This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym • Hacker News Board

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#11

Post by Swizec » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:39 PM UTC

This is silly, is it really that hard to go to the gym?

I mean, you just go the first time. Then when it is "tomorrow". You just go again. Then the next day ... again. It's not that difficult a concept, the only thing you must take care of is that you don't break the cycle.

When I was still going to a gym I was there two hours every evening, at the same time, no matter what. When I suddenly couldn't afford it anymore it was horrible ... all that free time and nothing to do with it. Sure, eventually new habits formed, but it was hard as hell.[1]

Really the only thing it takes is a bit of stubbornness, all these silly tricks into making yourself more stubborn are just that ... silly. You don't need them.

There's nothing easier in the world than making the same default decision every day. Doesn't even require much thought.

[1] this was a few years ago, got into boxing when I had the money again, then became broke and am finally getting back to boxing this week ... money's a bitch like that, luxury-ish expenses are the first to go

edit: why all the downvotes? Picking a habit and making sure you don't break it is one of the most effective ways of sticking to something ... http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/seinfelds-secret-motivation...

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#12

Post by scorpioxy » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:40 PM UTC

Been going regularly for the past 2 years or so. Finding what motivates you is the key. I'm doing strength training and so my motivation are a set of goals for weights I can move. For others it might be weight, stamina and the like. I have to tell you though strength training without a partner definitely tests your willpower, its damn hard.

Working out takes discipline but also keep in mind that skipping a day to simply hang out with your friends is ok. Treat the workout as something you want to do rather than something you have to do. That's what worked for me.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#13

Post by mynameishere » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:45 PM UTC

Swizec wrote: post #11

This is silly, is it really that hard to go to the gym? I mean, you just go the first time. Then when it is "tomorrow". You just go again. Then the next day ... again. It's not that difficult a concept, the only thing you must take care of is that you don't break the cycle. When I was still going to a gym I was there two hours every evening, at the same time, no matter what. When I suddenly couldn't afford it anymore…

two hours every evening

Bodybuilders don't work out that much, you know.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#14

Post by brudgers » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:52 PM UTC

mynameishere wrote: post #13

Swizec wrote: post #11

This is silly, is it really that hard to go to the gym? I mean, you just go the first time. Then when it is "tomorrow". You just go again. Then the next day ... again. It's not that difficult a concept, the only thing you must take care of is that you don't break the cycle. When I was still going to a gym I was there two hours every evening, at the same time, no matter what. When I suddenly couldn't afford it anymore…

two hours every evening Bodybuilders don't work out that much, you know.

Two hours a day is a lot of family time to lose for many parents, and more than an old bum knee may take.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#15

Post by silentscope » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:53 PM UTC

I've always found that if I just put on my workout clothes, It's really hard to convince myself that I shouldn't be going and take them off. So, to get myself to go, I tell myself that I'm just putting on my clothes, which seems like way less of a commitment when I'm sitting on the couch. By the time I've laced up my shoes, I'm in the workout mindset.

Really, vI know I can trick that part of myself. Trying to swallow a bitter pill whole is difficult and can be counterproductive to positive reinforcement that will get you to go again. Break down that commitment into pieces and the initial energy threshold is a hell of a lot lower. You'll see the positive results more easily and expect them less because you've broken down your "I should be getting in shape" personal investment into smaller pieces, so it seems smaller overall. It stops being a matter of "I better see some results for all my trouble."

Without the self-guilt trip you'll be reinforcing a positive feedback loop, which is the only sustainable way you're going to get in shape--if you enjoy doing it.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#16

Post by brudgers » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:56 PM UTC

jayzee wrote: post #7

how about tying your gym visits to your health insurance premiums?

The local hospital did that for employees at the health club they developed. People signed in and then hung out drinking free coffee and socializng in the juice bar.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#17

Post by ebiester » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 7:58 PM UTC

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #10

One of the articles the author links to is a lot more helpful and concrete [1]. The meat of it: "Shaul’s guys out in Wyoming get massively strong and powerful on precisely three gym sessions a week, each lasting an hour and no more. Louie Simmons, the single biggest name in gorilla-style competitive power lifting, will tell you that 45 minutes is the max length of any smart training session. But you can’t spend the f…

If you are serious about it, there's a book by Mark Rippetoe called Starting Strength that explains this in more detail.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#18

Post by capkutay » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:00 PM UTC

I usually just throw on my workout clothes and take a pre-workout product, then I'm ready to work out. I don't know if pre-workout drinks work all that well but they certainly add a placebo effect that makes me feel ready to workout...caffeine can help too.

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#19

Post by Samuel_Michon » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:04 PM UTC

silentscope wrote: post #15

I've always found that if I just put on my workout clothes, It's really hard to convince myself that I shouldn't be going and take them off. So, to get myself to go, I tell myself that I'm just putting on my clothes, which seems like way less of a commitment when I'm sitting on the couch. By the time I've laced up my shoes, I'm in the workout mindset. Really, vI know I can trick that part of myself. Trying to swallow…

"To get myself to go, I tell myself that I'm just putting on my [workout] clothes"

That's a great suggestion. Also, if you exercise at home instead of at a gym, you can tell yourself you're just going to do a 10 minute set. Once you're done with that one, your heartbeat will be up and you'll have enough energy to keep up for a few more.

Bribes/rewards are also good motivators. If you promise yourself a minute of reading HN for every minute you work out, you have something to look forward to. (Make sure you don't let yourself take the reward before you do the work, that's a BIG trap.)

Re: This Is Why You Don't Go to the Gym

#20

Post by rickdale » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:12 PM UTC

As a hacker what gets me to the gym is that I realized its all just a numbers game. I weigh x. It will take x amount of days eating x amount of calories. I do x amount of reps time the number of sets per each workout. When I go to the gym I record everything. Every rep and half rep. I wrote a program to learn python and to track my gym progress. Realizing its all just a numbers game really helped me sorta do the math on taking care of myself for the long term.