I wrote an eerily similar article on my website about a year ago, covering my experiences with resistance training, just like you.
Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
21–30 of 162 posts
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#22Anyone have any opinions on strength vs cardio + resistance (i.e. bands)?
I think strength training is the most valuable for men. I've really seen a lot of benefits from it.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
99% of workers who sit at a desk for 8 (or more) hours a day are not programmers.
most people who sit at the desk don't have hours at a time sitting all tensed up and in a bad position because stuff is not going well and they get hyperfocused on running the code again and again, not that that happens often - but sometimes.
Its worse, they have to sit there using the half arsed buggy software that some programmer shat out in order to get promoted to L5 in the 2021 summer of CV driven development and hasn't been updated or fixed since.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#24strength training is very essential part of life. it makes your mind think more effectively. as a computer programmer i'd love to do pushups like around 50( that means 20 per set). to make my physique strong and muscular..this is ultimately effects your health.. so a healthy body have an healthy mind.
If you're doing strength training you'll be doing no more than 1 to 6 reps of whatever exercise in sets of 1 to 3.
Large numbers of reps are for looking good, not actually being strong. This leads to the rather fun paradox that body builders are quite weak for how much effort they spend on training, while someone looking like a fat mechanic will be much strong than you'd expect.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#25I started strength training a few months back (using The Pump app [1]), still a relative noob, but it's the first time I've been able to stick to any exercise programme (usually my ADHD brain loses interest and goes off to something else, like sitting on the sofa). Even though in the early days you don't notice much physical difference (other than the steady increase in weight you're able to lift), I've just watched…
> Even though in the early days you don't notice much physical difference
People who do weight training always leave out the fact that you feel sore after a lift. Even the next day.
This can feel like pain to the unaware and can be scary or off putting enough to become a deterrent to keep at it.
It can leave you feeling weak, but often the soreness is surface level and in fact you are still stronger even with the soreness and fatigue.
> (other than the steady increase in weight you're able to lift)
“Steady” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.
Maybe you could argue that in the beginning, but adding more and more weight is more logarithmic than linear; otherwise, everyone in the gym would be benching 3 tons.
I recommend ramping up weight after you can do a full 3 sets of 10 reps at your current weight.
Introducing the new weight to the first set, then dropping the weight for the next two.
Once comfortable with that try the new weight for 2 sets and then finally 3; then repeat.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#26I wrote an eerily similar article on my website about a year ago, covering my experiences with resistance training, just like you. https://craig.banach.dev/musings/1000-pound-club
Congrats on that achievement! I'm on my second go of gzclp now (took a few months off due to a nasty case of pneumonia and then life got in the way), and I'm amazed by how much progress I've made through it.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#27I started strength training a few months back (using The Pump app [1]), still a relative noob, but it's the first time I've been able to stick to any exercise programme (usually my ADHD brain loses interest and goes off to something else, like sitting on the sofa). Even though in the early days you don't notice much physical difference (other than the steady increase in weight you're able to lift), I've just watched…
> Even though in the early days you don't notice much physical difference People who do weight training always leave out the fact that you feel sore after a lift. Even the next day. This can feel like pain to the unaware and can be scary or off putting enough to become a deterrent to keep at it. It can leave you feeling weak, but often the soreness is surface level and in fact you are still stronger even with the sor…
> People who do weight training always leave out the fact that you feel sore after a lift. Even the next day.
It's absolutely normal to feel sore after any kind of exercise?
If you don't you're in top shape for it, congratulations. But it ain't going to happen when progressing.
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#28strength training is very essential part of life. it makes your mind think more effectively. as a computer programmer i'd love to do pushups like around 50( that means 20 per set). to make my physique strong and muscular..this is ultimately effects your health.. so a healthy body have an healthy mind.
If you're doing strength training you'll be doing no more than 1 to 6 reps of whatever exercise in sets of 1 to 3. Large numbers of reps are for looking good, not actually being strong. This leads to the rather fun paradox that body builders are quite weak for how much effort they spend on training, while someone looking like a fat mechanic will be much strong than you'd expect.
large number of reps are for looking good ,, okay ill say yes!! but i never do exercise for good looking i dont concentrate on looks rather i just watch my stamina that how long i push....
btw i dont go to gym,, so i like home workout like pushups just i said before.
that fat mechanic stronger but eventually get diseased when he/she crosses 30 or 40
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#29Strength training is great! As a runner I much prefer running to lifting, but I think lifting is probably better for me.
Btw What's going on with the "st" ligatures on this page??
Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective
#30I also think about this regularly. I'm with the author regarding the metrics (time efficient, healthy, skill component).
But still, I find strength training extremely boring and going to the gym annoying. I tried a few times but it never clicked for me – what am I missing?
Does anyone have other ideas for incorporating exercise into my daily routine? I enjoy a bit of walking, cycling, and doing 5-10 minute mobility exercises, but is that enough? Maybe I could find one or two strength exercises I can do quickly without getting boring or too difficult, ideally without any gear.