Just to follow up on this question, is there anything in particular for those that do not exercise, that would get you to exercise? There are so many products and services out there that try to get people to exercise. What do you need to get started that isn't already out there? So what would make you exercise?
Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
91–100 of 242 posts
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#92I 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…
I had a lot of fun when I was lifting (I followed Starting Strength for about four months), but when my lifting partner stopped, so did I. I've been doing pushups/plank/jumping lunge squats/plank/pushups for a while now, which is nice, but I'm certainly not getting anything near the amount of exercise I'd like to. So my reasons for not exercising now are two: 1. I don't want to take the time to lift. By the time I st…
I had the same issue when I moved. My solution was to buy a cheap bench, a set of adjustable dumbbells, and a doorframe pullup bar. You can accomplish most of the same things as SS by doing the dumbbell equivalents of the exercises. Legs are the main issue, but you can do Goblet Squats, Bulgarian Splits, and Reverse Lunges. They're not quite as good as the barbell versions, but you don't need a spotter, and you're doing it at home. You put on workout clothes when you wake up, spend 25 minutes working out, shower, and go to work. It takes away all of the friction. I wound up actually working out 3x as often and spending less total time at it.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#93I could see a lot of people on HN enjoying rock climbing. Each route you climb is essentially a puzzle to solve. It's very easy to get started and you can either do it on your own if you stick to bouldering, or you can top rope or lead with a partner. You can choose how deep down the rabbit hole you want to fall, as it can get highly technical and it's also a great opportunity to go climb outdoors on weekends. Anothe…
One thing I've come to love about it is that it's engrossing. I'd like my exercise to be something that gets my mind off of work and other responsibilities, and activities like running do the opposite for me. Rock climbing absorbs your attention and helps you forget about everything else for a while.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#94For me, it was finding a purpose to exercise.
Initially, it was _weight control_ (I ended up dropping 30+ lbs. This process was not just exercise - it had to be paired with proper diet (otherwise, you don't see any lasting results or you end up flattening out in your weight loss graph).
After I got to my target weight, it started getting kind of boring. But then, the thing that really did it for me, was getting into surfing. I love surfing, and do it multiple times every week. This is not exercise - it is just pure fun. However, you end up getting tired after paddling for sometime. The purpose of the gym changed for me. It was about improving my surfing. Squads, cardio, push-ups, lifting weights become just a way for me to improve my pop-ups, paddling endurance, etc.
As a nice side-effect, I sleep better than ever before. Would definitely recommend it :)
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#95For me, it was finding a purpose to exercise. Initially, it was _weight control_ (I ended up dropping 30+ lbs. This process was not just exercise - it had to be paired with proper diet (otherwise, you don't see any lasting results or you end up flattening out in your weight loss graph). After I got to my target weight, it started getting kind of boring. But then, the thing that really did it for me, was getting into…
This is the key.
I recently started for similar reasons, to develop aerobic and anaerobic for the purpose of martial arts. Exercising is no longer just a boring goal that I have a hard time getting behind, it's now part of the conditioning component to learn how to fight properly.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#96For me, it was finding a purpose to exercise. Initially, it was _weight control_ (I ended up dropping 30+ lbs. This process was not just exercise - it had to be paired with proper diet (otherwise, you don't see any lasting results or you end up flattening out in your weight loss graph). After I got to my target weight, it started getting kind of boring. But then, the thing that really did it for me, was getting into…
I love cycling, but always end up trailing off after a while. In 2014 I decided to try to bike every street in my city. This made a huge difference. I just needed a goal, as it turns out.
But now that I'm nearing the end of that project, I've been trailing off again.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#97I 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…
Any suggestions on how to get started with powerlifting ? Tons of resources out there to choose from but I have no clue. Programs like P90X etc.
It's not specifically a powerlifting program, but it includes all the powerlifting moves, and I started with it: http://stronglifts.com/5x5/
If you're a beginner the difference really isn't going to matter.
It's good because, as opposed to Starting Strength, the material is all free online, it's all one web page with instructional videos, and the guy has mobile apps you can use for free.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#98If anything stops me from going to gym (I do weightlifting there - usually 4-5 times / week ) it's usually something that's worth skipping gym.
In my recent lasts that has been either - social activities that I value more then gym (doesn't happen that often) - you can normally scedule that part of your life
- Work that pays off that well that skipping gym is worth it. For example , I have a small company w/ a friend (full stack development) and we got this new customer who was paying really good and who what a lot of connections - so I ended up working 18h/day on that project for like 2 weeks. But was totally worth it.
In general I can recommend weight lifting to anyone who spends most if his time siting in front of a computer (I thing most of us here are) - for me it's totally fun (I love to push myself to that point where I'm 100% exhausted) and great for compensating other stuff.
Try it for a few weeks - you might actually enjoy it! And you'll enjoy the results for sure.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#99I've been working out on and off for the last 8 years but found a groove recently by going to the gym and thinking about the following four things:
1. Music / Podcasts - I actually think I've Pavlov's Dogged myself into associating that blissful feeling of a new song with the endorphins of working out and now I can't get enough. Podcasts are also a highly productive pairing.
2. Mental health - If I'm feeling drained or a little down, it's almost always cured by 30 mins of cardio. Once I figured that out, I starting craving workouts and now have a hard time avoiding them even when on vacation.
3. Social - The gym is another social circle outside of the workplace that's great for meeting people. I've met fellow programmers, metal heads (as in music), and know many a romance that began there.
4. Physical Goal - I like the idea of sculpting my body or at the very least having good posture and minimizing the 'inner tube' on my belly. Seeing the changes manifest over time truly does motivate you to keep going.
Final piece of advice - don't beat yourself up in the beginning! If you only workout once or twice a week, that's a start. Just be consistent and try to let it snowball.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#100Nothing - My drive to stay fit, and move constantly keeps me going. I can't sit still - an office is like death to me. So, the gym is easy.... The gym keeps me sane.