Ask HN: How do you exercise?

The key for me has been finding stuff I like to do that _happens_ to be exercise as well.

Hot Yoga, Trail Running, Hiking, Skiing, Biking, etc. I climbed a LOT in my 20's. I usually can sneak in something every day.

I've also mixed in weight lifting a few times a week just because it anecdotally seems to help a lot with injuries (nothing crazy, full body sets medium weights, usually 4x8's).

In terms of how it helps, my wife says I'm more enjoyable to be around when I'm active :), I also assume it's helped me to maintain a reasonable weight.

I used to do strength training, but I couldn't stick with it for more than half a year. Doing things that have a strong variety and skill-based elements to them helped a lot. For me the past year and a half it's been figure skating and rock climbing.

May I recommend Dance Dance Revolution / Stepmania.

I have yet to find a good setup in Stepmania that is fundamentally easier to approach than endless mode on DDR X on the PS2. They have the songs divided up in levels of difficulty. I can roll in level 2 at this point after getting the hang of 1/8th beat steps, this took months (*edit: off and on for years). Before that level 1 kept me in heart rate workout level whatever they call it zone 2 and I'd pop into endless level 2 if I wanted to push it into high intensity (zone 3 I think). Now it's more like level 2 hits me zone 2 and if I want to push it I go to level 3. A decent foam pad with exercise mat like things in it for support seems to run about $100, maybe a little less now that the pandemic-mania is starting to fade.

I've had a Python script started for months to parse and only allow songs in the Stepmania library that have a difficulty level relating to the DDR X endless level arrangement (*edit: grammar is difficult). Their interface leaves a bit to be desired and I find hacking around on my own Python script less daunting than hacking around in someone else's Java.

I set up a small home gym consisting of a power rack, different bars for different exercises and plenty of space for calisthenics, with Olympic rings where I mostly do pullups and dips. I've used to do powerlifting but after a lower back injury I'm more into body weight exercises. I like to walk, 45-60 min a session. I know many others have said this, but it is true so I will repeat: find what you like, it's way harder forcing yourself into a physically challenging activity you dislike. When you like what you're doing, you naturally try to improve, so getting fit becomes fun and rewarding and not some bad chores.

Brazilian jiu jitsu. I’m small and in my late 30’s, so my goals are a little different than the young, strong wrestlers in their 20’s (and some days it feels like they’re all young, strong and in their 20’s). I like the technique and game of BJJ. I used to do a lot of trail running. I’ve tried lifting weights several times, but I always dropped out of it after a year or so. I need a game to keep me engaged, and there’s a nice community aspect to my Jiu Jitsu gym.