Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 43 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#31

Post by seanwilson »

jasonkester wrote: post #8

Pick a fun activity that gets you fit as a side effect. Mine was rock climbing, but cycling, snowboarding, surfing or pretty much anything will work, provided it is captivating, addicting and you genuinely consider it fun. Eventually you'll want it to be the thing that takes up your weekends and that you find yourself booking flights to unexpected places just because that's the place where the best "X" is. But nobody…

> But nobody does this. Instead, they go to a health club and lift a few weights or spend half an hour hating the stairmaster. Twice. Then they give up.

It's great you've found something you enjoy what if you're just not into the outdoors?

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#32

Post by dragonwriter »

sergiotapia wrote: post #19

Was in your shoes. One day I was tired of always struggling to use nice clothes or being limited to t-shirts. I go to the gym every day, 7 days a week for 1 hour and 20 minutes and lift weights (machine and freeweights). Start off with machines, they're safer. When you get stronger use free weights as well. Buy yourself OP Whey Protein and have 1 scoop per day, I mix it with water. Also get some fish oil and a multiv…

> Start off with machines, they're safer. When you get stronger use free weights as well.

I'm skeptical of this advice. Getting stronger with weight machines (which build strength in the big muscle groups well, but isolate them more than free weights so that you don't develop the smaller muscle groups that are important to stability and control) before switching to free weights means that with the switch you'll either be wasting time using free weights at a level that doesn't challenge your large muscle groups or be more dangerous than if you'd started them on day one of lifting.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#33

Post by dragonwriter »

darrelld wrote: post #25
stephenr wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm no health expert but... Wat? Any "advice" that says " just improves your cardiovascular system" (that's your HEART) should not be targeted at someone who claims to be overweight and wanting to get healthier. What the hell kind of health plan goes from literally no exercise activity to "hey brah, do you even lift?"

Yeah, that is terrible advice for someone just starting out. It may have worked for OP, but I would be hesitant to just throw out "start lifting" as advice to everyone. For most people they need a significant diet change to see any effective changes.

> For most people they need a significant diet change to see any effective changes

That's true for weight loss. It's less true for health. Increased activity level with calorie intake also increasing so that there is no net weight loss often still results in better fitness and health and lower body fat. Its often far from ideal,especially for people who start off obese who will still probably hit an equilibrium at an unhealthy body fat level, but its still quite possible to.achieve significant improvements.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#34

Post by Rifu »

wvenable wrote: post #30

I'm surprised no one here has suggested hiring a personal trainer. If you go to a gym near you, they'll usually hook you up with a few free training sessions and assessments with your membership. These are, of course, sales opportunities for them but if you're looking to get in shape that's what they do. Since you don't know what you're doing, hiring a professional is a good move. They'll start you off at the right i…

Yeah, I'd second this advice. Hiring a professional trainer also does wonders for forcing you into the habit of going to the gym because they're not cheap. Personally, I did kinda balk at how much they charged, but if you think about it as an investment into future you then it doesn't really sound so bad. Plus you only really need enough sessions to get a feel of the kind of routine you'll want to be doing, which to me was about 10 sessions.

I also pretty much just follow the PHUL workout[0] these days because I'm way too lazy to switch up my routine. Been at it for a good year now and I've definitely noticed an improvement.

Oh yeah, also, the thing I noticed about consistently going to the gym is that after two to three weeks, _not_ going to the gym becomes the more undesirable option. Like you just feel terrible if you ever miss a gym day.

[0]https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/phul-workout

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#35

Post by Mz »

I started by just doing more, like parking further out to get a few more steps of walking in. And track your progress somehow. This is critical if you are going to ramp up from being completely out of shape. *

* I was bedridden for 3.5 months. This was followed by getting out of breath if I walked to my kitchen or stood too long. I imagine you are in better shape than that. I now walk 2+ hours a day.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#37

Post by zachlatta »

I've found that setting really low goals and setting up accountability mechanisms works really well for me.

When I first wanted to start running (despite being completely out of shape), I made the following pact with a friend:

1. I have to go out running every day. It doesn't matter how long or far I run for, I just have to run at least one step.

2. Every day I don't go running, I have to pay them $20. No exceptions.

It worked really well for me. I didn't feel as bad as I expected about not running very far when I got started and I inevitably found myself pushing to go farther each time.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#38

Post by throwaway201612 »

Stop looking for tactics and start looking for motivation. I was a heavy drinker suffering from depression and anxiety. My wife left me and started dating a friend that's been trying to get with her for years. Revenge is my motivator, which some people might not like but I'm in the best shape of my life and curbed a lot of bad habits and patterns.

I'm not a self-help type of guy, but the Tony Robbins documentary on Netflix made me start to think about my life as something that can be designed, the same way I would design software.

Fear and anger are much stronger motivators in my opinion than love, fun, or sense of accomplishment. So I'm not afraid to leverage those at least in the short term. Find the person or thing that really pisses you off, even if that is a version of yourself.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#39

Post by huuuuza »

throwaway201612 wrote: post #38

Stop looking for tactics and start looking for motivation. I was a heavy drinker suffering from depression and anxiety. My wife left me and started dating a friend that's been trying to get with her for years. Revenge is my motivator, which some people might not like but I'm in the best shape of my life and curbed a lot of bad habits and patterns. I'm not a self-help type of guy, but the Tony Robbins documentary on N…

leveraging these can also offer you the motivation to establish habits (infrastructure) that will exist when emotion fades. This is where I would reference any number of popular habit books.

Re: Ask HN: How did you start exercising after being completely out of shape?

#40

Post by mikestew »

seanwilson wrote: post #31
jasonkester wrote: post #8

Pick a fun activity that gets you fit as a side effect. Mine was rock climbing, but cycling, snowboarding, surfing or pretty much anything will work, provided it is captivating, addicting and you genuinely consider it fun. Eventually you'll want it to be the thing that takes up your weekends and that you find yourself booking flights to unexpected places just because that's the place where the best "X" is. But nobody…

> But nobody does this. Instead, they go to a health club and lift a few weights or spend half an hour hating the stairmaster. Twice. Then they give up. It's great you've found something you enjoy what if you're just not into the outdoors?

So not "into the outdoors" that you don't go outside? I think the point is find an environment that you are "into". Like being inside? Like being dry and listening to music while you lift weights or use the Stairmonster? Then do that, no shame, no excuses need be made.

But most people, my self included, don't particularly enjoy being in a gym (I'd rather run in a blizzard than on a treadmill, and my wife will tell you that she's witnessed my sincerity with her own eyes). I think the parent's point was, if you're not really "into the indoors", then don't go to the gym. If a gym suits you, then go do that.

Post reply on HN