Does a lack of exercise correlate with more accelerated cognitive decline? Most times it does. Does exercise prevent age related memory loss? The bulk of evidence suggests this is indeed the case.

Now, we are not talking about becoming a professional athlete or running marathons. But we are talking about a consistent aerobic exercise routine – a good cardio work–up seems to be an equally good brain work-up.

Last but not least: you can’t force it on yourself. You need to find a way to enjoy and treasure whatever it is that you choose to do. Forcing it would cancel out all potential benefits. Anima data nicely illustrate this point: a forced exercise rat group didn’t show any of the exercise benefits that a voluntary exercise rat group showed in terms of improved cognitive performance and production of new nerve cells.

Good that you picked up on the fact that I like to think I’m accomplishing something positive, like taking pictures, instead of taking the road to nowhere that is most exercise.

But since I also loathe cold weather it does not help until the weather turns warm and pleasant again, which in my neck of the woods isn’t for months.

My plan to move to an area with warmer weather will probably do more good for me than any amount of complaining. Hopefully this will be the last year I suffer with the chill.

Previous commenter: when you write things like “What would be your recommendation for someone who believes to his very soul that physical exercise is pathetic and dumb and cruel and traumatic – in fact, genuinely evil?”, you are answering your question yourself. You seem to have an irrational fear of exercise, similar to people to have extreme reactions to spiders or to flying, probably based on some intense negative experiences in your life, so the best next step is to manage not your exercise patterns but your THOUGHT patterns.

Cognitive therapy principles can be very helpful here: anytime you become aware of a negative thought in your mind, write it down in a notebook, and then write down a positive comment next to it to balance your thoughts and appreciate reality is its entirety: exercise is not evil. No object is evil. Exercise is a great tool at our disposal, to use as appropriate, to manage. Once you manage those fears, you will be more open minded and able to give it a try. Perhaps by walking in a beautiful park. Perhaps following Stimpy’s suggestions. No one can impose anything on you: you can CHOOSE your lifestyle, including the role of exercise in it.

Good luck!