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Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

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Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#31

Post by johnward »

lazyjones wrote: post #24

I had my blood analyzed and discovered a severe Vitamin D deficiency - so I take supplements. I also bought a treadmill and try to watch TV only while running or at least walking on the treadmill. It's less boring that way and gives me a little less of the feeling that I'm just wasting time when watching TV. I know there's a bit of a 'treadmill desk for programming' fad right now (since Linus announced his), but I fi…

I live in an area of the country that gets some of the lowest amount of direct sunlight. I asked my doc about Vitamin D deficiency and he said it's not worth testing. I got tested anyway and it was low even with me taking 2000iu a day. I think I take 8000 now.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#32

Post by up_and_up »

> ...who have been sitting at their computers...

> ...sitting down all day...

I am 32. I noticed after years of sitting down that my back and hips began to ache and my body started feeling oldish.

So I recently (two months ago) switched to a standing desk and feel really good. Back pain went away and I feel engaged and on point all day long. I do sit down for lunch and do a couple stretch breaks to break things up but in general I am sold and dont plan to 'sit at a desk all day' for a long time.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#34

Post by thorin »

junto wrote: post #4
thorin wrote: post #2

I've started noticing this since having kids. Not got a concrete answer but try some of the following: * Drink as much water as you can and try and eat a mixture of freshly prepared food when you can. * Work out and pick something you enjoy - currently I go kayaking, go to the gym and do yoga during the week and try to get out at the weekend into the countryside. * Walk when you can, get outside and breathe fresh air…

Thanks for this. I've also noticed my energy level reduction since having children. I guess that is just par for the course. I guess your children are older? Mine are still young, so I wouldn't have the time to go kajaking at the moment (although I would love to)! I think I also need to get out and do some sport. Do you find yoga helps a lot? A friend suggested this to me too.

Not older, very young. I have a 1 year old daughter and another child on the way so I thought it was a good time to set a routine. I'm lucky in that where I kayak there is reliable whitewater within 15 mins of my house. I go to the gym at lunchtime during work.

I've just restarted yoga - it has great benefits in relaxation and strength and really helps with all that time in the chair/bad posture. I did pilates previously which can be great too.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#35

Post by gmays »

* Strength training: I focus on building strength not size (I'm already a pretty big guy, 6' 1" 220lb). Workout 4 times/wk, 5 sets/5 reps using a moderately heavy weight I could lift 8-10 times (stopping at 5).

* Cardio: I don't do as much cardio as I used to due to a knee injury, but I recently bought a standing desk and have been experimenting with cycling on a spinning bike for .5 - 1hr/day on the bike.

* Diet: I used to eat like shit, but changed by diet in January. Now I east sushi for breakfast and dinner ~5 times/wk and typically eat a black bean/chicken burrito for lunch. I get the sushi at my local supermarket so it's only ~$8/meal. Doing zero cardio (just strength training) I lost 20b in the first 2.5 months. I've since leveled off since I'm less strict, but keeping the weight off feels effortless since it was more of a lifestyle change than a diet.

* Sleep: I typically don't set an alarm unless my wife needs it, but when I do we aim for 8 hours. Sleep is crucial.

* Personal relationships: They're important. I used to not pay much attention to them (even my marriage) since I'm a solitary creature, but I try harder now. I'm even trying to make friends rather than just having acquaintances. Currently the only people I talk to regularly are my mom and my wife, my business partners are a distant third.

* Play: I spent the last few years working every minute. Now I play a video game every now and then. It let's me "relax" while still feeling like I'm accomplishing something. I don't yet know how important this is and I may stop. Relaxing isn't in my DNA, it makes me anxious and feels very uncomfortable. The closest thing I can do to relaxing is hanging out with my wife and having an interesting conversation.

* Drink water: Aside from the occasional Diet Coke I only drink water. I don't drink coffee, tea or alcohol, but I never have so this isn't a change. I used to drink flavored drinks like Crystal Light but switched back to water.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#36

Post by modoc »

Wrestling with the same sort of issues here. Middle age plus the stresses of growing a company, etc...

I've started hitting the gym a bunch (3-5 times a week) with personal training twice a week. Trying to do hot yoga once a week. Using MyFitnessPal to track food/calories/exercise.

Mixes results so far. Getting more fit, but if anything I am much more tired earlier and more often. Hopefully that bounces back eventually.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#37

Post by junto »

binarymax wrote: post #21

Yoga for 30 minutes every morning. Cut out the sugar and bread and noodles. Been doing it for a month already and I feel great! I also have been using a standing desk for about 2 years - which has significantly helped my back (and with the Yoga even moreso).

> Cut out the sugar and bread and noodles.

Have you stopped eating carbs totally, or are you still eating potatoes and rice?

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#38

Post by kaoD »

lazyjones wrote: post #24

I had my blood analyzed and discovered a severe Vitamin D deficiency - so I take supplements. I also bought a treadmill and try to watch TV only while running or at least walking on the treadmill. It's less boring that way and gives me a little less of the feeling that I'm just wasting time when watching TV. I know there's a bit of a 'treadmill desk for programming' fad right now (since Linus announced his), but I fi…

> I had my blood analyzed and discovered a severe Vitamin D deficiency - so I take supplements.

I'm sure you've been told before, but just in case: consider exposing yourself to more sunlight if possible.

Most Vitamin D deficiencies I've seen around me are from white-collar workers not getting enough sunlight exposure. My SO had to avoid sun due to a medical condition and she developed a deficiency too. Sunbathing on weekends worked like a charm for them.

Office jobs are surprisingly bad for our health.

Re: Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health?

#40

Post by tomhoward »

I've tried a lot of stuff over the years, particularly focused on the physical: strength training, running, nutrition, paleo dieting, gut biology support.

Any benefits were short-lived until I started focusing on mental/emotional wellbeing, particularly relating to the subconscious mind.

I've learned that our propensity for fatigue, burnout and physical decline is heavily influenced by our subconscious perceptions of outer-world stimuli.

Two people can experience the same thing but have completely different reactions, which manifest physically as different levels of cortisol release, metabolic function, sleep quality, etc, all of which has a big impact on long-term health.

I've wound up using a few different techniques to clear unhealthy subconscious beliefs and behavioral patterns, and have seen a consistent improvement in my mental and physical wellbeing.

I still pay attention to fitness, nutrition, etc, but the payoff seems much bigger when accompanied by the emotional work.

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