Search the Community

As a professional in this field this thread is for those looking to enhance their health the right way.

Geography is what most people understand to be the study of where countries are. That's why not knowing where a country is on a map will result in your friends saying, "Never study geography ah?" Of course, geography is deeper and more complex than just finding countries and cities on a map. It also involves studying a country's features such as mountains, lakes and rivers, and most importantly, peoples. We won't dive into all this. Instead, we'll get into how Singapore's geography determines its climate and how this in turn influences our lifestyle. Photo: Maarten Duineveld, Unsplash Swedish observation Singapore sits just above the equator, so you might say that our two most abundant resources are the sun and its heat. Anyway, during a work trip to Sweden some years ago, a fellow journalist and I noticed many locals doing a variety of outdoor sports. From cycling to running to tennis, it seemed like everyone had an active lifestyle. "It must be the weather. The climate is so cool that even I want to pick up a tennis racquet!" he remarked. As we drove along, I remembered my geography classes in school. How citizens of a country live - this is very much influenced by its climate. Obviously, Sweden is way up in the northern hemisphere and gets plenty of snow in the winter, which explains why it's a cold country. Indeed, it was cold for the first week of October, which was when the trip took place. I recall temperatures only reaching 12 degrees during the day, dropping to around 4 degrees Celsius at night. Walking, running and cycling would certainly feel shiok in this weather. The weather lately feels desert-like. Photo: Giorgio Parravicini, Unsplash Meanwhile, in the sweltering tropics... It's only going to get hotter in Singapore. Numerous temperature and UV warnings have been issued, and the wet and cool weather we enjoyed for a prolonged period last year has long departed. We can only hope it will visit again. Life doesn't stop just because it's hot. However, it also makes exercising outdoors - and being active in general - unappealing. Combined with high humidity, it's not uncommon to hear people complain that they're already sweating after walking to the bus stop below their block. If you're from a temperate country and have never been to the tropics, you probably think I'm exaggerating. Well, come to our corner of the world and feel for yourself. So, hot weather prevents us from exercising? Of course not. Many of us are quite outdoorsy and don't even mind getting tanned (but please apply sunscreen to mitigate skin damage). But the heat tends to make us lazy. Cooler weather makes commuting more comfortable, like these folks in Tokyo. Photo: Redd F, Unsplash Nobody wants to sweat while walking 10 minutes from the office to the hawker centre. So, we'll either drive there or get a private-hire ride. Nobody enjoys sweaty commutes requiring one to walk while transferring from air-conditioned buses and trains. Yes, yes, I know. First World problems. I think this 'problem' though, is one factor that prevents us from becoming fitter. Those of us who've holidayed in Tokyo during spring or fall know that you can easily clock 20,000 steps a day when you're there, probably without breaking a sweat. It must be why everyone there looks so slim. Cooler climes make it more comfortable to do such things. Tampines MRT station is less than 2km from my house, but if I started walking to it at 9am, I hope shower facilities appear in the office by the time I arrive. With cooler weather, more people would walk and cycle as well, since the impact to one's hygiene will be minimal. If commuting becomes pleasant, we might even drive less, thereby lowering emissions and our vehicle's running costs. Photo: Peijia Lee, Unsplash Will it really improve health? The optimistic answer to this is yes, cooler weather will make us more active and therefore, fitter. According to this HealthHub article, the crude prevalence of obesity among residents aged 18-74 years old is 10.5%. This is based on a 2019/2020 National Population Health Survey. But it's too simplistic to conclude that cooler weather will change lifestyle and health trends. Does everyone become healthier/fitter during the cooler and wetter periods? Based on casual observations and conversations, we actually end up eating and drinking more when the weather is cool. Mala hotpot, already a firm favourite, becomes even more irresistible then. Whisky seems 'less heaty' as well. In general, we tend to get hungrier and thirstier the colder we feel. It's all in the mind We can't change our geography, so we can only surmise that if we had a more temperate climate, we'd be more active. I don't think we need single-digit temperatures, but if our weather ranged between 15-20 degrees Celsius on average and humidity also averaged 60% instead of over 90%, a lot would change. Training in hot weather can help improve your cardiovascular fitness. Photo: Karsten Winegeart, Unsplash But would it make us fitter? That might be wishful thinking. Beyond lifestyle and dining habits, mindsets are the most difficult to change. Someone who only insists on high-cholesterol, high-sodium and sugar-heavy foods for every meal is unlikely to change their mind, no matter the weather, or impact to his or her health. I mention food because nutrition makes up a big part of the fitness equation. While exercising regularly (even with poor dietary habits) is better than not exercising at all, we all know that the key to better health is diet + exercise. That's never been a secret. To me, that means healthier choices from Mondays to Fridays, but indulging a bit on weekends. Being more willing to sweat it out will help as well. Instead of taking cover from the heat, I've learned (or convinced myself) to use it to improve my fitness. Hot weather is here to stay. It's our geography and we must do what humans do best: Adapt and thrive. - Jeremy

any kaki here...have a badmintoin MU @mustank you go play bedminton yourself hahhaahaha @atrecord @ben5266 @jman888

https://www.businessinsider.com/bryan-johnson-45-reduced-biological-age-5-years-project-blueprint-2023-1 A 45-year-old biotech CEO may have reduced his biological age by at least 5 years through a rigorous medical program that can cost up to $2 million a year, Bloomberg reported Bryan Johnson, a biotech founder, aims to have the body of an 18-year-old, Bloomberg reported. He and a team of experts started a program called Project Blueprint to unlock the key to aging. Test results show that Johnson has the heart of a 37-year-old, according to the report. Bryan Johnson is 45 years old but, according to a new report, his test results show he has the heart of a 37-year-old and the lungs of a young adult. Johnson is a biotech entrepreneur who hopes to game nature's course of aging and have the organs and health of an 18-year-old by going through an intense data-driven experimental program he's called Project Blueprint. According to a recent Bloomberg profile of the CEO, Johnson could spend up to $2 million on his body this year and there are early glimpses that show he may be on track to unlocking the secret to age reversal. Test results from doctors suggest that Johnson has the heart of a 37-year-old, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lung capacity of an 18-year-old, Bloomberg's Ashlee Vance reported. The program is led by Oliver Zolman, a 29-year-old physician who calls himself the "rejuvenation doctor," and is supported by a team of more than 30 health experts, according to the report. While it's still in its experimental stage and is constantly being tweaked, the health program consists of an intense daily regimen of carefully curated supplements, meals, exercise, and a slew of bodily tests. Johnson's 5 a.m.-mornings for example start with two dozen supplements for all kinds of purported health benefits: lycopene, metformin, turmeric, zinc, and, for brain health, a small dose of lithium, among others. His meals, a mix of solid and soft foods, are vegan and restricted to 1,977 calories a day. He exercises daily, with three high-intensity workouts a week, and goes through blood tests, MRIs, and colonoscopies each month, Bloomberg reported. "What I do may sound extreme, but I'm trying to prove that self-harm and decay are not inevitable," Johnson told the outlet. All of his efforts in 2021 have amounted to what Johnson claims to be a world record epigenetic age reversal of 5.1 years. In certain aspects of his health, he's shown even younger signs of age. Doctors say he has the gum inflammation of a 17-year-old, and a device that tracks Johnson's rate of nighttime erections is like that of a teenager's, Bloomberg reported. Johnson also hopes to encourage others to follow his data- and medical-driven program by turning his relentless pursuit of youthfulness into a competition. Recently, he started a website called Rejuventaiton Olympics, which displays an "epigenetic leaderboard," ranking the 1,750 people in the world who are fighting against Father Time. Johnson currently stands in first place.

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/park-connector-network/round-island-route https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/75km-long-first-phase-round-island-route-opens-2452431 75km-long first phase of Round Island Route opens Changi Bay Point, located along the 75km eastern stretch of the Round Island Route. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long) Vanessa Lim 22 Jan 2022 11:01AM (Updated: 22 Jan 2022 11:46AM) Bookmark Share SINGAPORE: The eastern half of the Round Island Route - an upcoming 150km-long recreational connection which goes around Singapore – is now open, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Saturday (Jan 22). Stretching from Rower’s Bay Park in Seletar to Berlayer Creek near Labrador Park, the 75-km long green corridor is the first phase of the Round Island Route. Advertisement First announced in 2012, the Round Island Route will be the longest recreational connection that loops the island when completed. It is also part of NParks’ overall plans to curate a 360km islandwide network of recreational routes, consisting of eight different trails, by 2035. The route will connect existing natural, cultural, historical and recreational sites, as well as provide opportunities for recreational activities including cycling, walking and skating. “This will expand and enhance connectivity across Singapore and provide opportunities for the community to explore our parks and nature areas, as well as walk or cycle in natural spaces,” said NParks. To commemorate the opening of the park connector on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, together with Second Minister for National Development and Finance Indranee Rajah, and Advisor for East Coast GRC, Dr Maliki Osman, visited the new park connector and planted saplings of two native coastal plants. The eastern stretch boasts several features including marine tiles along the coast which provides habitats for marine life. Advertisement With a combination of crevices, grooves and pits, the tiles are ideal for supporting marine life, such as crabs, snails and starfish, allowing marine biodiversity to thrive. Besides this, visitors to the eastern stretch can also look forward to scenic boardwalks along the coast and look out points at Changi Bay Point and Sengkang Riverside Park. Around 5,100 trees and shrubs have been planted along the Round Island Route eastern stretch to provide visitors with shade and respite from the heat, as well as provide food and shelter for native biodiversity. These include native coastal and riverine tree species, such as penaga laut and small-leaved nutmeg. There are also rest stops along the way, with nodes at Changi Bay Point, Sengkang Riverside Park and Jalan Kayu. These nodes will come with shelters with solar-powered charging points, bicycle parking lots and toilets. The eastern half was initially scheduled to be completed by 2021, however, factors including weather conditions and disruptions due to COVID-19 caused delays, said NParks.

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced today (July 5) its new virtual fitness programme — FIT@Home for Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) to incorporate exercise into their lifestyles. This programme will complement the current list of NS Fitness Improvement Training (FIT) activities to allow NSmen to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle while fulfilling their annual fitness requirements. FIT currently offers a variety of fitness activities, including aerobic training, metabolic circuits and Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT)-specific training. What is the programme about? Currently, NSmen can only attend FIT programmes at physical locations like Fitness Conditioning Centres (FCCs) in SAF camps, selected public parks, HPB Quick HIIT sites and SAFRA Energy-One gyms. However the new programme, FIT@Home will allow NSmen to attend FIT sessions virtually. FIT@Home will be conducted over a commercial video conferencing platform. The sessions will be conducted twice a day, with an exception on Fridays where no classes will be held. Each session allows a maximum of 45 participants at a time. At least two fitness trainers from the Singapore Armed Force’s FCCs will be present to monitor the safety of participants and to ensure that participants perform to standard. Participants will engage in a series of metabolic circuits and aerobic exercises. Each FIT@Home session is approximately 60 to 75 minutes and is counted as one session of NS FIT From July 7, NSmen can book a FIT@Home session through the NS Portal and select a suitable time and date for their session. The programme will launch on July 12. Virtual programme will be more convenient for NSmen

Now this is an interesting sight. As we have mentioned before in previous blog posts, the COVD-19 pandemic has somewhat influenced many who are forced to stay home to start working out as an excuse to head out. Hence, when we went into Phrase 2, there was a noticeable increase in traffic at our parks as many still continued to enjoy exercising, leading to some to come up with new ideas to move away from the overcrowding in parks. Check out this clip which has been shared by SG Road Vigilante, whereby the camera car chanced upon this public outdoor carpark at Fort Canning on the 9th of September which has been 'converted' into an outdoor gym. With the carpark almost full, we bet the sight of those using the carpark as a workout area annoyed the camera car driver. What do you guys reckon? Cool or not cool? Let us know!

Just for discussion, based on my recent observations. Should masks be made mandatory as long as you step out of the house? Only those with valid medical reasons with a certificate from the doctors should be excused, but you will still be required to wear a face shield, and also required to provide the certificate if approached by social distancing ambassadors and relevant authorities. I am of the view that should one choose to exercise out in public, that is a personal choice, and your personal choice should not affect the health of the general public. And if exercising with a mask is too suffocating, then the choice is clear, stay home and do simple exercises so you don't have to put on a mask. Whenever I'm on the road at the traffic lights, I observe pedestrians waiting at the lights alongside joggers (panting) and I can only imagine the droplets being excreted out and the bystanders potentially breathing in these respiratory droplets. And then we have crowded beaches and parks where social distancing is not possible but most people do not put on masks anyway because it is not a requirement if you are "exercising". As a general rule of thumb, as long as you are out in public, you should put on a mask. Is there a need for exemption for this group of people? Pretty straightforward if you ask me. There is a pandemic going on which will not be going away anytime soon. We have to make lifestyle changes and not insist on our usual way of life. Also, your surgical mask or cloth mask should cover your nose and mouth, and not act as a chin guard. Those not covering either should be treated the same as you would as someone not wearing a mask since there is essentially no protection. https://www.todayonline.com/voices/tighten-rules-mask-wearing-those-not-doing-strenuous-exercise? Thoughts? Feel free to disagree with me.

Does washing cars considered an exercise? You tend to burn cardio by the repetitive movements of your arms, stretching of your waists and your back, because these places tends to get sore and tired after a throughout car washing, polishing and waxing, vacumming and carrying full pails. Not much for the legs, unless you use your legs to do the repetitive movements. Would it help you to keep fit wash your car weekly?

Inspirational, especially for runners. http://www.prischew.com/running/run-for-life-chan-meng-hui-marathoner/

Hi bro/sis, Thinking of taking up some pilates class to improve body posture and flexibility. Could anyone recommend where to go and how much? Preferably not those where you need to pay astronomical monthly membership fee like Fitness First...

It is mid-Mar and still no sight of rain... Should we do a water rationing exercise (also match the theme of Total Defence)? If not, how do we know that the protocol / procedures are still relevant to today's context?

so stressful, must chop seat early... this new bidding with fresh quota to start on 2/5 (Tue) n to close on 5/5 (Thu)!! happy long weekend to all!!

great news b4 even the bidding starts!!!

back to green??

another hot thread...

going to hv more 猴 fun?? happy 猴 year!!!

welcome back to 2k-quota era... huat ar!!!

happy new year!!

note: figures for May-Jul r of v early projections (could b more). ready for more fun albeit most r expecting a rebound? hopefully, jz a small rebound...

great to b bck, no place like home n i missed my car!! projected quota updated for Feb-Apr 2016, unchanged for earlier projection for A & B!!!

up again?? to me, it's quite stable since new cevs was effective in Jul. would b interesting to see how mkt response when more quota is available next yr. ;)

more likely green... for Cat C!!

Anyone has joined this? What's your points now? http://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/37/NSC

green?