The benefits of exercise and diet always remain a hot debatable topic. While there is enough proof that it helps, you have examples like Charlie Munger who lived till 99 and didn’t believe in exercise. He refused to do so on purpose.

Charlie Munger’s close friend Warren Buffet is known to drink five cans of Coke every day. Which is 25% of his daily calorie intake. Buffet, by the way, is also one of the largest shareholders of Cocacola. That explains his intake of 5 cans but only partially. Why would you drink 5 cans at 93?

WHO (World Health Organization) recommends 150 minutes of exercise per week. For someone like me, that is a relief. I clock 250 minutes in my best week and justify that I am doing more than enough. For someone like my wife, 150 minutes is just one long easy run on a Sunday.

3/4th of adults don’t even exercise. A common argument is “What’s the point? you are going to die anyway. True that. Hence exercise and diet become like religion. A question of belief for many. Does god exist? yes, no, maybe not.

But there is a philosophical argument we can use.

We should thank Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century French mathematician. Yes, the same dude who derived Pascal’s triangle. Pascal also has a less-known philosophical argument called Pascal’s Wager (bet). Pascal was a devout Catholic. Following is his argument.

“You should consider Christianity because if it’s true, the downside of not believing is eternal Hell. But if you become a Christian and there’s no God, all you’ve lost is your Sunday mornings.” (just simplifying it)

When there is a lot of uncertainty around the benefits of a concept or a belief, question what is at stake and what might be the cost. Not exercising could lead to a long battle with chronic illness (eternal hell). Exercising (even if it is completely useless), might cost you 150 mins per week. What’s the harm?

Kapish?