercise gear would be out the door and I'd be on the couch catching up with my pile of reading. I'd still walk around the neighbourhood, go bushwalking and run races with my nephews, but otherwise I'd be happy to never sweat again.
ReplyI'd take the pill in a heartbeat. My workouts don't resemble walks-in-the-park. If I could get all the same benefits without the sweating, grunting and groaning, I'd take it and spend the time it frees up to go for more walks in the park.
ReplyI'd probably take it just for "insurance", but yeah, I don't think it would give me the same sense of accomplishment that running 10 miles does. There's just something about getting sweaty and pounding the pavement and seeing the city that I don't think a pill could mimic.
LOL @ Kailash---no kidding, I want a pill that gives couch potatoes ITBS, tendonitis, and shin splints. That would be poetic justice, wouldn't it?
BTW, does this "exercise pill" replace cardio, strength training, or both? Just curious.
ReplyOh baby, I forgot about shin splints. I've got that one too. But at least I haven't gotten ITBS... yet.
Just keep chugging the fish oil, and don't forget to stretch and rest! :)
Orthopedic devices help too. They're no joke. Wrapping my shins (below the calf) helped with the splints. Tennis/golfers elbow bands work even better.
If only there was a good shoulder support... That's my current bitch, both left and right. I can't even bench press the bar without hurting them worse.
Oh well... Press on! Dips are tolerable. So too overhead pressing.
We'll survive, and still outlast the already dead.
ReplyI'd NEVER EVER take it. I love the gym.
I love working out, the gym is my escape from work and other stresses, when i can just focus on the task at hand and know i'm doing good.
I love how good i feel after a good hour at the gym, and i like too see that my efforts pay off. Plus the sweating is like a detox for my skin, and the next day muscle pain is incredibly satisfying.
The gym is more than just a place to sweat, its a good chance to socialize and meet new friends.
ReplyI am absoulutely loving the comments that several people made about how they would take the pill AND work out so they could get EXTRA benefit! I thought the same thing when I read the post. Hmmmm What does that say about us? Does it make us shallow, exercise junkies? I do agree, though, that I would let it substitute for the "boring" stuff and then just go out and have fun doing more of the extra stuff I actually like to do that also counts as exercise.
ReplyWould the pill give you wind in the hair and endorfines in your blood?
(I get grumpy when I haven't exercised for a couple of days. Who would've thought only three years ago?!)
ReplyPelikan, i'm the same, i feel strange when i dont have that glorious muscle fatigue for a couple days, i feel cheated.
ReplyPill is not a nice word. We eat pills when we are sick or lacking in something. We know what to do to stay healthy and fit. This pill idea is for the lazy - those who don't like to exercise yet wants to eat and stay fit. Our bodies are made to work and labor too.
ReplyI agree with Never teh Bride that it would be very useful in helping physically impaired people get the exercise they need to stay healthy.
ReplyUnless I'm in some kind of condition where it's impossible to exercise, I will also not stop exercising. Also because almost any artificial process have a side effect
ReplyThis reminds me of a short Stephen King film I saw about someone who developed a solution for world peace - it had something to do with bumblebees. However, the downside was that eventually everyone developed Alzheimer's.
ReplyIf something sounds too good to be true - it usually is.
If I could take an exercise pill, I would be so freaking awesome at Guitar Hero!
I'd take the pill and ditch cardio, but keep up strength training - I actually enjoy that!
Imagine how many gyms would go under...
ReplyOkay...this is an imaginary pill, so we can imagine that there are no bad side effects. If it does the same thing as cardio and weight training, I would take it in a heartbeat and spend that time doing FUN stuff! I HATE the treadmill!!!! There are activities that I do enjoy, like tennis, but I'm not sure I'd even do that if I didn't have to. I play tennis because fun, but also because it's really good exercise. Knowing me, I would probably ditch that too.
I'm extremely envious of you posters who enjoy your exercise. I do enjoy the sense of accomplishment, but hate the act itself and would love to not have to do it.
ReplySounds like laziness in a pill to me. If your not motivated enough to go out and keep your body healthy everyday that you need to take a pill for it, theres something wrong there. I happen to like working out and jogging. It gives you a good feeling of accomplishmment when your come back sweaty and tired. I hope this pill never exists.
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