Tuesday, June 27, 2006

I Only Buy It for the Stories

According to this Washington Post article, reading health and fitness magazines, with their attendant photos of lithe, buff models, just basically bums us all out.

A recently completed study showed that men and women who while exercising had access to magazines featuring images of ultra-fit people reported higher levels of anxiety, depression and tension afterward than before. By comparison, a control group whose reading options were limited to National Geographic reported reduced anxiety and depression—and better overall mood—after the workout.


So if you MUST read while exercising, stick to magazines that show nothing more exciting than the sex lives of nematodes.

10 comments:

Haight said...

Would Golf Digest qualify?

Nancy Toby said...

At least in National Geographic, if they show boobs they're saggier ones than even mine, and not airbrushed.

Bolder said...

i have been literally disgusted by Runners World magazine -- covers with models that bear no resemblance to anyone i've ever seen at a race.

and they are all TANNED. wonder why i get bummed out.

now, take the current TdF issue of Velo News that shows each teams kit and road bike.

mmmmmmm. road bike porn.

not bummed out.

Dori said...

Ha! Nancy, that's funny.

I have a perception problem. In my mind's eye, I see myself as lean and muscular. And yeah, young. Then I see pictures of myself and wonder how the photographer can manage to get my "bad" side all the time. :-)

Who the hell can read while they exercise?

21st Century Mom said...

Nematoads - ewwwww!!! But you are right about them being better than models posing as runners.

And if you can read while you are working out then maybe you aren't working hard enough and that too, is a bummer.

L*I*S*A said...

I agree about the boob shots in NG. I always come away feeling better about the state of my own.

Anonymous said...

That's interesting- it makes sense I guess. But I never see people reading at the gym anymore (I used to all the time) I think ipods have replaced magazines.

Thomas said...

I haven't yet mastered the art of running on the road and reading a magazine at the same time, so this isn't really an issue for me.

David said...

Now I thought I read somewhere that they (RW) pledged to only use cover shots of real runners, not "models."
I've always had the Popeye philosophy: I yam who I yam and that's all I need.

a.maria said...

i don't know about your gym, but at my gym (also known as the army's gym) the only people reading while they workout...

er. "workout"...

are the same people that do their hair and make-up before they exercise.

yulch. talk about bummer! they're in my WAY!