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I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

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Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#151

Post by WalterBright »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #141
WalterBright wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me, running was a chore. I had to really make my self go running. My body simply did not want to run. But after a year of 3x a week, a funny thing happened. My body started wanting to go running. I'd look forward to it. I've been lifting for 20 years now. My body still hates it. Oh well :-/ what can you do. P.S. I never time the runs, I never push it. I just run and don't worry about it. If someone passes me runn…

> I never time the runs I found running to be more enjoyable once I stopped using run-tracking apps like Strava. Now I just use my phone's built-in pedometer. A run is just a way to help me hit 10k+ steps per day. During my runs I can be spontaneous without feeling like I'm going to ruin my Strava pace, and running isn't this overt start -> finish ordeal anymore.

I did the step thing for a while. and the heart rate monitor thing. Finally got bored with that and just go running :-)

P.S. after using the heart rate monitor for a while, you wind up with a pretty good feel for what it is without looking.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#152

Post by jimmux »

perihelions wrote: post #76
Tarsul wrote: post #29

I read a HN comment a while ago wrt running that said that motivation might come from saying "I want to see this beautiful place again" (where the running leads to.) instead of saying "I need to run because I want to lose weight" (or whatever). I'd like to say it works, but actually what was even more important for me was to change my thoughts about running. If you feel like running is a chore, you will never motivat…

For a month now, I've been getting up at 5am every day to go cruising around my empty city on a skateboard, as a complete noob. It's changed my life substantially for the better. I've been very interested to figure out where I found this implausible level of... motivation? self-discipline? I'm not the sort of person to expect such from myself. Where did this unexpected success come from, and how can I attempt to cont…

It's amazing how much fulfilment I get from riding around natural spaces on an electric unicycle (also works for bikes or whatever but that's what I use now), taking the occasional picture of things I find interesting. I sometimes wonder if it taps into hunter instincts and exercises normally unused parts of my subconscious brain.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#153

Post by SoftTalker »

Zacharias030 wrote: post #125
SoftTalker wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I made this same point in another response. To answer your question, I was sedentary, not particularly overweight but I knew it was unhealthy, and I wanted to do something to get in better shape. I knew some people who were into running and they talked about how great it made them feel. I tried it, kept at it for a while despite what a miserable an experience it was, in the hope that there would be a "breakthrough" a…

Dunno if you are still interested in hearing what helped others, I suppose not everybody has to like running, but I know that I learned to like both seimming and running at some point when before it was dreadful. * It helped me to learn a lot about running form, which would make going for a run interesting because there are so many things to observe about one‘s body and form while doing it. Like honing a difficult sk…

No I've pretty much abandonded the idea that I will ever enjoy running. I've given it more than a fair shake, and have found other ways to stay active.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#154

Post by srazzaque »

Moodles wrote: post #72
Tarsul wrote: post #29

I read a HN comment a while ago wrt running that said that motivation might come from saying "I want to see this beautiful place again" (where the running leads to.) instead of saying "I need to run because I want to lose weight" (or whatever). I'd like to say it works, but actually what was even more important for me was to change my thoughts about running. If you feel like running is a chore, you will never motivat…

I’ve exercised probably 90% of days for the last ten years. Days when I don’t are just rest days or travel days. To be honest, I think it’s best just to make it a habit like brushing your teeth. Working out is just what you do, and it’s a weird day if you don’t. Being highly motivated is kind of fleeting and just boring routine is more important.

Yep 100% agreed.

I worked out in the morning because "It's Monday, and Monday is a weekday, so that's why" is far more sustainable in the long term. Sometimes less thinking is better.

This said, for many people with jobs/kids/other commitments, regular workout is more of an exercise in scheduling than willpower. For that, the only advice I could offer is to use the mornings, and be done before anyone else in the house realises.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#155

Post by out_of_protocol »

ChildOfChaos wrote: post #41

I just got a VR headset so that it makes working out fun. Now I work out 7 days a week for an hour. I use weights and resistance bands to make it a bit more demanding and I can do it at home and enjoy it. No need for hacks.

what kind of VR stuff you use during workout?

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#156

Post by Doxin »

Tarsul wrote: post #33
endisneigh wrote: post #23

I'm happy for the author, but I've always found these sort of tricks to be a chore. I bought a cargo ebike and use it for 99% of my traveling, including a 20 mile commute to work (~40 minutes each way). Now you can exercise for free, no tricking necessary. Sadly you aren't going to become super muscular riding around a bike, but I assure you, you'll be in excellent shape even with an ebike. Maybe it's because I'm laz…

but is it really exercise with an ebike? I'd like to see others chip in on that (or studies ;).

Oh for sure. What people don't realize is how high the "whee!" factor is on an ebike. You're gonna be wanting to go fast automatically and near the bikes top speed the assistance gently tapers off. You'll balance at a speed where the amount of work you're doing is reasonable. You'll cycle much farther than otherwise because if your legs give in you can always cruise home at a slightly lower speed.

It's probably the best invention in transport since the car. Remember all the hype for the segway how it'd be the new mode of transport? all that applies to electric bicycles.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#157

Post by mbrodersen »

If you hate exercising but want to build and/or maintain your muscles for long term health then I highly recommend the book “Body by Science”. I have been working out for 15 (yes fifteen) minutes one day a week (yes once a week) for a few months now and have more than doubled my strength. I am now leg pressing 260kg. It might not be much by body builder standards but it is way more than I could do starting out! And the complete trip to the gym takes 30 minutes from I leave the house until I am back. Worth it.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#158

Post by FabHK »

_tom_ wrote: post #32
Tarsul wrote: post #29

I read a HN comment a while ago wrt running that said that motivation might come from saying "I want to see this beautiful place again" (where the running leads to.) instead of saying "I need to run because I want to lose weight" (or whatever). I'd like to say it works, but actually what was even more important for me was to change my thoughts about running. If you feel like running is a chore, you will never motivat…

I have switched from thinking "what should I do" to "what nice thing can I do for future me". It's not an instant fix, but it's a definite uptick in execution. For me. Your mileage may vary.

It's a great change of perspective, beautifully put. Very motivating.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#159

Post by prirun »

astura wrote: post #87
prirun wrote: post #74

I started working out 6 months ago for the first time, with a personal trainer. I had tried a few times to do it on my own or with a friend, but with a friend it's too hard to coordinate schedules, and without a pro, it's too easy to get hurt (tore my shoulder up the first day and it took a year to sort of heal). Hiring a good trainer has lots of advantages: - you don't have to think about what you need to do - they…

I used a personal trainer for 3 years and I can't say I'd really recommend it. Definitely had it's advantages, but too many disadvantages to be worth the cost. High turnover - I had about six different trainers during that time. They all picked some random exercises for me to do whereas I'd rather have a well thought out schedule. They are all flakey, lots of appointments cancelled last minute for "family emergencies…

I'm using a trainer at a private gym. He owns the gym. Way different I think from going to a large commercial gym where they hire kids off the street, give them a few classes, and call them personal trainers.

Re: I tricked myself into working out 3 times per week

#160

Post by JoeAltmaier »

barry-cotter wrote: post #137
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #132

Contrast this with the Israeli daycare that charged $3 for being late to pick up your child, to teach parents they needed to be on time. Late pickups grew geometrically. Because it wasn't an ethical issue any more; it was a service with a fee.

Isn’t that story from Daniel Ariely? If you can’t verify that it happened independently probably best to assume he made it up. For more on this topic. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/dan-ariel...

https://econlife.com/2018/09/unintended-consequences-from-fi...
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