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Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

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Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#571

Post by kaitai »

OhHeyItsE wrote: post #143
chollida1 wrote: post #126

3 things for me: 1) Meditation, I used to think it was something hippies did. I now think its worth 10 IQ points. I honestly can't recommend it enough. 2) Sleep, I'm getting close to 40 and the last 2 times I pulled all nighters I ended up deleting pretty much all the code I wrote from 11pm onward. 3) Occasional Fasts. I normally fast from 6pm until noon the next day but I now do one 3 day fast each month. I think th…

Any meditation tips? I've gone through multiple fits & starts but I just can't keep my mind from wandering.

Some people use walking meditation, kundalini yoga, chanting, or other methods that involve movement or action during the meditation. While the point of silent meditation is to get comfortable with just being, rather than doing, for some people repetitive doing is helpful in a similar way: that's why mala beads & the rosary could be considered enduring 'spiritual technologies'.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#572

Post by jbhatab »

chollida1 wrote: post #126

3 things for me: 1) Meditation, I used to think it was something hippies did. I now think its worth 10 IQ points. I honestly can't recommend it enough. 2) Sleep, I'm getting close to 40 and the last 2 times I pulled all nighters I ended up deleting pretty much all the code I wrote from 11pm onward. 3) Occasional Fasts. I normally fast from 6pm until noon the next day but I now do one 3 day fast each month. I think th…

personal experiences mostly match up with this even though I have no scientific evidence to back it up.

I do have a question though, a 3 day fast?!?!?!?! 3 days of no food? I'm assuming you drink water?

Do you drink coffee or use any some of stimulants?

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#573

Post by lanius »

ardit33 wrote: post #472
rdegges wrote: post #358

For me, it was 100% weight lifting and dieting (aka: exercise). Pretty much everyone here has mentioned this, but I don't think anyone has really explained just how incredibly life-changing it can really be. I've been programming since I was a kid. Spending most of my time at a desk eating Doritos and fast food wasn't really the best choice. I spent most of my 'good years' as a young guy being really overweight and h…

Congrats, but there is no fricking way you are natty. At 235lb 15% body fat, and perhaps 5'11" - ish? Whoever is readying this, don't think you can get that amount of muscle in a natural way so fast. Only Testosterone, trenbolone and other stuff will make you that large. According to a simple calculator, if you cut down below 8% fat (which is pro body builder territory), you'd still be at above 205lbs, which is no wa…

I agree. I explain my reasoning which is backed up by research in a separate comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12190732

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#574

Post by HenryTheHorse »

asimuvPR wrote: post #549
HenryTheHorse wrote: post #90

Many responses here about exercise. (Not surprising, because I suspect many of us here were NOT the most physically active types in school or college :)) But yes, I too discovered running rather late and realized it took me only about 3-4 weeks to overcome the initial discomfort, inertia and struggle. That was one of my "why didn't I start running sooner" moments. If any of you are waiting to start running, I'd say,…

The couch to 5k program worked very well for me. Have kept running 5k and 10k events ever since. Recommend it to everyone.

Absolutely. I'm training for a half-marathon and the Hal Higdon program has worked well. Same principle as C25K.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#575

Post by dominotw »

metaphorm wrote: post #527
dominotw wrote: post #521

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so people are meditating for 'benefits', to make more money . seems so counterintuitive. All those studies are stupid.

if you're determined not to learn anything then you certainly won't

I am determined to say no to bullshit. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal....

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#576

Post by blakes »

ryanlm wrote: post #208
ljk wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what kind of fasting did you do?

Just not eating for 2 days. It would throw of my "rhythm" and I would overeat for days until it balanced out again. Maybe my appetite is larger than most people.

That's very interesting.

I have done 3 day fasts and never had that problem, I essentially went right back into my normal eating habits. The first meals after the fast were usually much smaller than the usual meals I would eat.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#577

Post by blakes »

bg4 wrote: post #329
chollida1 wrote: post #126

3 things for me: 1) Meditation, I used to think it was something hippies did. I now think its worth 10 IQ points. I honestly can't recommend it enough. 2) Sleep, I'm getting close to 40 and the last 2 times I pulled all nighters I ended up deleting pretty much all the code I wrote from 11pm onward. 3) Occasional Fasts. I normally fast from 6pm until noon the next day but I now do one 3 day fast each month. I think th…

How does one fast for three days?

The first day is hard, the second day is easy, and the third day is also easy, but gets a little harder as you get closer to the point you know you'll be eating again.

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#578

Post by ljk »

japhyr wrote: post #34

Writing programs that people actually use. I was a hobbyist programmer for a long time. Then my father passed away, and I went through his computer and saw all these projects that would never see the light of day. That gave me the motivation to choose one project and see it through until it was good enough to have actual users. Programming is much more satisfying and meaningful now.

this reminds me of the "what makes work meaningful" thread on hn a few days ago! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12177747

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#579

Post by ljk »

Jtsummers wrote: post #300
ryanlm wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can do that during the day. How do you prevent yourself from having midnight snacks? I sometimes "sleep eat" -- Very bad habit that I NEED to spare.

Minimize (if you can) the amount of food you keep in your home. Ensure that what food you keep is healthy.

interesting point, this would also make mindless snacking more difficult

Re: Ask HN: What was your “why didn't I start doing this sooner” moment?

#580

Post by dorfsmay »

rdegges wrote: post #358

For me, it was 100% weight lifting and dieting (aka: exercise). Pretty much everyone here has mentioned this, but I don't think anyone has really explained just how incredibly life-changing it can really be. I've been programming since I was a kid. Spending most of my time at a desk eating Doritos and fast food wasn't really the best choice. I spent most of my 'good years' as a young guy being really overweight and h…

As someone who knew you somewhere in the middle, totally didn't recognize you in the first pic, and the guy in the second pic looked really familiar, then I checked the username!

Do you need special keyboards with those arms? :-)

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