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Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

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Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#41

Post by aynyc »

orbisvicis wrote: post #16

Anyone have any opinions on strength vs cardio + resistance (i.e. bands)?

You need both. However, given proper programming, cardio has better benefit for longevity than strength.

I generally dislike article like this because they don’t tell you what their protocol is like so you can’t really know what they did.

For most people, hypertrophy specific protocol is better than strength protocol. Zone 2 cardio is better than HIT. But people tend to do the opposite. They want to break personal record every session, run fastest every run.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#42

Post by uhngureff »

adammarples wrote: post #31
uhngureff wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

It's pretty linear at first, especially like this person who has been doing it a few months. You should be able to add 2.5kg to your major lifts every week if you're recovering well, and that's recommended by the starting strength program. It definitely starts to become logarithmic after while though.

This is bad advice, because it’s ambiguous.

> You should be able to add 2.5kg to your major lifts every week

When you couple progression with a time frame but fail to address the time frame of the workouts it is more dangerous than helpful.

This would be bad advice for anyone who only trains once a week or twice a month.

> if you're recovering well

I’ve been strength training for 20 years and even I’m unsure what this means. Do I recover “well”?

When it comes to education avoiding ambiguity is essential.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#43

Post by busterarm »

7222aafdcf68cfe wrote: post #34
orbisvicis wrote: post #16

Anyone have any opinions on strength vs cardio + resistance (i.e. bands)?

My view is that there are three types of training one should do. Cardio, strength, and mobility. They all have different effects, neither should be forgotten.

Replace cardio with "do 10k steps every day" and 99% of people will have their fitness goals covered.

I do that and only enough cardio to get me into zone 2 during my lifting sessions.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#44

Post by jiggawatts »

louthy wrote: post #9

I 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…

> (usually my ADHD brain loses interest and goes off to something else, like sitting on the sofa)

Something just clicked for me.

Maybe the reason I like weightlifting is because I can play with my phone in between sets. The actual exercise part is only a few seconds at a time, and only a fraction of the total time spent. Most of it is sitting around feeding my ADHD with the Internet while I recover between sets.

I tried swimming, for example, but it's just too boring. You can't do anything during the exercise other than stare at blurry blue tiles.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#47

Post by ciju »

graup wrote: post #30

I 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 e…

I treat it as an exercise in understanding and pushing body. Like keeping track of different parts of my body feel. Is the load distributed evenly. Is there an imbalance in perception of load. Does the movement feel smooth. I think it all falls under proprioception. I even record my sets, sometimes, and review the movements. It becomes a game of understanding limits and pushing them. Although, the feedback cycle is slow.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#48

Post by coldcode »

roland35 wrote: post #29

Strength 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??

I gave up on exercise for 30 years before retiring as a programmer (after 40 years), and discovered all sorts of health issues last year. This year I routinely work out twice a week no matter what, and I feel great, all my health issues are under control. I was not overweight, but now I feel so much better with 13 lbs less, and actual muscle. I should have started 30 years ago instead of ignoring it. It doesn't have to be 7 days a week and hours a day to make a difference.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#49

Post by iamacyborg »

meiraleal wrote: post #19
BossingAround wrote: post #2

Why do we need a "programmer's perspective"? Exercise has nothing to do with programming or engineering specifically. Exercise (ideally, some form of exercise that strengthens muscles that atrophy while sitting) should be a thing for everyone who sits behind for 40+ hours a week.

You might disagree, but the most important skill of a programmer is problem-solving skills/mindset and a rational approach. A programmer's perspective of many things will be different than the average person perspective that doesn't use those skills to make decisions. He even wrote about that if you had the time to read the article before commenting: As a software engineer I though, If I should "pick boring tech", ma…

Programmers are no more capable of magical thinking than the average person.

Re: Why strength training? A programmer's perspective

#50

Post by ehnto »

graup wrote: post #30

I 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 e…

You don't have to lift, many other ways to be fit. But I have been lifting for over 10 years, and powerlifting is the reason why. I don't think I could do "fitness" weights routines, they lack a lot of challenge, progression and skill aspects of powerlifting.

Bodybuilding has certain vanity to it that I appreciate but don't participate in.

Every now and then I switch it up into functional stuff, usually aimed at mountain biking and climbing muscles.

But I always miss and come back to the compound lifts, the personal, sporting nature of powerlifting.

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