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Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

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Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#151

Post by rjbwork »

projektir wrote: post #147
Hydraulix989 wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Accuses OP of moral superiority, condescendingly quotes "feeling like shit."

I don't see what's condescending in it? I see it more condescending to assume everyone who doesn't exercise just likes "feeling like shit". I think that's a very unhelpful way to discuss things. I put it in quotes because it's not precise. I don't know what it means for you, which particular things you classify as "feeling like shit due to not exercising enough".

It may be condescending, but I think it's correct. I'm a pretty overweight guy who has dropped over 35 pounds in the last year. I pretty quickly noticed an increase in energy and mood. I've gained some back recently due to injury and not exercising, and I pretty quickly noticed a return of worse mood and energy levels. Maybe it's just true for most people, but not everyone?

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#152

Post by cheald »

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.

I've been running StrongLifts for the last 3 months and love it. It gives me a plan and a daily goal, which is what I was missing from lifting. Now it's not just "go into the gym and lift some things", it's "go into the gym and do better than last time I was here", with a steady, achievable ramp-up. Starting workouts are around 45 minutes, and I'm up to about 75 minutes right now. 3x/week at 75 minutes isn't very much of my time, and each moment I'm there has a purpose, even if it's just resting for the next set.

I started because I was tired of feeling crappy and wanted to lose some weight. I've dropped a lot of fat, put on a lot of muscle, sleep better than ever, and don't have all the sedentary "I feel bad" stuff anymore. A+ would recommend to anyone.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#153

Post by cheald »

avar wrote: post #97
codegeek wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Seconding SL 5x5. It starts you light to work on form, and ramps you gently but steadily. I'm lifting weights with good form now that I didn't think I was capable of 3 months ago.

I also really recommend Alan Thrall's form videos on Youtube. Incredibly instructive and thorough.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#154

Post by rjbwork »

ardit33 wrote: post #114
zck wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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) over…

Can you elaborate on this "usual bro split"?

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#156

Post by cameldrv »

yulaow wrote: post #146
cameldrv wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 do…

Just invest in a power-rack or half-rack, and you will be capable of doing heavy barbell squat (and also heavy bench press) in total security

No argument on that, but the expense of a good power rack and barbell set, and the space required is far higher than a small bench and a set of adjustable dumbbells. My version costs less than $200 and takes up about 3 sq ft and can be tucked behind or under other furniture when not in use. It's an 80/20 thing.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#157

Post by [deleted] »

projektir wrote: post #145
WalterSear wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense, and knowing nothing about your situation, the experience you describe suggests to me that you are so out of shape, you haven't experienced the point where the sense of well-being starts to move the other way. I've been there, and I've gotten over that hump (and fallen back into it, several times), but it took a lot more work than most people seem to assume it will. Not in terms of effort - if anything, ov…

> No offense, and knowing nothing about your situation, the experience you describe suggests to me that you are so out of shape, you haven't experienced the point where the sense of well-being starts to move the other way. Explain to me how this is a falsifiable claim.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#158

Post by projektir »

rjbwork wrote: post #151
projektir wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see what's condescending in it? I see it more condescending to assume everyone who doesn't exercise just likes "feeling like shit". I think that's a very unhelpful way to discuss things. I put it in quotes because it's not precise. I don't know what it means for you, which particular things you classify as "feeling like shit due to not exercising enough".

It may be condescending, but I think it's correct. I'm a pretty overweight guy who has dropped over 35 pounds in the last year. I pretty quickly noticed an increase in energy and mood. I've gained some back recently due to injury and not exercising, and I pretty quickly noticed a return of worse mood and energy levels. Maybe it's just true for most people, but not everyone?

It would seem more likely to me that you are feeling better/worse because you lost/gained weight, not because of exercise. Weight gain is pretty well studied and is connected to a lot of bad things, and, from everything I've seen, has a much bigger effect than lack of exercise on the average person. I've never been overweight and exercise is not really related to weight control for me.

Most people don't exercise in the first place, I don't know if we can say how much it helps most people vs us selecting for people it helps.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#159

Post by figgis »

dionidium wrote: post #96
rburhum wrote: post #94

For 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.

Just a suggestion that goes along (slightly) with your theme. Pick up hiking and hit all the trails you couldn't with your bike?

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from exercising?

#160

Post by [deleted] »

projektir wrote: post #145
WalterSear wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense, and knowing nothing about your situation, the experience you describe suggests to me that you are so out of shape, you haven't experienced the point where the sense of well-being starts to move the other way. I've been there, and I've gotten over that hump (and fallen back into it, several times), but it took a lot more work than most people seem to assume it will. Not in terms of effort - if anything, ov…

> No offense, and knowing nothing about your situation, the experience you describe suggests to me that you are so out of shape, you haven't experienced the point where the sense of well-being starts to move the other way. Explain to me how this is a falsifiable claim.

[deleted]
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