Start training jiu-jitsu or muay thai.
Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
171–180 of 275 posts
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#172I hate the gym because of social phobia and transportation challenges. Here are home fitness things that have worked for me. Note that I don't have any motivation to improve my looks (though I definitely do look better than I used to) or train for a sport, so what I do is probably nowhere near hardcore enough for many people. I just want to be generally healthy and have good energy levels.
1. Ring Fit Adventure. Yeah, a weird one, and not particularly hard exercise, but it's what I managed to pick up at a time when I hadn't done any real exercise for years except for biking to get around and inconsistently using an indoor bike (see below). It motivates a daily routine and exposes you to a pretty wide range of movements.
2. An indoor bike. You don't need a Peloton or anything high tech, just something solidly built. I spent $550 on a bike with a tablet holder in 2018 and it's still going strong, same bike is actually under $500 now. It lets you get some pedaling in when the weather is bad or you don't want to go outside or you want to watch TV.
3. An Apple Watch. Not a routine in itself, but I find the rings motivate me to get some actual exercise in every day.
4. HIIT. This is the main fitness thing I do these days. I pick a 20-minute HIIT workout from Apple Fitness+ and do it every day (minus a rest day or two per week) until it feels easy, then move on to another one.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#173I'm 32 and recently over the last 3 months have made a successful workout habit at home after ~10 years of trying. I just do whatever I feel like doing now. I use to try to follow some program to the t, but could never follow through. Now I just youtube some random workout, wether it's with dumbbells, bodyweight, HIIT, yoga, going for a walk or whatever. It really doesn't matter for me anymore, as long as I'm doing something everyday even if its only for a short period of time.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#174I would consider myself borderline expert at this.
Are you rich?
If yes: https://exxentric.com/products/kbox/ + https://saga.fitness/products/the-bfr-cuffs
Are you budget conscious? Adjustable: (any brand is fine) https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/bowflex-selecttech-552-...
+
Find a way to deadlift and squat and bench: https://www.titan.fitness/ If you can splurge would _strongly_ recommend a belt squat that pulls you from underneath and does not create spinal tension.
Good luck!!!
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#175Google "joyful movement". The idea is to do physical activity you actually enjoy doing. It could walking, hiking, swimming, bike riding, dancing, gardening, larping, or anything that makes you happy. That is the key.
I wasn’t aware of that phrase but this is also my recommendation. Don’t force yourself to do something you hate, find something you enjoy and you’ll desire to do it. I sit at work and daydream about biking, rather dreading going to the gym.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#176I think the key is just to find a activity that you love to do.
For me the gateway drug into being active was outdoor cycling. I've fell in love with exploring anything around me on the bike. Bike got me into the best shape of my life in my 30s and that just led me to enjoy many other activies like running, rowing, calisthenics, and yoga.
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#177I hate gym too (also mid 30s), and use the hate as a tool. I hate it so much, that nothing will stop me from going, because I'm always at the lowest possible desire level anyway. I don't care if the weather is bad, if my mood is bad, or anything else. I just deliver myself to the place no matter what. For over 13 years now. (People who like gym risk not going when they don't like it. I have no such risk. I'm not teth…
Out of sheer curiosity -- when did "gym" replace "the gym"?
Is this a UK thing?
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#178If you can, add more movement to your daily routine. If you have a commute, consider a bike. Can you walk to buy groceries? Use a basket instead of walking a cart? Any other car trips you can replace? Take up dancing, climbing, or some other active hobby.
But if you want a segregated "exercise" time, then I'll second kettle-bells. You can work as hard as you like in very modest space with 2 or three bells.
For 0 gear, look at bodyweight work. The Canadian Airforce produced a program you could do when stationed at an arctic DEW line station with no more space than you had beside your bunk. http://fit450.com/HTML/5BX_Intro.html
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#179climbing gym.
social, engaging, mentally stimulating, choose your difficulty
Re: Ask HN: I hate gym. How to stay in shape?
#180climbing gym
social, mentally stimulating, choose your difficulty, fun, skill progress, translates to outdoor adventure, interesting community