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Weekend-only exercise is as effective at staving off dementia as regular workouts, scientists say

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Weekend-only exercise is as effective at staving off dementia as regular workouts, scientists say

Exercising only at weekends is just as effective at staving off dementia as regular workouts, according to a study.

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Scientists have discovered ‘weekend warriors’ are as likely to lower their risk of ‘mild dementia’ as those who keep up a fitness regime throughout the week.

The findings come a month after another study showed one or two sessions of physical activity at the weekend cuts the risk of developing more than 200 diseases.

It bolsters a growing body of evidence that it is not when you exercise – but the fact you are doing it – that improves health.

The team, consisting of researchers from Colombia, Chile and Glasgow, examined two sets of survey data which included responses from more than 10,000 people.

For the first survey, participants were asked whether they exercised or played sports, and if so, how many times a week and for how long.

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Four groups were derived from the responses – the no exercisers, the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised or played sports once or twice a week, the regularly active who did so three or more times a week, and a combined group comprising weekend warriors and the regularly active.

Scientists have discovered ‘weekend warriors’ are as likely to lower their risk of ‘mild dementia’ as those who keep up a fitness regime throughout the week (file image)

Analysis revealed that the risk of mild dementia was reduced by an average of 15 per cent in the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised once or twice per week and by 10 per cent in the ‘regularly active’ who exercised more often (file image)

Analysis revealed that the risk of mild dementia was reduced by an average of 15 per cent in the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised once or twice per week and by 10 per cent in the ‘regularly active’ who exercised more often (file image)

A mental state exam was then used to assess their cognitive function for the second survey.

Analysis revealed that the risk of mild dementia was reduced by an average of 15 per cent in the ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised once or twice per week and by 10 per cent in the ‘regularly active’ who exercised more often.

Writing in the British Journal of Sports medicine the researchers said: ‘The weekend warrior physical activity pattern may be a more convenient option for busy people around the world.

‘This study is important because it suggests that even busy people can gain cognitive health benefits from taking part in one or two sessions of sport and exercise per week.’

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After taking account of factors that might influence the results, such as age, smoking, sleep duration, diet and alcohol intake, the researchers suggested both exercise patterns had similar effects.

‘We found that the weekend warrior physical activity pattern and the regularly active physical activity pattern were associated with similar reductions in mild dementia risks after adjustment for confounders,’ they added.

‘We found that around 10 per cent of [mild dementia] cases would be eliminated if all middle-aged adults were to take part in sport or exercise once or twice per week or more often.

‘To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective cohort study to show that the weekend warrior physical activity pattern is associated with reduced risk of mild dementia.’

A second study in the same journal also found that exercise of any intensity is linked to a 30 per cent lower risk of death from any cause over four years following a diagnosis of dementia.

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Those researchers said people affected should be encouraged to keep up or start an exercise routine, regardless of intensity – especially as average life expectancy after a diagnosis of dementia may be only about four to five years.

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Can’t Get To The Gym RN? I’m Opting For Plank Shoulder Taps After A PT Confirmed They’re The Most Effective Home Move

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Can’t Get To The Gym RN? I’m Opting For Plank Shoulder Taps After A PT Confirmed They’re The Most Effective Home Move

How many times have you said, “I can’t believe it’s December already,” this year? If your answer veers somewhere between “a fair few” and “honestly, I’ve lost count”, you’re in good company. It’s become the seasonal equivalent of asking about the weather – a reliable go-to as the year starts winding down. And while I’ll spare you the usual cosy festive clichés, December is the month when gym plans loosen, and most of us swap weighted plates for quality time and mince pies.

Still, if moving your body is something that helps you feel grounded, there’s no reason you can’t carve out little pockets for it over the festive period (just as there’s absolutely no shame in pressing pause altogether). Research consistently shows that even short bursts of exercise can support both mental and physical health, which is why keeping one or two genuinely effective, at-home moves in your back pocket can be a lifesaver when festive stress starts simmering.

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Applying the Stoic Cardinal Virtues for Both Optimal Performance and Longevity

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Applying the Stoic Cardinal Virtues for Both Optimal Performance and Longevity

Making healthy, sustainable choices for our health and fitness can often feel like a secondary goal, always on the back burner. The philosophy of Stoicism, originating in Greece and refined in Rome, offers a timeless framework for living well. Its four cardinal virtues, taught by philosophers such as Plato, are wisdom, courage, justice and temperance. These virtues can help you navigate health, wellness and fitness decisions with clarity and purpose by helping you:

  • Make healthier choices (moderation in food/drink; exercise)
  • Reduce stress through focusing on what’s controllable
  • Push outside your comfort zone to grow
  • Act responsibly for our community
  • Find peace by accepting mortality

Together, these lead to a more virtuous, less anxious, and purposeful life, which inherently supports well-being and longer, better living. 

Wisdom (Understanding/Learning)

Wisdom starts with learning, but it also requires understanding what is truly within your control: your judgments, actions and responses. Working out for an hour a day is the easy part of the fitness goal. The other waking hours of making healthy choices are the more challenging parts of the goal. In health and fitness, this means focusing on your habits and mindset rather than worrying about uncontrollable outcomes such as genetics or trendy social media posts from fitness influencers selling supplements. In a nutshell, use wisdom in these three ways to improve health, fitness and wellness: 

  • Control what you can control. Do this especially when faced with setbacks, such as a missed workout or a slip in diet. Redirect your energy toward what you can do next, not what you cannot change.
  • Seek facts, not opinions. Approach nutrition, exercise plans and wellness advice with an objective mind that is based on science. Avoid emotional reactions and look for evidence-based information.
  • Make sound choices. Use reason to evaluate what’s beneficial or harmful for your training and nutrition, avoiding extreme diets or fad workout routines. 

 

Courage (to Push Outside Your Comfort Zone)

Courage is not just about bravery. Courage is more about enduring discomfort and doing the right thing, especially when it’s hard. In your fitness journey, this means pushing through challenges and facing fears, such as trying a new activity or simply walking into a gym for the first time. The courage to challenge yourself with activities you are new to or not good at doing will help you become a well-rounded exerciser with performance and longevity goals. Try these three ways to add courage that enables you to make better decisions:

  • Accept the discomfort that comes with growth, whether it’s physical strain in exercise or emotional struggle in changing habits.
  • Remain focused on your goals and health commitments. Prioritize sleep, rest or recovery, and along with not skipping training days, even when external pressures tempt you otherwise.
  • Act objectively and see your circumstances as they are, not how you wish them to be, and respond realistically to challenges. Assess your progress regularly.

Justice (Fairness and Kindness)

Justice is about treating others and yourself with fairness, kindness and respect. In fitness, much is passed down from the older generation to the younger. Be that person who shares what you know with the next generation. This means supporting a positive training environment, whether at the gym, in group classes or among friends and family.

  • Treat others well by showing encouragement to people at every stage of their health journey, regardless of ability or background. This is powerful in people’s lives and makes you feel good, too.
  • Serve others by sharing knowledge, motivating workout partners, family members, and contributing to a supportive culture of activity to help others build the habit of fitness. Justice is also holding each other accountable.
  • Teach and communicate about your experiences, failures, and successes with humility. Having others learn from your mistakes and experiences is a smart way to communicate with the younger generation and beginners to fitness.

Temperance (Moderation and Discipline)

Temperance is discipline. None of these works can be done without discipline. We must learn to manage desires, impulses and habits to avoid excess in anything. In fitness and wellness, this virtue is vital for long-term success and well being. Training needs to be balanced with recovery, and this takes discipline to make some days easier than others. Too much of any good thing becomes a bad thing.

  • Avoid too much food, social media, supplements or even exercise. Balance is key to optimal performance, longevity and long-term goal achievement.
  • Manage impulsive responses to stress, frustration or temptation, choosing actions that keep you on track with your values and goals.
  • Practice discipline by doing things that are good for you, even when you do not want to.  Working out daily is often the easy part. The rest of the day, when food choices are tempting us to cheat on our diet, is the hardest for most people.

For many who find comfort in making the easy options or cheating on diets, you can also experience the same comfort (dopamine hit) by not doing it and choosing the healthier choice. These four virtues work together to flip the switch on how your body responds to new disciplined actions. For example, justice requires wisdom to discern the right action. Then, it takes courage to act on those insights and push yourself outside the comfort zone. Finally, deciding to be disciplined and hold firm is the temperance that avoids selfishness or excess. In your health journey, applying all four virtues helps you stay resilient, make thoughtful choices, and build a sense of purpose and connection.

You can also use the Military.com Fitness Section to aid your health, wellness, and fitness journey. There are thousands of articles and videos full of practical tools for building resilience, mitigating stress and disciplined living for optimal performance and longevity. By focusing on what you can control, acting with courage and kindness to others, and practicing self-discipline, you create a foundation for lasting health and wellness, not just for yourself, but for the wider community as well.

Want to Learn More About Military Life?

Whether you’re thinking of joining the military, looking for fitness and basic training tips, or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

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This is the best budget-friendly fitness tracker we have tested this year

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This is the best budget-friendly fitness tracker we have tested this year

Why you can trust Live Science


Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.

If you’re looking to get back into exercising, or are just starting out, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 may be the best fitness tracker for you. This fitness tracker does a great job of tracking your workouts and summarizing the data in an easy-to-understand format, without overcomplicating anything. The interface is user-friendly, and even those who aren’t into tech should be able to navigate around this smartwatch in no time at all.

While this is a budget fitness tracker, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in features. You can do more than just track your workouts with this smart band: you can also track your sleep, stress levels, heart rate and so much more. There’s also no shortage of sports modes — with 150+ to choose from, you’re bound to find the workout you want on this watch.

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