Comments on Cranky Fitness: Exercise in a Pill: Would You Take It?

Probably could've used it today when I blew off ae...

2008-08-07T19:17:00.000-04:00

Probably could've used it today when I blew off aerobics. Wonder if it would give you poopy side effects like Alli?

Man, everybody's weighed in -heh - on this issue, ...

2008-08-06T18:26:00.000-04:00

Man, everybody's weighed in -heh - on this issue, yes?

The way I understand the research, there are TWO forms of the med in development: AICAR, the "exercises for you" version, and GW1615 (or some other alphabet soup), the "performance enhancement" version.

AICAR is apparently targeted toward those who are, for example, dystrophic - who have suffered some type of problem that limits movement. (Although I'm sure there aren't going to be a lot of public prohibitions for prescribing it off-label.)

The performance enhancement version? All I can say is that the IOC is already working on tests for early detection.

Here's my question about this: if it's meant to he...

2008-08-06T15:38:00.000-04:00

Here's my question about this: if it's meant to help people lose weight, wouldn't the effects wear off? They say that working out four hours a day isn't necessarily better than working out two hours a day, because your body gets used to it and hoards fat. Wouldn't the pill cause something similar?

I would not want to take this pill. Then again I ...

2008-08-05T16:18:00.000-04:00

I would not want to take this pill. Then again I don't even like taking basic supplements, so I'm kinda strange perhaps. Its just not natural... kinda creeps me out. And do we really need yet another excuse to not exercise? What are people planning on doing with all this time that they'd be supposedly saving by not exercising or by cutting down on exercising?

Linda - I have to say that I don't appreciate the ...

2008-08-05T05:26:00.000-04:00

Linda - I have to say that I don't appreciate the tone of your comment "I think fat people everywhere would be all over it and then get mad when it doesn't work - just like every super easy [...] product out there."

That's like, super discriminatory dude. It's like you believe that all fat people are lazy, and that nobody else is too lazy to exercise. Not cool.

I would take the pill but I would still try to exe...

2008-08-05T05:24:00.000-04:00

I would take the pill but I would still try to exercise because I doubt any pill is going to do EVERYTHING for me that exercising does.

Kind of like taking a multi-vitamin but continuing to eat healthily.

See, as a formerly obese person, I understand that when I get down to my goal weight it's going to take a lot more work to stay there than it took to get there. And I think an exercise pill would be a great help, because let's face it, sometimes life just gets in the way of healthy habits.

Clearly I would take the pill in addition to the a...

2008-08-05T03:41:00.000-04:00

Clearly I would take the pill in addition to the already-ludicrous workout schedule I have, such is my Crazybrain.

Actually, I think this pill would be good for me. I'd stop worrying about the calorie burn every time I work out, and start actually exercising purely for enjoyment. That sounds like heaven.

Hopefully the side-effects will be wit and charisma (to go along with the perfect body)

TA x

nothing would ever beat the high that comes from w...

2008-08-05T02:16:00.000-04:00

nothing would ever beat the high that comes from working up a good sweat and getting the heart pumping and grinding. That said, I have always found it alarmingly easy to pop pills, from Advil to, um, other things, so I would prolly try Exercise in a Pill, if only for experimentation sake.

pills, hmm. those are contributory factors be slen...

2008-08-05T01:40:00.000-04:00

pills, hmm. those are contributory factors be slendah. but i do know that there's nothing more like exercise to get ur self fit.xoxo

hands in air, running in circles screaming Drugs...

2008-08-04T21:36:00.000-04:00

*hands in air, running in circles screaming* Drugs, drugs, drugs!

The amount of chemicals and drugs that we consume scares me.

I wouldn't use the pill. But I would be tempted by the quick fix.

Wow, the world really is getting more desperate to...

2008-08-04T21:29:00.000-04:00

Wow, the world really is getting more desperate to find ways around actual "work".

It would sure be nice to have a "magic pill" but I doubt that would ever happen.

I don't take a lot of pills for things anyway, so ...

2008-08-04T20:29:00.000-04:00

I don't take a lot of pills for things anyway, so I don't imagine that I'd start.

That said, I also don't think that it would work *just like that* for most people.

Just saying.

i think that I wouldn't give up my spinning classe...

2008-08-04T19:04:00.000-04:00

i think that I wouldn't give up my spinning classes, even if someone paid me. And, what about all the athletes out there- they exercise because they love the sport!

i haven't read the report, but i doubt that this pill will give you muscle tone (in the areas that you want) nor will it give you that "high" that comes from a great run or a powerfull weight lifting session.

i'm not jumping on this bandwagon

Part of me says: great, what's one more pill.The o...

2008-08-04T17:27:00.000-04:00

Part of me says: great, what's one more pill.

The other part says: one more pill to add to list of ever growing side effects, what next!

I think I will just let it be used by others.

The skeptic in me would want to see what kind of s...

2008-08-04T17:03:00.000-04:00

The skeptic in me would want to see what kind of side effects develop, and whether users have positive long-term results.

Well, I think I'd have to see how long 'til one "g...

2008-08-04T16:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I think I'd have to see how long 'til one "got results" (on a general basis), and how truly effective it is. I mean, "Results Not Typical" is worthless.

And whether I'd consider using it also depends heavily on the side effects.

"Works like exercise without you doing anything! - Possible side effects include: Death, uncontrollable bladder, birth defects, and bad breath."

Oh joy.

Hahaha, Nitmos, you crack me up!Jen, you've got so...

2008-08-04T15:38:00.000-04:00

Hahaha, Nitmos, you crack me up!

Jen, you've got some excellent points. In addition to the physical benefits, the mental/emotional benefits of doing exercise are irreplaceable.

And now, to play devil's advocate for a moment:

There are certainly drugs which can lower anxiety & stress, i.e., Paxil. But these drugs are for people who experience extreme social anxiety, & are certainly not meant as an exercise substitute. ;-) Of course, nonetheless, I'm sure that people with extreme social anxiety could probably still benefit from some exercise. ;-) But then again, who couldn't?! (That is, unless you're under strict orders from your doctor NOT to exercise, or are simply unable to do so due to a prior medical or physical condition. Even then, physical therapy or alternate forms of physical fitness may still be of some practical use.)

Also, while there are certainly drugs that could give a person the illusion of having a sense of accomplishment or increased self-esteem ;-), they'll never actually replace the actual attainment of these benefits. There's truly nothing can replace the satisfaction a person feels after putting forth effort towards accomplishing their goals, whether that be exercise or some other worthy endeavor. Striving towards goals gives a person a sense of purpose. And exercise & sports are all about that!

You can also get real skinny I hear by taking lots...

2008-08-04T14:15:00.000-04:00

You can also get real skinny I hear by taking lots of heroin but I really wouldn't recommend it. no, I'll stick with the non-pill form of exercise.

Every comment I could make on this has already bee...

2008-08-04T13:42:00.000-04:00

Every comment I could make on this has already been said.

For people who cannot exercise because of serious problems, yes, if it helps.

For the rest of us, keeping healthier by keeping unneeded chemicals out and hitting that treadmill sounds good.

messymimi

Oh my. I don't have anything to add that hasn't a...

2008-08-04T13:27:00.000-04:00

Oh my. I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said. So just let me express myself by saying, "Sheesh, how much lazier can we get?"

like many others, I wouldn't hop on the pill bandw...

2008-08-04T13:15:00.000-04:00

like many others, I wouldn't hop on the pill bandwagon. I already exercise for the fun as well as the fitness, and am not sure that a pill could keep me fit.

Also, side effects? I would want a good 10 year of actual 'on the market' results before taking a pill. And by that time, maybe I will be too old to exercise as much & can use the pill to supplement what I can do.

The heart is a muscle. A pill like that might hav...

2008-08-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

The heart is a muscle. A pill like that might have either a) enormous benefits for people with heart problems that involve weakened muscle tissue b) catastrophic impact somehow... I don't know... either by over-charging the muscle so that it increases pressure on weakened blood vessels or the pills get eaten by the ants in your kitchen and they turn into... THEM!

Yeah I'd take it, but then again I nearly always t...

2008-08-04T13:01:00.000-04:00

Yeah I'd take it, but then again I nearly always take the easy way put.

Im with ya on the less CARDIO and more weights if ...

2008-08-04T12:13:00.000-04:00

Im with ya on the less CARDIO and more weights if I could get me some in a pill.

down the road

after eons of studies.

by which time Ill prolly be in a nursing home :)

I have to say I'd be tempted to add this pill to m...

2008-08-04T12:07:00.000-04:00

I have to say I'd be tempted to add this pill to my workout regimen. But, sometimes we must resist temptation, right?
I also really enjoy working out (and recently discovered that,like MaryAnne, walking outside is one of my favorite things to do). Like Juicebox Mom, I'm waiting for the pill that will prevent weight gain and every conceivable disease, lol!