If you don't like working out probably intentional stretching or yoga and a focus on healthy eating is the best you can do for your body
Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
141–150 of 275 posts
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#142I do an hour every other day, but you could split it up as 30 everyday. 30 minutes of running in place. I live in a city and getting to a nice spot to run would be the distance of my run anyway. Started stationary running in my apartment. 30 minutes is 3.5 miles for me. 30 minutes of body weight training. 5 minute yoga stretch routine, then 10 burpees, 30 squats, 15 push-ups, 10 chair dips, 10 pull-ups, 10 lunges. I…
I'm curious, is there a technique to running in place? Running in place kills my ankles and calves. I used to jog and didn't really have an issue.
There are as many ways of "running in place" as there are runners. One day my SO was exercising - as she said, "running in place". It didn't look right to me b/c rather than push off upward with her toes (and consequently a little hop), she was bending her knees and, only then, pushing with the toe. The result was a very low-energy "running in place" where the hips rotate to follow the knees. This puts almost no stress on the ankles and is easy on the calves.
OTOH at least she was trying, so I kept my mouth shut!
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#143I would recommend some light cardio and flexibility/yoga personally + swimming/sauna. Good mix for wellness.
I can also recommend visit to good physiotherapist/osteopath and/or personal trainer to get personalised advice. Worth money from my experience.
EDIT: mandatory mention of acroyoga[0] cause it’s fun
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#144Let me try a different approach here... Where do you live? Is it close to beaches with waves?
If so, maybe you could try learning to surf. It is one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life.
After you love it, you will try to stay in shape so that you can surf better. It is a very demanding sport if you want to go with small boards, since they demand strong paddling.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#145OrangeTheory was transformative for me-stepped in to my first class in 2018, struggled, then powered through a 55 lb weight loss over 6 months. The data-driven aspect of it helped a lot, and the fact that it’s 60 min and coached means no waiting for machines or Googling routines.
If you really can’t invest the 60 min, they have 45 min strength-focused classes, or F45 is a similar gym and all 45 min.
Go twice a week, and supplement by buying a rowing machine for home another 2-3x days/week for 30-40min.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#146Body weight training - see other's posts. Cheap, easy & safe.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#147It would be helpful to know your goals. If you are trying to keep weight off, then more cardio or at home HIIT will be helpful. If you are trying to keep muscle and maybe stay fit that way, it might be better to invest in a home gym set-up.
For general fitness/weight loss:
- Cardio + controlling the diet - try to get a stationary bike - medium quality which can provide power, RPM, resistance and has the ability to adjust the front bars and seat (getting a good fit on the bike will help you avoid injury). Alternatives might include a weighted jump rope.
For strength training
- a set of adjustable dumbbells up to 50 lbs. should be adequate and a set of resistance bands. With these you can do most standard exercises and build strength
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#148Go for walks, push ups, sit ups, pull ups, unweighted squats, aerobics, swimming, even yoga. There's plenty of exercise to be done without weights, much less a gym.
Carve out your 30 minutes a day and do whatever you choose for those 30 minutes. The better shape you are in, the faster / more you can do.
I used to love the gym, but the ones around me are severely overbooked, so I don't like them anymore.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#149I would say Kettlebells. I would say some kettlebells exercises like swings would compliment your Boxing training while being different. They will also take up very little space in your home in terms of storage and working out. Also, walking is outside and dependent on the weather but I would really recommend walking daily to counteract sitting.
I second kettlebells :) Look up Simple and Sinister. You can squeeze a workout into 20 minutes if you crank up intensity. Ideally you do it almost every day. The idea is that it becomes your system rather than being goal-oriented.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#150Are you sure you hate the gym format and not just the circumstances under which you've experienced the gym?
> I don't like wasting time by getting to the gym, getting from the gym
Don't you have to do the same for boxing? You probably have to walk/drive there.
> and waiting for my turn for the equipment.
Have you tried going to the gym at a time of the day where it's not busy so you don't have to wait for equipment? Early mornings (before 7am) and late nights (after 8pm) are generally good times for that.
> I don't want to invest a lot of time. 30 min max a day.
This is a bit weird. If you want to take care of your health, why are you only willing to dedicate so little time? This is not to say you can't get some exercise in just 30 minutes, but that mindset is problematic.
> I prefer to workout from my home
Great! If you enjoy lifting weights and have the space, a squat rack, barbell, and some plates are good enough to get you going. StrongLifts has a good breakdown of the equipment you'd need: https://stronglifts.com/5x5/#Equipment
If you don't want to invest the money or have the space, your only option for strength training will be bodyweight exercises but those are limiting. You'll never be able to really develop strong legs just from bodyweight exercises. But maybe you don't care about that.
Reddit's r/bodyweightfitness has good resources on bodyweight training: https://www.reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness
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Ultimately, people that stay healthy and fit over the long term are those that manage to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives in a way they enjoy. You can do that by walking to work, walking your dog, doing groceries on foot, playing some kind of sport, hiking, cycling, etc. If you enjoy boxing, why not do that 3-4 times a week?
And you need to remember that you can't out-train a bad diet. If you don't take care of what you're consuming you'll not manage to stay fit.