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Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

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Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#11

Post by mbrock »

The only exercise forms I've found that I actually enjoy doing regularly are biking and swimming.

I move around a lot and I can't count on having a swimming pool anywhere near me, and I don't really want to spend time commuting to my exercise location.

Biking strenuously while staying safe and not stressed seems to require getting out of the city. I do enjoy stationary bikes, but I generally loathe gyms (too many TVs, bad music, expensive, etc) and again, I move too much to have my own gear.

I don't like running because it's painful and boring. I don't like yoga because it seems to require subtle understanding to avoid doing things wrong, and all the videos I've seen go too fast, or are annoying in some other way.

I suspect I would enjoy lifting, but again I need a gym, and where I'm now I don't have any friends who can teach me.

Getting exhausted by doing physical labor that actually has a point is my favorite kind of exercise, but that doesn't come around often for me.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#12

Post by hifumi »

I actually like exercising. I like being physically powerful. However, falling into a day job has kept me from exercising as much as I want. So I insisted on a standing desk at work. I just work standing up for approx. 7 hours and can do my usual exercises on the weekend.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#13

Post by thenomad »

Most recently, what's made me start exercising (more) is room-scale VR.

Gyms are boring. Cardio in gyms is incredibly boring.

Trying to beat my highscore on Holopoint whilst hologram samurai rush at me and I'm dodging missiles flying from all directions is not boring.

( And now I'm developing room-scale VR games, that goes double.

I'm currently covered in sweat in the middle of a work day after spending an hour balancing a miniboss in Left-Hand Path (http://store.steampowered.com/app/488760). )

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#14

Post by jwcooper »

One big reason is the weather. I run outside all summer, and then it gets very cold where I live from December through February. I'm not insane enough to run outside on icy roads, etc.

We finally got a trainer for a road bike we can use during the winter, but it's not the same as running outside so I usually get burned out on it.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#15

Post by iamthepieman »

I know that i will slowly start to go mad if i do not do something active regularly. Madness (while mostly sane) is a strong negative motivator.

I don't know what "makes" me do it. I tell myself I'm going to do something and then I have to do it. It's easy to say I'm going to do something but once it's said I must follow through. I call it writing a check with my mouth that my body has to cash.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#16

Post by jonaf »

Note that these aren't excuses. But they make it more difficult for me to exercise.

1. Kids (2 under 2). If I'm not at work, I'm playing with or taking care of them, cooking, etc. there isn't much "me time" as all of it is spent at work.

2. This may sound weird, but I haven't found a comfortable way to keep my private area in place. Most loose shorts / boxers don't work because things move around in some rather uncomfortable ways. I haven't tried any kind of briefs yet, as I find them very constructive and also uncomfortable. Suggestions welcome.

3. Finding a good exercise program that I can do at home. So far, I've had best luck with the 21 Day Fix, but this is focused on weight loss, which isn't really what I'm interested in; I don't have enough availability that I can go to a gym, and equipment isn't cheap. I have no family living nearby, so it's really tough to find someone I trust to watch my kids while I go work out, not to mention it's remarkably expensive. (My kids go to a school 2 days / week and it already costs more than rent in a 3k sq ft home.) So, let's just call this one time AND money..

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#17

Post by donjh »

moksha256 wrote: post #9

I used to start & stop exercising regularly...meaning I'd start going to the gym for a few weeks and then stop out of laziness / lack of motivation. That changed 1 year ago, when I stopped aimlessly 'exercising' and started goal-oriented 'training'. I discovered powerlifting. Its principles and techniques really resonated with me. I was no longer exercising to be 'fit' but 'training' to beat my numbers (I don't do co…

Powerlifting is incredibly healthy. For anyone interested, pick up a copy of Starting Strength. It's an amazing read. I've also really enjoyed StrongLifts 5x5 - it has a companion app that tells you exactly what you need to do, each workout.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#18

Post by my_username_is_ »

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #6

First, I don't like it. Most of the time, it is awkward stuff, and horribly boring, exercising just to exercise. I'd rather do so much other stuff. Second, I don't usually find the gains to be motivating. I have trouble sticking with it after a month or two. Third, I'm not really willing to spend money on equipment or go out of my way to a gym. I'd rather not be seen.

>First, I don't like it. Most of the time, it is awkward stuff, and horribly boring, exercising just to exercise.

It doesn't have to be this way. The best way to stick with an exercise is to find one that you enjoy. For some people that's lifting weights, or running distances. Others like biking or yoga. I play ultimate frisbee, which I find to be a lot of fun and a great exercise. I'll be the first to admit that I should do more, but chasing a piece of plastic through the air for two hours a week is a whole lot better than sitting down at home. Try seeing what sports leagues are in your area, maybe you'll find something you like.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#19

Post by RUG3Y »

On Friday, wife made plans that required me to be home with the kids. I wasn't able to get to the gym.

On Wednesday, wife was home sick from work. I took care of the kids and couldn't get to the gym.

I try to go M/W/F, so far I've only had one week in a month where that's happened.

Family keeps me from the gym. It's ok, I love them.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#20

Post by jasonshen »

inanutshellus wrote: post #2

Exercise is like keeping a feather aloft with your breath. At any point, you can choose to stop, or blow again. Blowing works for a short amount of time, you see some short-term results, and then you're back at the head of the loop. Basically... like most anything that takes effort you either have to make "the switch" and make it be a defining characteristic of who you are, or it will never matter more than a passing…

This. It's like asking "when do you find time to program?" Once you start seeing yourself as a programmer, that question doesn't make sense any more. Same is true when you start seeing yourself as an active person. There's a shift in your identity that needs to happen. Being around other people who you identify with in other ways and also make physical activity a key part of their life can help a lot too in this regard.
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