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

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

#21

Post by zcid » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:16 PM UTC

I see these articles more and more lately. They aren't really saying anything new: people don't like putting effort into long term goals. This is just a corollary of the concept of instant gratification.

People go to college and invest years in an education that they grind out day in and day out because they feel (not think! it's not a logical process) there is value in the long term effort. When the same people don't exercise and eat right over a long term period, they are demonstrating that they don't value their health. Sure they might think and say they do, but obviously they aren't taking the appropriate steps. They just don't care.

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

#22

Post by tienshiao » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:19 PM UTC

One trick that seems to have made it easier for me is changing the question from "Do/Should/Can I go to the gym today?" (which is just an opportunity to come up with excuses) to "How do I go to the gym today?".

It seems to tie into the decision fatigue theory. Instead trying to figure out if I can based on meetings/workload/other things in my schedule, I've already made my decision to go on certain days (in my case, every other day) and I just need to make sure my schedule works.

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

#23

Post by hkmurakami » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:21 PM UTC

ebiester wrote: post #17

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.

That's the program I follow as well, and the article conveniently refers to it.

I knew most everything in the article, but I thought it would be an excellent piece to show any of my gym "fuckaround-itis" friends.

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

#24

Post by lancefisher » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:24 PM UTC

I don't really like going to the gym, but I love running outside. There are a few things that keep me going:

1. I keep in mind that I have never regretted going for a run.

2. A few times a week, I run with friends in a training group. When someone expects to see me there, I am much more likely to go.

3. I keep a training log. I mark completed days with a green dot (even rest days), and missed workouts with a red dot.

4. I read about running. It's inspiring to hear others' stories.

5. I sign up for races. If a race is coming up, I know I can't brush off workouts.

I started running again a couple years ago after about 8 years of not working out. It was difficult and painful for a couple months, but it got easier and more fun. I do have to sacrifice some family time, but I want my son to see me having a fit lifestyle. Sometimes, I'll bring him along in a stoller.

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

#25

Post by llimllib » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:26 PM UTC

ebiester wrote: post #17

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.

And a (somewhat disorganized) wiki about the book, with enough info to learn the lifts and do the program, here: http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Starting_Strength_Wik...

Using this program and nothing else, between November 1 and December 23 of this year, my squat went from 180 to 270, my deadlift from 180 to 305, and my bench press from 120 to 165.

You do not need to be an expert, or know how to lift to do the program. It is (for me) almost exactly one hour a day, three days a week.

Make working out a habit, not a question of willpower. It needs to "just be", or else you, if you're at all like me, won't do it. That's why I don't care much about variety; I don't need variety in brushing my teeth either.

edit: Also, the /r/fitness FAQ is quite good: http://www.reddit.com/help/faqs/Fitness

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

#26

Post by slig » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:29 PM UTC

capkutay wrote: post #18

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.

Pre-workouts usually ships with a lot of caffeine (more than a redbull, IIRC), so you will get agitated.

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

#27

Post by Swizec » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:34 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.

Sure they do. All the serious bodybuilders at my gym were there about the time I got there and left about the time I left.

Except they also put in another hour in the morning.

Doing enough repetitions with the proper rest in between takes time. Out of the two hours you're there you probably spend less than 90 minutes actively exercising. Especially taking into account the gym being packed and having to wait for stuff.

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

#28

Post by Swizec » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:35 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #14

mynameishere wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

So spend half an hour exercising every day. It's still a lot more than nothing and well worth it when "family time" involves saving someone from a burning building or some other sort of emergency and you have the physical strength to actually do it.

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

#29

Post by hippich » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:40 PM UTC

article contradicts itself.. they say that majority will buy monthly pass for $70 instead of paying $10 per visit and do just 4 visit, effectively loosing money.

And then they tell that people are more likely to do gym workouts if they will be taxed. But isn't subscribing to plan already form of financial incentive?

I have quite different idea of gyms. Gyms are for people who build their body, not for someone who need to fix health. For someone who need to fix health - they need to change their routine to introduce physical work somewhere. This is more complicated than buying membership, I agree. But this is what will not use your willpower and give you long term results.

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

#30

Post by brianmwang » Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 8:40 PM UTC

phatbyte wrote: post #6

I workout from home, I started a couple of months ago with cardio to loose some fat, and now I'm starting p90x. The reason I don't go to the gym isn't because I gave up, it's just I don't like that "all" gym environment, plus the fact that I have to drive there, wait for people to let me use a specific machine etc... with the money I'd spent on a gym, I'm building my own little private gym. I can't recommend enough f…

P90X is an ok program, but it's ridiculously inefficient. If you learn basic barbell training, I guarantee that you won't have to wait much, if at all, at the gym. Most folks shy away from barbells and that's an advantage to the person who knows what they're doing.