How Weight Training Might Change the Brain • Hacker News Board

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#141

Post by asdfman123 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 5:51 PM UTC

0815test wrote: post #32

hueving wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm the opposite for hardcore engineers. An in-shape, muscular person looks like they have dedicated a non-trivial amount of time to not software. I presume most people that look like that just see writing software as "a job" and won't be as capable of fully owning anything more complex than small portions of a complex application.

> An in-shape, muscular person looks like they have dedicated a non-trivial amount of time to not software. Hitting the gym can actually be pretty complementary to writing software or doing other sorts of engineering in the best possible way. For example, many people are psychologically messed up due to some sort of mental "baggage" that basically shows up as a somatic fight-or-flight response, albeit generally in an…

I had a boss that was a good programmer and would work late into the night on pet projects. A true coder. But he'd get so stressed out he'd yell at team members every time things went wrong. Communication was poor and the whole team suffered from it.

You need to devote a "non-trival" amount of time becoming a well rounded person or everything else is going to suffer, including your ability to maintain relationships in the workplace and communicate. That's way more important than knowing all the arcane details of the Java virtual machine.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#142

Post by asdfman123 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 5:53 PM UTC

nextlevelwizard wrote: post #80

starpilot wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, in west coast tech centers, it's pretty much a meme that all tech bros rock climb/boulder.

Only reason people hate on others improving themselves is because it brings forth their own inadequacies and chips at their ego. Rock/wall climbing is fun and you can really see yourself improve fast if you just have the discipline to get to the climbing gym three-ish times per week. Plus it will make you look good and feel better about yourself which will just make you all around better person.

I don't think it's that. Some people are legitimately obnoxious and believe they can dominate you because they spend more time lifting weights, and they have really obnoxious philosophies and pet theories that justify their own behavior. They're the natural enemy of shier people, and as a result those types can be distrustful.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#143

Post by asdfman123 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 5:58 PM UTC

scottlocklin wrote: post #93

boringusername wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That program is basically a rip-off of Mark Rippetoe’s work in Starting Strength which I also recommend.

I guess Rippletoe stole it from Bill Starr "Strongest shall survive; strength training for football" then. This study is bloody awful. For all we know it's the fruit loops which improve rat cognitive function. The only good thing I'll say about it, is when the NYT starts reporting on the health benefits of X, it means X (drinking red wine, high fat diets, etc) has become trendy among the self regarding upper middle c…

> when the NYT starts reporting on the health benefits of X, it means X (drinking red wine, high fat diets, etc) has become trendy among the self regarding upper middle class

I realized long ago so many of my long-term life decisions were based on thinkpieces in The Atlantic, The New York Times, or a similar publication.

Choosing experiences over stuff, eating only "real food" and cutting out sugar, getting more involved in community events and not being such a shut in -- all traced back to thinkpieces.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#144

Post by parliament32 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 6:03 PM UTC

nextlevelwizard wrote: post #72

BeatLeJuce wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you feel out of place because you're thinking in terms of "alphas" etc., which to me sounds like a totally douche/"bro" thing to do. Most people I know that don't lift don't care about body shapes etc., otherwise they would lift.

> Most people I know that don't lift don't care about body shapes This is a lie and you know it. Everyone and I mean literally everyone cares about appearances. No matter how you slice it everyone has a style they are trying to project. This same goes for body shape. If we had a pill that instantly -- without effort -- gave everyone a six pack and lean muscular body, everyone of your friends would be on it, because d…

100%. I can guarantee that every single one of those weak guys decided to "get in shape" at some point in their lives, went to the gym for a week, then quit because "it's too hard". The followed up with a mountain of excuses about why they're too busy or they'd rather play piano or whatever other explanation is necessary for "I'm actively choosing to look like shit".

The funny thing is, physical appearance is the primary way we judge other people. Like Arnold said, "A well built physique is a status symbol. It reflects you worked hard for it, no money can buy it. You cannot borrow it, you cannot inherit it, you cannot steal it. You cannot hold onto it without constant work. It shows discipline, it shows self respect, it shows patience, work ethic and passion. That is why I do what I do."

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#145

Post by ves » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 6:20 PM UTC

hueving wrote: post #27

fortran77 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure. Even though I don't want to admit it, I'm sure I, along with many others, would have more confidence in a fit, muscular person than an out-of-shape slovenly one.

I'm the opposite for hardcore engineers. An in-shape, muscular person looks like they have dedicated a non-trivial amount of time to not software. I presume most people that look like that just see writing software as "a job" and won't be as capable of fully owning anything more complex than small portions of a complex application.

To pile on further, hitting the gym and other sports relentlessly is what allows me to continue programming for long hours without my body falling apart.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#146

Post by ip26 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 6:21 PM UTC

blunte wrote: post #86

mycall wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious how lifting would compare to other core activities, like hiking or lumberjacking.

There is something significant about learning to coordinate the firing of signals to a dozen muscles at once (and maintain those GO signals for the duration of the rep) which cannot be replicated any way other than lifting a big weight with one or more major muscle groups. Also, as an aside, for the duration of that one rep, (if the weight is sufficiently heavy for the lifter) the mind narrows focus completely - no o…

the mind narrows focus completely

Rock climbing is the same way when you're in a precarious position or executing a difficult move.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#147

Post by ip26 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 7:21 PM UTC

test1235 wrote: post #74

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that context, it makes sense that the greatest danger to a workout plan is having kids.

Since my kid was born, maintaining a regular gym workout has been a lifesaver for me. I find it's so easy to lose sense of time and what is important when you deal with the constant demands of a little baby - having an exercise routine keeps me grounded - it's away from home, something I do on my own, on my own terms and leaves me feeling good about myself. Finding time to regularly workout is something I'd recommend…

It can be great to have the workout- but it only works if you are able to get sleep, which is in large part up to your kid & the luck of the draw.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#148

Post by licebmi__at__ » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 7:31 PM UTC

01100011 wrote: post #38

leet_thow wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before I trained an engineering manager literally said offhand a candidate was "to big," during my training I had a small framed junior engineer do a 180 and become adversarial after I talked about my training and goals at a group lunch and in interviews I've sensed discomfort from men with small frames as well. It really is instinctual. In the manosphere subculture it is called getting "mogged" as in Alpha Male Othe…

I think there is something that is inherent to 'nerd culture', at least of a certain generation, which instills a feeling of otherness and persecution by 'alphas'. I was a socially awkward nerd in high school with few friends. I left feeling like I was persecuted and had a large chip on my shoulder towards 'normies'. It wasn't until years later that I realized most of it was in my head and self-inflicted. There is a…

So the persecution feeling of "nerds" from "jocks" is "mostly in their head and self-inflicted", but the persecution for being "alpha" from "guys with smaller frames" is totally real. And really, I really can't help to think about all the mental baggage someone who uses the term "alpha" has.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#149

Post by ip26 » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 7:33 PM UTC

triceratops wrote: post #42

m463 wrote: post #11

We've already figured out that aerobic exercise increases our cognitive abilities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise#Neurobiologic... Even though weight training isn't aerobic, couldn't it still increase our state of fitness?

> Even though weight training isn't aerobic It's never been clear to me what "aerobic" really means. Heavy or many-repped squat or deadlift sets will raise your heart rate plenty, and get you out of breath.

It means that the majority of your energy is being provided by the aerobic metabolic pathway. Raising your heart rate doesn't mean it's aerobic. There will always be a contribution from the aerobic pathway, but if the instantaneous demands are too high then anaerobic pathways provide most of the power.

Intuitively, the pathway that's providing most of the power is the pathway that gets the most training effect.

Re: How Weight Training Might Change the Brain

#150

Post by dancek » Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 7:44 PM UTC

blunte wrote: post #86

mycall wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious how lifting would compare to other core activities, like hiking or lumberjacking.

There is something significant about learning to coordinate the firing of signals to a dozen muscles at once (and maintain those GO signals for the duration of the rep) which cannot be replicated any way other than lifting a big weight with one or more major muscle groups. Also, as an aside, for the duration of that one rep, (if the weight is sufficiently heavy for the lifter) the mind narrows focus completely - no o…

I never quite understood what people love about lifting but this comment makes me want to try it.

Cycling for a long time tends to completely clear my mind, but I don't know the feeling of "learning to coordinate" that you're talking about.