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Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

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Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#51

Post by vaksel »

Brushfire wrote: post #7

p90x. But I dont strictly follow their schedule, I usually do it 3-4 times a week. You can do half of their workouts anywhere, and the other half with a pullup bar and some free weights.

I'm currently doing the P90X lean program. After I finish that, I'll double my weights and will switch to P90X classic. I workout every day, since its pretty easy to make the time commitment when you have a daily routine.

You definitely see results fairly quickly + if you stick to the entire weekly regiment you'll focus on muscles that you tended to ignore before. i.e. for the first time ever I'm getting decent muscles on my legs.

As far as visible improvements(besides actual muscles), when I started out I was doing 10 more or less crappy pullups, and now I can do 15 proper ones(you know where you fully extend your arms)

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#53

Post by quisxt »

I run about 3 miles every morning and then a longer run on Saturday or Sunday. I've found that I really need to exercise every day, or during the day I can't get into that deep zone of concentration where I'm the most productive. Running more than 3 miles, and too tired and sore, and end up napping during the day.

It's also fun and feels good :)

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#54

Post by picasso81 »

dejb wrote: post #44
noodle wrote: post #11

if you're looking for motivation, i highly suggest finding some sport that you enjoy doing. go looking for it, i'm sure one exists. i do a 2-3 hour workout 2-3 days/week centered around a martial art i compete in on the national/international level. the enjoyment factor really helps get you off the couch. and i do about 1 hour or so of warmup into a weight routine 2 days a week to compliment the other training.

Totally agree. I find organised and/or team sports to be most effective because you are committed to going regularly.

I was spending too much time at the computer, and decided to put together a basketball team together for the UCSF (mission bay) rec league. I also shoot at the park on Folsom & 7th every day from 5-6pm. Feel free to join if you like to ball - it's great exercise.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#55

Post by IsaacSchlueter »

noodle wrote: post #11

if you're looking for motivation, i highly suggest finding some sport that you enjoy doing. go looking for it, i'm sure one exists. i do a 2-3 hour workout 2-3 days/week centered around a martial art i compete in on the national/international level. the enjoyment factor really helps get you off the couch. and i do about 1 hour or so of warmup into a weight routine 2 days a week to compliment the other training.

This is great advice.

No matter how many resolutions I've made, I'd never follow through on going to the gym. I eventually realized it's not that I don't like exercising, it's that working out in a gym is incredibly boring.

I started taking taekwondo classes 4 days a week (classes are about 90 minutes), and it's great. The workout is much more strenuous than I was getting with a personal trainer for about 1/8th the cost, and it's building strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. I'd had minor back problems my whole life, and they've completely gone away.

Plus, there aren't many workouts with such a clear and tangible progression from novice to expert. It is very motivating to attain new skills, and yet know that there's a lot more to learn.

Also, I try to get out on my bike on the weekends when the weather is nice.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#57

Post by sown »

christofd wrote: post #50

I cycle around 30 min everyday to get around town and on nice days or weekends I'll go for longer trips on my mountainbike. Used to do long distance running and martial arts 3 times a week. Don't care to pick up running again, which can be perfectly substituted with cycling, but I'll get back into martial arts. I'd really like to spend some time hiking again in the Rockies or back in Germany in the Austrian Alps :) A…

This. THIS X 10!!

I find that my ability to exercise is very heavily impacted by even the most small amount of junk food. Anything with flour or sugar is pretty much out. Even diet soda gives me a headache now. :(

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#59

Post by natrius2 »

branden wrote: post #43

I'm not someone who can exercise for its own sake. I'm no good at creating a structured routine for myself, and I'm terrible at following schedules. I get around this by living a bikeable distance from work and the grocery store. I've been able to cram in around 30 miles of bike riding per week simply by forsaking the car in my daily activities. If you can't keep yourself sticking to an exercise schedule, try piggyba…

I can't recommend this enough. I'd lost weight before, but could never keep it off. Biking helped me sustainably lose 30 pounds. I also get to be even more smug than Prius owners.

The downside is that my car doesn't start anymore because I never use it.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

#60

Post by nightowl »

If you cannot do any excersize (ie - can't leave the office) I found the Tibetan Rites to be a very good alternative to jogging/cycling. At least you are doing something.

Since I started doing to tibetan rites I manage to work longer without needing a break, and manage to keep to deadlines more (but yea, still miss them). Apparently helps getting the entire energy system flowing which in turn leaves you energised and refreshed.

More info here:

http://www.lifeevents.org/5-tibetans-energy-rejuvenation-exe...

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