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Resolutions for programmers (2012)

matt.might.net

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Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#111

Post by joncrocks »

dasboth wrote: post #94
richmt wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got lucky. I had a friend who had been lifting for years, so I didn't have to go alone when starting out. If I had to make a recommendation for a beginner who might feel stressed out going while being overweight or skinny, I'd suggest you do some research into a program to follow strictly first, then go with a good plan. I recommend reading through Starting Strength for your first time. Also like everyone says, no…

Yeah I think my biggest barrier is not having a clue where to start, and it's overwhelming. I've heard good things about Starting Strength - maybe I'll start there. Thanks.

FWIW, Starting Strength is a great place to start. Eat lots, lift heavy things, a bit heavier each time.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#112

Post by izacus »

cabinpark wrote: post #76
richmt wrote: post #48

On the health note, the single most beneficial thing I did for myself this year was to start lifting. 6 months ago I started committing 3 days a week to a strength training program which I've strictly followed since. Making gains in the gym has motivated me to sleep better and eat better which both have had huge effects on every aspect of my life. Not only that, but the exercise has helped a ton with anxiety I've had…

I was very lucky, growing up, to be the son of a sports medicine doctor because, from birth, healthy eating and exercise and their benefits were grilled into my brain. Unfortunately I see too many people in my job (academia) who don't exercise despite the huge potential benefits to their productivity and life. So this makes me wonder: what is it about exercise that turns people off? Is it a communication issue? Is it…

Because for a lot of people excercise is boring and not interesting to them. Everything else can be overcome if the activity is engaging and interesting. Gym-type excercise however can be percieved as a chore and people do not like doing chores.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#113

Post by sotojuan »

Anilm3 wrote: post #39

Very interesting article! I like the fact that you mentioned Prolog as one of the less mainstream languages to learn. During my time at uni I found that both Haskell and Prolog really changed the way I approached different problems and gave me a high level perspective to problem solving. Some interesting resources to learn Prolog: # http://www.swi-prolog.org/ # http://people.cs.kuleuven.be/~bart.demoen/PrologProgramm…

I'd also add Elixir as an alternative to Erlang. Still a different way of thinking if you're an imperative programmer but has nice tools and perhaps a familiar syntax.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#114

Post by such_a_casual »

tcfunk wrote: post #60
cport1 wrote: post #13

"Switch to Dvorak" .. ha :(

I gave Dvorak a very serious 3-month try about a year ago. I typically type ~90 wpm, and using Dvorak I was up to ~110. That's great and all, however I am very seldom typing words. More often, I'm inputting key-bindings and pressing shortcut combinations. Some programs offer Dvorak-based keybindings, but not all, and unlearning all those keybindings on top of the typing instincts provides yet another layer of frustra…

Wouldn't an AHK script in a dropbox fix this problem? I know with linux and OSX things get a bit messier. But that seems like a very easy problem to solve with a fixed cost of creating some small scripts that swap keys and keyboard settings.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#116

Post by branchless »

EdwardMSmith wrote: post #73
richmt wrote: post #48

On the health note, the single most beneficial thing I did for myself this year was to start lifting. 6 months ago I started committing 3 days a week to a strength training program which I've strictly followed since. Making gains in the gym has motivated me to sleep better and eat better which both have had huge effects on every aspect of my life. Not only that, but the exercise has helped a ton with anxiety I've had…

The single biggest physical improvement to my life was core strengthening. Basically 15 minutes of crunches, plank, and Russian twists every other day. No more back aches at all. I never realized just how much and how constant the back pain I had was. Even when I was sleeping - tossed and turned all night.

I've been going to the gym all year and progressed. This holiday as I'm unable to go for 2 weeks I've started doing planks. Now I hurt all over! I shall persist. They seem great.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#117

Post by henry_vonfire »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #97
cabinpark wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was very lucky, growing up, to be the son of a sports medicine doctor because, from birth, healthy eating and exercise and their benefits were grilled into my brain. Unfortunately I see too many people in my job (academia) who don't exercise despite the huge potential benefits to their productivity and life. So this makes me wonder: what is it about exercise that turns people off? Is it a communication issue? Is it…

For me it's a combination of things. 1. Convenience. If I have a gym in the building I live in, I'm about 10x more likely to use it. If it's a block down the street, I might go once a week. If it's two blocks down the street, it might as well be in Algiers. 2. Knowledge. I don't know how to lift weights, and I'm afraid I'll do it wrong and end up injuring myself. Apparently even running isn't trivial to do without po…

I haven't met anyone in a gym who is not willing to give you advices about how to lift.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#118

Post by mysterypie »

mordocai wrote: post #109
mysterypie wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I urge everyone here to take up lifting Everyone I've spoken to got into lifting because they think it gets girls. They won't admit it directly or perhaps realize it themselves, but a series of questions leads to women: Of all types of exercise, why weights? -> So then why do you need to be toned? -> OK, then why do you need to look good in a T-shirt, or at bars, or in your profile pic? -> Because women like it. Pr…

Lifting is actually very efficient and having more muscle can help for lots of everyday tasks. I think you are just hanging out with the wrong people if all (or even most) of the people you know who lift are doing it for "girls"

> having more muscle can help for lots of everyday tasks

When I've discussed the motivation with weight-lifting friends, they bring up that very point. Then I ask them to give an example of something they did with their strength today or in the last month, that I couldn't have done just as easily (I'm average strength).

After long thought they come up contrived examples like, I had to lift my motorbike to change a tire one time, or last year I gave my daughter a piggyback ride for an hour at a parade so she could see better.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#120

Post by icebraining »

jakejake wrote: post #95
cabinpark wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was very lucky, growing up, to be the son of a sports medicine doctor because, from birth, healthy eating and exercise and their benefits were grilled into my brain. Unfortunately I see too many people in my job (academia) who don't exercise despite the huge potential benefits to their productivity and life. So this makes me wonder: what is it about exercise that turns people off? Is it a communication issue? Is it…

I think it's pretty simple - exercise requires physical effort and most people would rather sit on the couch.

It's not that simple, though; cleaning your house also takes effort, yet most people do it.
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