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Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

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11–20 of 28 posts

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#11
It takes ~6 weeks to form a habit. So all you need to power through is 1.5 months of consistent exercise, then you will feel weird when you don't exercise.

I've found the best way to get through the first 1.5 months is to go through it with someone. Get a partner to go to the gym with. Find someone who also rides their bike to work. Join a running/fitness club that meets early in the morning several times a week. Etc. It only takes about 30-60 min to exercise enough to be fit.

Also, keep in mind that your mental health depends on exercise. You won't burn out nearly as quickly if you are physically active. Exercise makes the startup life much more sustainable.

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#12
post #11

It takes ~6 weeks to form a habit. So all you need to power through is 1.5 months of consistent exercise, then you will feel weird when you don't exercise. I've found the best way to get through the first 1.5 months is to go through it with someone. Get a partner to go to the gym with. Find someone who also rides their bike to work. Join a running/fitness club that meets early in the morning several times a week. Etc…

This is true. Like most human habits, once you establish routine, whatever it is you're doing becomes natural. Running is fantastic as all you need literally is a good pair of running shoes and you're good to go.

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#13
I would like to say that my business is my top priority. But it’s not. Taking care of myself – body, mind and spirit – is. But when I take care of myself then the other parts of running my business fall neatly into place.

Three times a week I meet my personal trainer at 7AM for strength training. I usually dread having to wake up this early and it doesn’t come cheap either. But I know that the money, time and effort I spend here at the gym will let me sustain the crazy output needed to keep my startup running afterwards.

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#14
I work 80 hours a week, and I'm happy with my social life and fitness level. To be and to stay fit you need to eat right, exercise and... have good genes. Nothing you can do about your genes, but here're little hacks that helped me to not only stay in shape, but also lose 20 lb in 6 months and maintain it. There's nothing new, it's very easy, but you need to be disciplined about this.

1) Eat 4-5 small meals a day with plenty of veggies and protein. Exclude any processed food and ANYTHING with corn syrup. Read the ingredients. If there are words that you don't know - don't eat it. I never starve, never diet. But I also don't eat more than I need. If you drink alcohol, try to stay away from beer and cocktails. When I drink socially, I usually either have a glass of wine, or go straight to hard liquor (cognac, tequila, vodka).

2) Work-out 3-4 times a week (every other day) for only 20-30 minutes. To be effective you can work out with you weight: push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups crunches, etc. The key is to go with no breaks, and do 3 sets to maximum repetitions, while alternating different exercises. When I'm short on time, I do 10 pull-ups, 20 jumping push-ups, 30 jumping lunges, 40 sit-ups. And I repeat the cycle 3 times without breaks. It takes me 15-20 minutes. Then I shadow box, or, stretch, or lift weights, depending on my time and mood.

So, this routine works well and doesn't require much time.

P.S. And have lots of sex! It's kind of "refills" your social and exercise points all at once. :))))

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#15
post #7

There are 24 hours in a day. Assume you don't have kids. sleep: 7-8, eat/shower/shit: 2, commute to work: 1, chores/shopping/errands: 2, work: 9 ... you still have 2-3 hours left. That ought to give you 45 minutes or an hour 3 times a week easy. +Weekends. You can work at your business even more (if you can manage that..but if you aren't really working, why?) and still make the time for fitness. The point is... fitne…

Commit to work takes 1,5 * 2 hours in İstanbul. You still have 0 hours left.

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#16
post #14

I work 80 hours a week, and I'm happy with my social life and fitness level. To be and to stay fit you need to eat right, exercise and... have good genes. Nothing you can do about your genes, but here're little hacks that helped me to not only stay in shape, but also lose 20 lb in 6 months and maintain it. There's nothing new, it's very easy, but you need to be disciplined about this. 1) Eat 4-5 small meals a day wit…

You're telling me you work approx. 12h every SINGLE day (weekends included) and that has no effect in your social life, mental and physical health? 3 options:

1) Your social life's definition is different from everyone's else.

2) You only sleep 2h a day

3) This is a load of bs

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#17
This hasn't been mentioned in the comments below, but I think that enjoying your work and being deeply inspired by it makes a ton of difference. When I love my job I find that I interact more with people, snack less, find the energy to do more sports, more often, deal better with the stress, sleep better, etc. When I hate my job, I snack more, move less, etc.

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#19
post #7

There are 24 hours in a day. Assume you don't have kids. sleep: 7-8, eat/shower/shit: 2, commute to work: 1, chores/shopping/errands: 2, work: 9 ... you still have 2-3 hours left. That ought to give you 45 minutes or an hour 3 times a week easy. +Weekends. You can work at your business even more (if you can manage that..but if you aren't really working, why?) and still make the time for fitness. The point is... fitne…

commute to work: 1

the % of ppl who fit this criteria is less than 5%

Re: Ask HN: You're fit and you work startup hours (9+), how do you do it?

#20
post #16
post #14

I work 80 hours a week, and I'm happy with my social life and fitness level. To be and to stay fit you need to eat right, exercise and... have good genes. Nothing you can do about your genes, but here're little hacks that helped me to not only stay in shape, but also lose 20 lb in 6 months and maintain it. There's nothing new, it's very easy, but you need to be disciplined about this. 1) Eat 4-5 small meals a day wit…

You're telling me you work approx. 12h every SINGLE day (weekends included) and that has no effect in your social life, mental and physical health? 3 options: 1) Your social life's definition is different from everyone's else. 2) You only sleep 2h a day 3) This is a load of bs

4) definition of "work" is different than everyone else's
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