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Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#61

Post by jurassic »

Rebelgecko wrote: post #57
_Mark wrote: post #29

Get on Zwift. Purchase yourself a smart trainer like the Wahoo kickr V5. This has been a life changer for me. Stuck in lockdown Australia, with Zwift I can ride when ever I want, and for as long as I want too. I now ride about 50km a day, and am the fittest I've ever been. You get a great mix of cardio, gamification by playing an actual video game, and social networking as you can chat and make connections to others…

Do you think that setup is preferable to riding bikes the traditional way? Perhaps this is just my ignorance but it seems counterintuitive to spend over $1k on a setup where your bike doesn't actually go anywhere

There are cheaper setups if you just want to test the waters. YouTube is a good resource to see how to get started for less cost than a top end direct-drive smart trainer like the wahoo kickr.

Riding bikes the traditional way is great too, but also depends very much on weather, season, and road conditions in your area. I like that the trainer removes all those obstacles.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#63

Post by TeMPOraL »

thehta wrote: post #49
pizza234 wrote: post #33

In my opinion you're looking at the wrong problem. If you're burned out, you won't have spare energy for anything else, and however you approach it, fitness requires a minimum amount of energy to be sustainable, which you don't have. Technical solutions may lower the energy threshold, but they won't stick, as they won't lower the energy so much that you will stick to them long term, if you are mentally depleted. It's…

IMO the energy you expend doing exercise is coming from a completely different place than energy for knowledge work. On the contrary, doing exercise clears your mind and engages your body -- the opposite of sitting at a desk. In my experience you will feel your baseline "mental energy" also start to increase.

I think GP isn't talking about energy used to perform an exercise, which (IMO) indeed comes from "a completely different place". I read their comment as talking about energy required to start doing an exercise, day in, day out. This, at least for me, comes from the same place as energy needed to start writing code at work, or to get out of the house and run and errand. Burnout happens when that energy source becomes depleted or unreliable.

Based on my experience (including lack of the ability to stick to any exercise regimen long-term), I second GP's post.

I also agree that doing exercises helps recover that second type of energy. It's a positive feedback loop - but the problem is, you won't be able to start it if you're too depleted on the "starting energy". Like with an ICE car - the engine does recharge your battery, but you won't be able to start it if the battery is already dead.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#64

Post by nicbou »

Personally, I could never manage pure exercise (lifting weights, running), but I'll cycle or play team sports until my body gives out. Exploration and competition are powerful motivators. Riding a bicycle is also a good way to let your thoughts work their way up. It's like taking your brain to the dog park to run free for a bit.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#66

Post by jonmc12 »

Learn about your body. I suggest starting with the autonomous nervous system. Then your metabolic states. Then circadian rhythm. Reconceptualize everything including the way food and exercise affect your body. There is an explosion of research about our biology, and it seems like that will continue for most of our lives.

But, test what you learn on your own body and ask your doc lots of questions. Run experiments on your body over 6-week or 6-month periods, 1-2 at a time, and habituate what works for you. Layer habits on habits Atomic Habits style. For instance, consider buying an HRV monitor to learn your resonance breathing frequency and what your HRV looks like when you are feeling stressed.

Imo, an easy place to get started is to remove foods from your diet that spike your insulin or blood glucose. Combine that habit with a habit to go on a 20-30min walk a day while listening to a podcast about your body. My favorite at the moment are Rhonda Patrick's Found My Fitness and Andrew Huberman's Huberman Lab - they both do a great job to distill the research for practical consideration.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#67

Post by parkersweb »

mattmanser wrote: post #41

There's an exercise program called couch to 5k. Tons of people have used it, it's super easy to follow, and it works. Download the first week podcast. Pick 3 days and times to exercise this week, 1/2 hour. Follow the program. In 9 weeks you will be able to run 5k. Its basically music, with instruction to start running, or stop and start walking, over the top. Theres loads of different podcasts that you can choose tha…

Around 15 years ago couch to 5k was what did it for me.

For years I’d battled with the perception of sports I’d been give by school - that sports were for those who ‘had ability’. I didn’t have ability, never got picked for teams, and consequently didn’t ‘do’ sport.

When it’s tried running in the past I would go out once, feel rubbish, then never run again. Couch to 5k gives you a framework to make small exertions that feel challenging without defeating you entirely, then gradually increases those exertions until you’re running 5k without difficulty.

The other switch for me was psychological. Doing sport isn’t about being objectively ‘good’ at it, or about being faster than other people. I compete against myself only, and do it for the physical and mental health benefits.

Can definitely recommend Parkrun too if you have one near you - a little bit of community can be really helpful. The times when you least feel like exercising are often the times when it’s most needed - and community can help keep the rhythm going in those times.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#68

Post by throwaway-x123 »

May be will not help you prepare for marathons, but I saw a job posting with 2 hours or so of manual work in the morning or/and a few hours before sleep. They even advertise the job as exercise. Pros: 1. doing something useful and paid 2. manual work 3. + to your social status, since you will be worker-programmer

Re: Ask HN: How do I get fit and healthy as a software engineer?

#69

Post by Graffur »

brundolf wrote: post #7

A lot of programmers get bored with normal exercises, but a lot of us seem to have affinity for both dance (especially swing) and rock-climbing. The correlation is uncanny, in my experience. Both of these are more mentally stimulating than most exercises, so it makes a certain amount of sense, though dance might be difficult right now with covid. Personally I also enjoy just taking walks. I can daydream the whole tim…

Programmers and dancing is something I have _only_ ever seen mentioned on HN.
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