I just don't seem to have time. I spend 4 hours commuting by train every so it's really a choice between sleep and working out most days. I used to get up early to work out but it just became too much.
Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
111–120 of 242 posts
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#112I have to exercise or I feel like shit. I think that people that don't exercise have accepted feeling like shit as the "default" and somehow don't mind it.
For me, the difference in my mental and physical health, to say nothing of my alertness and mental clarity, is night and day when I'm running every day. I run 3 miles a day (been running since I was 12 years old, sometimes competitively -- at my best, I was one of the top high school runners in the state of Pennsylvania); it takes only 20 minutes a day, relieves stress, and I feel very relaxed and lucid afterwards. I also noticed that the same amount of sleep takes me farther when I'm exercising than when I'm not. The resultant energy boost tops caffeine.
When I find that I can't run (because of weather, scheduling issues, traveling, etc.), I just do some simple yoga stretches for 15 minutes, and even that really helps my attitude and alertness.
EDIT: Growing up, I was always the scrawny nerdy computer hacker kid that got picked last in gym class who couldn't even catch a ball who was so fed up with it all that I trained and worked my way up from last place runner to state-caliber athlete, so if I can do it, you can, too. I still can't catch a football though.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#113The music they play at the gym. I also don't like putting headphones over it and destroying my hearing... I like exercising but I hate the appearance obsessed, shitty EDM culture of gyms. I..actually don't want goals. I want a place I could go to quietly and mindfully exercise just to keep myself fit during the years. But that is the extreme opposite of what they offer. I probably ain't their focus audience.
Get headphones that block out noise and then play your music at a normal volume.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
It (a) shouldn't take more than 60 minutes MAX for a workout and (b) shouldn't require a partner to check your form. That's one of the big logistical reasons I prefer powerlifting over bodybuilding...it's simple & quick because of its high intensity. If you're doing it right, it shouldn't take you very long...unless you're waiting on equipment or something. When you're starting out and learning the form, sure, a part…
Starting strength has you do six to eight sets for each exercise^1. And it recommends "[taking] enough time between sets so that you don’t feel any fatigue from the previous set before you start the next one. For guys squatting 185 pounds in their work sets, this is five minutes between sets."^2. If you're doing six sets, and each takes you, say, a minute, and you're waiting a few minutes between sets, that easily ad…
Starting strength is terrible. I think the most popular programs (5x5, starting strength) are popular because good marketing and not necessary because they are actually good.
Both SS and 5x5 are just insane (in the bad way). They make you squat almost for every workout and I think that is terrible as it a) doesn't let enough time for the body to recover, b) for folks that body form is not ideal for squatting, c) overpowers your lower body, and you end up with a T-Rex type of body form.
I was very lucky to have few friends to introduce me to proper lifting 15 years ago in college. Usual bro-split, 3 times a week is much better and balanced in the long run.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#115I just recently worked back into shape and so I'll tell you what I've done. I lost about 45 lbs in less than three months. Not that losing weight rapidly was my goal, it just happened to be the result. I don't think it matters that you lose it fast, you need to feel healthy while doing it.
I started off following the Maffetone two week test:
https://philmaffetone.com/2-week-test/
I found that I had the symptoms he describes of CI. After the two weeks I slowly introduced some carbs, only whole fruit type not any processed. Currently my daily diet is usually this:
Breakfast: Scrambled egg (Costco) recipe from The Four Hour Body book, I only use salt, pepper and parsley for spices. Add salsa and quacamole. Coffee (Aero Press)
Lunch: Chicken breast (Organic three pack Costco) pan fried with olive oil and butter. Usually spice with garlic salt, greek spices or barbecue type spices. Microwave in a small pyrex bowl the normandy vegetables (Costco) and add butter, salt and pepper. I'll also do steak and fish. Usually I'll cook the steak in a Sous Vide as I like the way it turns out and it's easier for me to achieve a great steak.
Dinner: Green smoothie in a vitamix: Water, orange, banana, honey, vanilla extract, spinach, frozen pineapple.
Snacks and to deal with the carb demons: Raw unsalted cashews (Costco), cheese (sliced variety pack from Costco), Coffee (Aeropress both hot and iced / cold press method).
The coffee has helped me kick the soda addiction, along with carrying an insulated water bottle (zojirushi)
I usually do a free day on Saturdays, but not always. Sometimes I'll skip it especially if I had a couple of cheats during the week or my weight seems to creep up.
Workouts: I workout six times a week, I use the maffetone fat burning cardio training method three times a week for 30-40 minutes each with a heart rate monitor (works like magic for me, I don't have horrible cravings as I've had on other kinds of workout plans): https://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/
The other three days a week I do Starting Strength with the iphone app. I've found the app to be invaluable in following it on my own. I have read most of the book and watched his DVD. I found starting out slow and really working on form helped a ton.
I feel a thousand times better on this program and it's worked well for me. I was at a 32 BMI and brought it down to 25. I was about 250 lbs and now stay close to 200. Everyone comments on how different I look and I've noticed much better muscle definition and strength. I'm not trying to do muscle building or any extreme stuff, I just want to be fit and feel great. I've achieved that goal and with fairly minimal effort. I spend a lot less on food as I rarely eat out and I find it takes less time to make it myself.
It took a couple of hard weeks to change habits and get with the program. Once the habits were in place it's been very easy. I naturally look for low carb and food that is close to the diet I'm trying to stay with. Whether it's called slow carb, or paleo or whatever doesn't really matter. Just figure out which foods work for maintaining your healthy weight and fitness level.
I think remembering how awful I felt about 100% of the time helps me to stay motivated with my diet and exercise. I think you really need both to make it work. If you focus on one and neglect the other you are likely sabotaging your effort. You could maybe get away with only focusing on diet, but it depends on your normal activity level. Given my sedentary job I need the workouts.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
"Incredibly healthy" is a stretch when it comes to power-lifting. In fact, while power-lifting helps to rapidly gain and develop muscle, it's extremely unhealthy to your joints and poses a high risk of injury. For those looking to get similar exercise and results to powerlifting, check out body-building. Emphasis on slow and controlled form and muscle gain (aesthetics). Some good sources: http://scoobysworkshop.com/…
I've dabbled in both constantly (3 times a week) for the past 15 years. Although body building can sculpt a body, I never felt really as fit and as strong as I do with power lifting, with an equivalent physique. Something about isolating muscles seems to 'erode' athleticism power/strength. YMMV.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Powerlifting is amazing, and it is amazingly safe [1]. It is the perfect complement to a programming job, because you can bang out a massive workout in the morning and recover physically the rest of the day. Take "advantage" of your sedentary opportunity! Sports Injury Rates (Hamill 1994) Sport Injuries (per 100 hours) Soccer (school age) 6.20 UK Rugby 1.92 USA Basketball 0.03 UK Cross Country 0.37 Squash 0.10 US Foo…
Make sure you use the right lifting posture and don't overdo it with weight, or you can seriously and permanently mess up your back.
When I was 16 years old, I somehow twisted my spine in my lower back in a way that it wasn't meant to be twisted doing 250 lbs max rep seated leg press, and ever since then, my lower back has been alternating between bouts of sharp pain and dull pain (but never subsiding) ever side for 10+ years now.
Backpain (and the resultant osteoarthritis) is still a modern medical mystery too so the usual suggestions of exercise and stretching from my doctors are something I have been doing all along but have not actually worked.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#118I just don't seem to have time. I spend 4 hours commuting by train every so it's really a choice between sleep and working out most days. I used to get up early to work out but it just became too much.
Why do you spend that long commuting? Are there no closer/remote jobs, or can you not move closer?
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#119First, I don't like it. Most of the time, it is awkward stuff, and horribly boring, exercising just to exercise. I'd rather do so much other stuff. Second, I don't usually find the gains to be motivating. I have trouble sticking with it after a month or two. Third, I'm not really willing to spend money on equipment or go out of my way to a gym. I'd rather not be seen.
On the "rather not be seen" point, one hack that works for me is to exercise at night or the very early morning. For a long while I would go running at 4:30 or 5am when the streets were mostly still empty. I also found a 24 hour gym and started identifying times when I would be the only person there. (For me, it's not that I don't want to be seen, but I felt less anxious without anyone else around, and it also meant I could use any equipment I wanted.)
But even solving that point, I still struggle with the motivation & enjoyment. The 24hr gym has got me working out more, but still not regularly.
Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
I know not everyone can but a home gym is very, very nice. Same with a treadmill desk (typed as I'm on one...)
I reaaallllyyy want to put a power rack somewhere in my house. I have the space for it, but I'm conflicted because I'm trying to downsize my possessions. While the convenience of a home gym is appealing, having more stuff to worry about is not.
I couldn't do my workout plan without a home gym. It makes a huge difference. I only need it for the weight lifting since my cardio is running and I just need a pair of running shoes, headphones, etc for that.