Ask HN: What are you doing to improve your health? • Hacker News Board

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

#161

Post by JTon » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:17 PM UTC

djb_hackernews wrote: post #158

This thread is already big enough no one will really see this but i'll add it here for my occasional trips down memory lane through my comment history: I'm 32 and have always been pretty active. I do a lot of indoor rock climbing, 3x/week and for long sessions. I've recently been finishing up my visits with leg workouts (lunges, machine leg press). I am probably in the best shape of my adult life. Would like to add m…

For others who need to look up what a Stomach Vacuum [1] is

[1] http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/stoma...

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

#162

Post by pretzel » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:17 PM UTC

Started doing start body weight training this year inspired by these progressions [1].

The problem I found with having to do weights or going for runs is that you need to leave the house and can't just do it right away every single day with a minimum of friction. This reduces motivation and makes it less likely to keep going.

I just get up 30 minutes earlier and go through half of this every day, alternating pushes and pulls. It's really simple for me and don't have any excuse to stop doing it, unless I'm a little delicate from the night before - but I find that even that gets blasted out of the system fairly quickly.

Haven't changed my diet or lost any weight, but I'm sure my muscle to fat ratio is a lot better. Definitely feel stronger and more energised than I was before.

[1] http://www.startbodyweight.com/2014/01/basic-routine-infogra...

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

#163

Post by kendallpark » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:18 PM UTC

I play (American) football, lift weights, and dabble in CrossFit.

I am 25 but I think a lot about my long term health plan as I only have a few more years of football left in my system. I think the most important thing to do as you get older is strength training. I'd actually rank it over cardio for various reasons (loss of bone density and muscle mass being large concerns as you get older).

The post-football plan is to play a few years of rugby, then perhaps enter the competitive weightlifting/powerlifting scene. I really enjoy CrossFit and feel I could make that into a lifetime sport.

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

#164

Post by Eric_WVGG » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:20 PM UTC

sharkweek wrote: post #103

Bike commute to and from work. It is the best "energy creator" at the beginning of the day and the best "unwinder" at the end. I get home and am in such a better mood when I walk in the door (albeit perhaps a bit stinky). I'm pretty sure I solve some of my biggest problems while I let my mind wander on my ride home. It can be intimidating at first so I don't recommend immediately hopping on a bike and riding in traff…

As a fellow bike commuter, it blows my mind that other people pay money (in the form of fuel+payments+insurance) to get in worse shape, while we get healthier for effectively “free”.

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

#165

Post by laxatives » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:21 PM UTC

I did an Ironman last year, but it was probably not the best use of time and money as triathlon races (especially those sponsored by Ironman) are not inexpensive and end up being more like mini-vacations than weekend races. I enjoyed doing it for the sake of trying it and having a sense of accomplish at the end of the day.

If looking healthy is your primary goal, I think strength training + cardio is much more time efficient than cardio (like triathlons) alone. Now I'm focusing on surfing in the mornings when the conditions are good and lifting (mainly bench/squat/deadlift) otherwise. If you aren't familiar with these lifts, scheduling time with a trainer helps prevent you from missing workouts while ensuring you aren't doing yourself harm. Occasionally I'll play volleyball and I'm hoping to get back in climbing as well.

Playing team sports is also a great motivator for doing cardio. Its much easier to run when you're committed to doing it with your friends and letting them down can be worse than letting yourself down.

Also never drive if you can help it. If its less than 2 miles, walk. If its less than 5 miles, ride a bike. You'll save a ton of money in the process as well.

Aside from the above, plenty of rest (9+ hours a night) and eat healthy (sort of).

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

#166

Post by jere » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:22 PM UTC

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 tried Starting Strength a few years ago. I was really pumped about the program, but I had a lot of trouble with it. I read the how-to sections multiple times, watched Rippetoe videos, and even sought out a trainer at one point. No matter what, the exercises always felt awkward and I never felt like I was doing them correctly.

I tried power cleaning a few times I simply didn't get it. It made me feel like a complete doofus.

When I deadlifted, I was able to lift less than a 12 year old girl.

Squat was the worst. I got up to about 235 (not counting the bar). I know this isn't a large amount, but it totally killed me. Just so brutally tough. I had some knee pain that flared up around that point and my elbows hurt all the time. Once after finishing a set, I was drenched in sweat and I felt nauseous for about 10 minutes. Another time, I felt the left side of my face go numb for a split second... I realized then that it wasn't for me.

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

#167

Post by Eric_WVGG » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:22 PM UTC

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…

regarding older people and strength training, I know far more men in their 40’s—50’s who are physically fit than I do men in their 20’s.

I think Crossfit is the new mid-life buying-a-Porsche.

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

#168

Post by elros » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:25 PM UTC

mindcruzer wrote: post #121

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

Who's Rip?

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

#169

Post by samcrawford » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:26 PM UTC

Primarily for people in the UK, the Park Run events (www.parkrun.org.uk) are well worth a go. It's an free, organised 5km run every Saturday morning at 9am. You can track your progress online. The turnout at events across the UK is typically very good (hundreds at each event each week).

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

#170

Post by squillful » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:28 PM UTC

timbrah wrote: post #137

totalrobe wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe not expressly forbidden but I've rarely seen bumper plates in these types of gyms, and some do not allow you to drop weights.

If you're doing power cleans correctly you should not be dropping the weight. The movement isn't over until the weight is safely on the ground. If the weight makes a noise loud enough to draw every gym goers attention, you are lifting too much and should deload. Or you just might be that guy ;)

This is 100% incorrect. In fact, there is a much higher risk of injury lowering a power clean under control, especially if you're going heavier.

That's not to say that you won't benefit from working with a weight where it is possible to control when lowering, but there's a lot to be said for power cleaning a higher amount and dropping upon completion of the rep.