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Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

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191–200 of 213 posts

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#191

Yo! My time to shine. I'm a partner in a gym. I'm fit. I'm a full time software developer. People think I'm an athlete. You're trying too hard. You need to develop a habit to get fit. Consistency > intensity. Sooooo! Here is my tip. Go to the gym. Win the day by doing really easy stuff. Everything should be easy. Then finish your session before you are tired or sore. Go get food. A shake is perfect. You need to win.…

5km??? Isn't this a big effort for beginners?

If it is, make it just a mile (1.6km) then, or a half mile (0.8km).

The important part is to develop consistency and not make it too challenging.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#193

In my opinion you're looking at the wrong problem. If you're burned out, you won't have spare energy for anything else, and however you approach it, fitness requires a minimum amount of energy to be sustainable, which you don't have. Technical solutions may lower the energy threshold, but they won't stick, as they won't lower the energy so much that you will stick to them long term, if you are mentally depleted. It's…

Have to figure out if it’s ME because if so doing any normal exercise system, even for beginners, will be a disaster.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#194

Yo! My time to shine. I'm a partner in a gym. I'm fit. I'm a full time software developer. People think I'm an athlete. You're trying too hard. You need to develop a habit to get fit. Consistency > intensity. Sooooo! Here is my tip. Go to the gym. Win the day by doing really easy stuff. Everything should be easy. Then finish your session before you are tired or sore. Go get food. A shake is perfect. You need to win.…

5km??? Isn't this a big effort for beginners?

The Couch-to-5k program is really great and will get you there quickly.

There's a pretty fun implementation of it called "Zombies Run!!!" which does interval training with these audio stories where you have to run away from zombies periodically.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#195
post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we have different definitions for intermediate. 20+ pull ups for a woman of any weight is elite or close to it.

My numbers do appear to be skewed a bit. I know a woman in CrossFit with an official record or 40+. It appears that's much closer to the world record (48) than I realized.

40+ CrossFit (kipping) pull ups or traditional (static) pull ups?

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah. For sure. I may have gotten excited there. Don't focus on the numbers so much. 1km is better than 0km. Walking 5km is a pretty doable though. I'm just so dang amped at people starting! WOOOOO!

When I started running I found this guide to be helpful and realistic for my starting point as a beginner: https://i.imgur.com/iWVU9vc.jpeg Basically working your way up from "I can't run for longer than a minute" to "I can run 30 minutes nonstop".

If you're into zombies, this is a pretty fun version of this program: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/zombies-run-5k-training/id5665...

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Injury prevention: I feel like I reached a point in my 40s where I'd recover from one injury, go back to working out and soon get hit with an equivalent injury someplace else. Usually some kind of tendonitis. I'm not sure if my form is bad or I'm trying too hard or what. I'm currently unable to do upper body for the most part because of golfers elbow (I use a wacom tablet for work so maybe it's RSI too) and I'm wonde…

I'm dealing with RSI issues as well, and am in my late 30's. Hard career left me with a lot of small (and a couple larger) injuries. The only thing I've found to help is stopping the actions that are unnecessary to reduce load, and training to build the tendons and ligaments. This can be difficult and has required I change how I work. It has, however, paid dividends. I have a torn ligament in my shoulder that I'm abo…

If you don't mind me asking, how do you train to build tendons and ligaments? And do you stretch too? Mind sharing any useful resources?

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#198

Yo! My time to shine. I'm a partner in a gym. I'm fit. I'm a full time software developer. People think I'm an athlete. You're trying too hard. You need to develop a habit to get fit. Consistency > intensity. Sooooo! Here is my tip. Go to the gym. Win the day by doing really easy stuff. Everything should be easy. Then finish your session before you are tired or sore. Go get food. A shake is perfect. You need to win.…

> You're trying too hard. You need to develop a habit to get fit.

this 100% this.

I also added IF (intermittent fasting) to the mix by missing breakfast. Worked very well in spring and summer, not so well in winter. i tend to eat shit and too much of it in winter... and the cold wet weather keeps me inside.

I need to find a way to make the habit work in winter.

oh the other REALLY important thing is :

Get enough sleep.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've tried a couple. In the end what worked best was some zinc oxide adhesive tape (the type you'd find in a first aid kit). Mind you, the point is not to forcefully tape your mouth shut abduction style. All you need is a small 2cm*1cm strip accross the center of your mouth. Breathing through your nose is the body default. That said switching to nose breathing is not as easy for everyone. Chronic mouthbreathers often…

Ah thanks! I do have sleeping problems - in that I wake up extremely tired even after a good 7-8 hrs of sleep and a very dry mouth. Will try this out.

You should consider getting a sleep test. As far back as I can remember, I have always been tired and sleepy through the years. I just attributed it to being on less sleep due to my erratic schedule. But I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea at 29, after likely having it for a couple of decades or so.

Been using CPAP for almost 5 years now. Everyday is fantastically fresh with a regular ~7 hours of sleep. Can't recommend it enough. I am also on path to see if my Blood Pressure medicine can be stopped - since it is understood to be the side effect of Sleep Apnea in my case. Should become clear in a few months.

Also, been active for a year. Started just walking in the evening mandatorily - sometimes listening to podcasts, and other times just using it as a break from everything digital. Then, after a few months, split the walk-time into a morning and evening routine. Probably been regular at it for about 395 of the last 400 days. It's a habit now. Added running to the routine but it is a bit erratic still. Want to add HIIT / Weight-training to workout routine, but that hasn't stuck at all and will try again in a while.

As to the results, I am almost 11Kgs lighter from my max weight, feel healthy, BP is almost always normal, BMI is close to normal, resting heart rate has dipped significantly, and so much more. I track a ton of this info as it can help you stay motivated on the slow, low and tiresome days. :)

Wish you all the best - experiment and find something that suits you best!

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