Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#21

Post by basseq » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:42 PM UTC

I blame my inactivity on the same things you do. And I probably have more excuses: I don't want to go to the gym because I think I'll be judged and/or discouraged by people who are in better shape than me. But I have a treadmill and a weight bench in the basement that I never use, so that's a shitty excuse.

It's easy to say, "Oh, I work 10 hours a day then I have to go home to my family", yet I still find time to play stupid phone games, browse HN, and watch the Olympics.

Sometimes I get on a kick: I biked to work (~8 mi.) a couple days a week in the spring. I've started Couch-to-5k a couple times. I did muai thai for about 6 months. But it peters out. Apparently the gym downstairs at work has a personal trainer, and I've been talking about setting that up for months. I feel anger (and let's be honest: guilt) any time anyone tries to "motivate" me by encouraging me to go to the gym or exercise.

Recently, I've had luck with biking on local errands. It's easy enough to throw on a backpack and pick up groceries 0.5 mi away rather than drive. And walking the dog forces me to at least go outside.

So clearly I haven't cracked the problem. But know you're not alone. And the best suggestion I have is to do something, anything... then try to do it again the next day.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#22

Post by moron4hire » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

By the time I've taken care of the baby in the morning, I'm getting a late start for work. By the time I feel like I've gotten a good amount of work done, my wife expects to have dinner. By the time dinner is done, I'm exhausted.

Also, the joint pain doesn't help, but it comes and goes. The regular issue is that I'd have to sacrifice time on work--work that I love and find incredibly fulfilling--to exercise, as there is no other place in which time could be subtracted.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#23

Post by rcavezza » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

Nothing stops me. I'm usually in the gym for 1-2 hours everyday after work. It's what I look forward to more than anything all day. I think when you start eating healthy and working out regularly, it gets addicting.

Getting to that point is probably the secret. Get some small wins, see some results in the mirror, get a compliment or two, and then it will be a self fulfilling prophecy.

/r/fitness is probably a good place to hangout if you're trying to get motivated. Lots of success stories, before/after pictures, and learning. Really helpful folks over there.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#24

Post by RUG3Y » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

jonaf wrote: post #16

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 uncom…

I have some suggestions that have helped me:

#2. Boxer-briefs: They're the best of both worlds. Once I switched, I never looked back. There are many comfortable varieties, the best are the Under Armor kind that breathe really well and don't get swampy.

#3. I have a few simple items at home that make good workouts possible:

- A sandbag, wrapped in duct-tape that weights about 52 pounds. I use this for squats and overhead lifts.

- A pull-up bar that goes in the doorway.

- A kettlebell (mine is 35lbs, a pretty good starting weight).

- A jump rope. This is one of the athletic ones, not a toy. You can find them on Amazon.

This equipment all fits in one corner of the closet and I can do a whole lot with it. Variations of bodyweight exercises can give you varying degrees of resistance as well, eg pistol squats, diamond pushups, etc.

I hope this helps, good luck! Staying fit as a developer with kids is definitely a challenge.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#25

Post by joneholland » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

After spending years trying to stay committed to the gym, though only doing cardio, I discovered strong lifts.

Basic powerlifting with progressive overload completely changed my perspective on the gym. After 3 months of that I started to mix up my routine and add more accessory lifts.

I'm now 8 months into powerlifting and I go 5 days a week.

Gym isn't something I do because I sit at a desk all day. Gym is now something I look forward to, because every workout is a new challenge.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#26

Post by camtarn » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:44 PM UTC

donjh wrote: post #17

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.

Seconding the recommendation of Starting Strength. Fantastic book - lots of interesting writing on anatomy and leverage and why certain techniques are better. I also really liked the fact that most of the people in the photos are distinctly ordinary, rather than super-fit well-muscled models.

And yep, beating your numbers is great motivation, and one that really appealed to my gamer self :)

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#27

Post by epalmer » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:44 PM UTC

I go every weekday morning with my wife. We exercise separately but motivate each other to go. I'm 62 and feel better. I'm overweight and out of shape but have lost weight (also low carb diet). there are days that I would just fine with sleeping in. I go to bed early because sleep is good.

We get up at 4:30 and are there by 5:20. One hour. If she wasn't pushing me I'd probably not go as much.

I find it boring so I listen to podcasts and when on the bike, watch youtube videos.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#28

Post by jasonshen » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:45 PM UTC

My 2 cents (as a former gymnast and now omnivorously active person) is that many people see exercise as a chore or something they have to do. If you want to have the benefits of exercise in your life, you have to find a way to enjoy it. If running isn't for you, try a dance class. Try biking, or hiking, or Starting Strength, or one of those at home videos by Jillian Michaels or yoga or boxing. Keep trying things until you find something you actually like. Try going with friends, or joining a run club.

As Harvard professor of Public Health Frank Hu said: "The single thing that comes close to a magic bullet, in terms of its strong and universal benefits, is exercise." In my view, there is such value in being physically fit that it is absolutely worth trying every possible thing until you get to something you genuinely like.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#29

Post by chrishacken » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:45 PM UTC

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…

That's what got my hooked as well, except I started training for the Marine Corps, and now I just continue that same mentality and routine for strength goals. I literally can't exercise to lose/gain weight or physical appearance and maintain motivation 365 days a year to workout. Once you start focusing on strength and stop focusing on weight and appearance, the latter attributes come naturally.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#30

Post by knicholes » Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 2:45 PM UTC

jonaf wrote: post #16

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 uncom…

I love my banana republic boxer briefs. They're the best of both worlds. After switching I've found that boxers comparatively limited my range of motion (especially when raising my legs). They're super smooth, and sexy!

[Edit]. I just read another comment below that is all of what I said and more. Do I delete this?