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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?

#121

Post by mindcruzer »

gt565k wrote: post #53
wdewind wrote: post #9

Strength training 3x a week. Why strength? Strength is the most generalized adaptation there is. Training to be strong improves every component of fitness: strength (duh), power, agility, balance, flexibility, endurance (all 3 types) and coordination. I would also make the argument that in day to day life strength is the most important attribute of fitness for someone in the western world. The ability to carry a bunc…

I think most people will find Strong Lifts 5x5 to be a better choice than Starting Strength, as it does not require power cleans, which are usually forbidden in most gyms. They are both more or less the same though, and focus on compound lifts.

I believe Rip mentions in his book that you can switch out power cleans for bent over rows if you like.

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

#123

Post by jclos »

wdewind wrote: post #56
gt565k wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think most people will find Strong Lifts 5x5 to be a better choice than Starting Strength, as it does not require power cleans, which are usually forbidden in most gyms. They are both more or less the same though, and focus on compound lifts.

I think the point about power cleans is fair (although if you read the book they aren't really required, many reasons why you wouldn't do them), but the 5x5 progression is way too much volume way too early.

As long as the recovery aspect is on point and if you are not too time-limited, there really is no reason not to have as much volume as possible.

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

#124

Post by hackaflocka »

_ywdj wrote: post #60
jenskanis wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Care to share your techniques/methods?

The technique I now use is my own fork of a technique that comes out of the chiropractic professional called Neuro Emotional Technique. I'm a little reticent to talk much about it here, because hey everyone knows chiropractors are all charlatans right? :) Actually I kinda do too, but this technique is pretty powerful, and several very skeptical, conventionally-minded people I know have tried it out and found it very…

psych-k or tapping? self-applied or done by a professional?

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

#125

Post by stanmancan »

I'm 28 and have started to feel it as well. I've started doing a few things lately:

1) Joined a competitive mens soccer team two years ago

2) Started coaching my daughters soccer a year and a half ago

3) Following a healthier diet. Still far from perfect but much better than before

4) Started going to the gym a few times a week

5) Getting up from my desk a dozen times a day to walk around and stretch

6) Stopped trying to do so much on the side

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

#126

Post by leoalves »

andredublin wrote: post #114

Drink plenty water throughout the day. Here's my physical routine that I go through. Jump rope every night for about 10-15 minutes with a weighted speed rope. Jumping rope is really great and I highly recommend it, its easy on the knees and a fast way to get a good cardio workout. Boxing on weekends, I own a heavy bag on a stand so its easy for me to do. I have a hangboard located in my kitchen that whenever I pass u…

Surfing in the morning .... now I feel jealous

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

#127

Post by blakeja »

Martial arts.

I have been practicing shaolin kung fu for 11 years, but I think most systems that incorporate a good 60 minutes of full body movement are going to do the trick. Surprised I am the first to post this as I have never found a more complete exercise system. Not to mention the internal aspects I have found to be extremely beneficial over the course of my life.

Yoga is pretty close, especially if you are doing ashtanga, brutal yoga!

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

#128

Post by bitL »

oafitupa wrote: post #115
ihsw wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intermittent fasting means that you limit the hours of the day that you eat -- in this case he's fasting for 16 hours of the day and allowing food intake for 8 hours. I presume this means he has two meals -- a late dinner and an early breakfast. There are other models too, for example 20/4.

And why is that good?

Human growth hormone seems to be raised considerably after fasting for 16-24h which in turn supports strength training right after this period as the muscles grow naturally faster without any kind of "funny" supplements intake. Basically a body hack.

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

#129

Post by hackaflocka »

methehack wrote: post #100
smiksarky wrote: post #92

Recently picked up skateboarding because of the mental/physical challenge is unlike any sport or hobby. Even though I'll never be as good as the twenty-something year olds at the park, it's exciting when I am able to do something I've never done before. Sure I fall on my ass, but I also get myself back up & to try "riding that ramp" one more time. This may seem far fetched for someone in their late 40's, but if you h…

OMG I just did the same thing! In my mid-40s. I thought it was just me that was crazy. Got my 12 yr old a skateboard for christmas and we're both crazy for it. Of course, he can already Ollie and I'm mostly happy not to fall off (again) but it's been truly fantastic. Great to know there's another out there!

Wheels: hard/small/soft/big -- what's your preference?

I got the idea to try skateboarding after watching SteveSi skateboarding during the original Surface intro.

I do longboarding. Got any recommendations for a beginner short skateboard?

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

#130

Post by computerjunkie »

Eat well, sleep enough and walk plenty.

Sleep is something which is seriously overlooked in general. From personal experience, getting enough sleep and eating well are requirements that need to be met first before exercise.

There is nothing is worse than exercising whilst you are deprived of sleep and mal-nourished.

Speaking about exercise, don't get hung up on dogmas and "this is the only way" personality that is common in the fitness industry. Pick what works for you. Just make sure you are moving on a daily basis because sitting down 8 hours everyday is not healthy at all.

Go for long walks in the park with family or friends. As silly as it sounds, it works. Walking is not only good for you physically, but also psychologically [0]. Walking is a basic human movement pattern and is one of the first things we learn how to do early in our lives.

My grandfather passed away at 94 two years ago from old age. He never went to the gym, never participated in long marathons and he was a frequent beer drinker. But he did long walks everyday on the farm in the morning and evenings, he also ate well and by 10pm he was in bed.

Morale of the story is that, go back to the basics and stick to them. You won't go wrong.

Edit: Added a reference.

[0] http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/april/walking-vs-sitting-...

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