Resolutions for programmers (2012) • Hacker News Board

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#181

Post by dpark » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:09 PM UTC

mysterypie wrote: post #103

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 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…

> but a series of questions leads to women

You could run through the same questions for cardio and land at the same result. Of all types of exercise, why running? -> So why do you need to be thin? -> Ok, then why do you need to look good? -> Because women like it.

Getting fit is, for most people, an issue of both health and attractiveness. People who chose weights might be leaning more toward the attractiveness issue, or they might believe it's the healthier option, or they might simply enjoy it more.

For me personally, I lift weights (though I've really slacked off again lately) because it makes me feel better in ways that cardio does not. My back feels much better. My posture improves. I'm stronger. These are the main reasons I prefer weights to running now.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#182

Post by alfapla » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:09 PM UTC

artmageddon wrote: post #160

alfapla wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't want to be the negative guy, but sometimes I wonder why people would spend their physical energy on gym equipment while you may just as well learn a construction skill that leaves a tangible result and has some use in the real world - like bricklaying, plastering walls or wiring electricity. Just my 2 cents, if you enjoy your gym all the better for you. But I also think that many people give up because they fin…

> bricklaying, plastering walls or wiring electricity. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that a gym is much more accessible than construction projects.

Well, you begin by following some basic training course. I suppose a school building is just as accessible as a gym building.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#183

Post by raverbashing » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:10 PM UTC

k__ wrote: post #129

richmt wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see stronglifts 5x5 recommended a lot on sites like reddit and generally disagree that beginners should start out with it. From what I've read online, the 5x5 structure often leads to quicker stalling in progression for some than doing 3x5 like starting strength has you do for squat, overhead, and bench. Also, some people really don't need to start as light as SL will have you starting on. Anecdotally, a friend of…

How about hypertrophy? Can I simply do 5x5 with 10-12 reps per set and switch the focus from strength away?

Not really

Because those exercises are "not made" for hypertrophy. Of course they will cause some hypertrophy due to the natural process of overcompensation

But a lifting regime like that is a bit apart from a hypertrophy program which usually involves more isolated exercises

(btw 5x5 means 5 sets of 5 reps each, so if you try to replace that with 12 reps you're taking the program in another direction)

It depends on what you find more adaptable, really.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#184

Post by dpark » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:11 PM UTC

briHass wrote: post #165

kbutler wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Happily married for 20 years. Definitely not doing it to "get girls". Health, longevity, stress reduction, facilitate physical work and recreation, etc. Did some resistance training a few years ago - felt good, lost fat while doing it. Shifted to cardio for a few years with an employee sponsored cardio-centric wellness program. Experienced a gradual fat gain and knee and back pain, although I was running 20-30 miles…

For deadlifts, you might want to look into a hex bar (aka trap bar.) It moves the position of your hands to directly in line with your shoulders, which greatly reduces the shearing force placed on your spine. As a tall guy, it feels much more natural and 'safe' for me. I've also switched to doing more warmup sets for my deadlift with increasing weight ranges. If any of those lighter weights feel 'off' that day, I abo…

The hex bar also pretty much turns a deadlift into a squat and eliminates a lot of the benefit. My back feels a lot better when I deadlift regularly, specifically because it's doing a lot of the work.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#185

Post by jazzyk » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:13 PM UTC

jonesb6 wrote: post #171

jazzyk wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. Two things though: "Knowledge." - no need to ask strangers. Everything is just a google away. There are plenty of YouTube videos which show proper form (but read the comments, because there are a few which are actually terrible). bodybuilding.com is a treasure of wisdom. "Working out isn't fun". If someone told me 10 years ago that I could not wait to go to the gym and lif…

I'm in the same place, but there are a lot of people who aren't. I think the gym is incredibly intimidating to the uninitiated. Probably best to start with pushups / situps at home, cardio at your local park at a deserted hour. Then once you get that confidence start at a cardio-focused gym like 24 hour fitness. Once you get the hang of gym'ing go to one that is more focused on your style, weight-lifting, cross-fit,…

"the gym is incredibly intimidating to the uninitiated"

Many people say that and I am always puzzled why. Over the past 10 years, no one has ever looked at me funny or laughed at me - and I was in my early 40s when I started. Supportive crowd, eager to help if asked (spotting, etc).

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#186

Post by pavel_lishin » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:24 PM UTC

cballard wrote: post #126

pavel_lishin wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

If you like video games, you might like climbing more than lifting - unlike lifting, the numbers are mostly made up and don't really matter, the only thing that counts is solving problems. More like a strategy game than lifting, which is like, I dunno, Cookie Clicker?

I've gone climbing a few times, and it was fun! But I run into the convenience problem - there's no nearby places to climb. (Plus, given that I have a moderate fear of heights, I prefer bouldering :P)

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#187

Post by pavel_lishin » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:25 PM UTC

jazzyk wrote: post #166

pavel_lishin wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. Two things though: "Knowledge." - no need to ask strangers. Everything is just a google away. There are plenty of YouTube videos which show proper form (but read the comments, because there are a few which are actually terrible). bodybuilding.com is a treasure of wisdom. "Working out isn't fun". If someone told me 10 years ago that I could not wait to go to the gym and lif…

There are youtube videos, but it's difficult to check whether your form is right - even if there are mirrors.

And you might find it fun, but I don't. Every time I jog, I do so on a treadmill so I can zone out and not focus too much on what I'm doing (other than making sure that nothing obviously hurts) - jogging outside means I have to be present for it :P

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#188

Post by dpark » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

alextgordon wrote: post #164

oskarth wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps this is more a function of your social group than anything else. Of the three people I know that got into lifting (including myself, one woman and two men, all in long-terms relationships at the time), none did it to "get girls", but in order to be stronger (as opposed to just looking strong a la hypertrophy/bodybuilding). Why be stronger? Many reasons, but it boils down to health and being strong enough to d…

For men, cardiovascular health is most important aspect, heart disease being the largest cause of death[1]. While lifting weights is better than no exercise at all, it is not that effective. There are certainly many people who enthusiastically lift and are still fat and unhealthy. The same cannot be said for running enthusiasts. Anyway, it's your right to do whatever form of exercise makes you happiest, but if someon…

> There are certainly many people who enthusiastically lift and are still fat and unhealthy. The same cannot be said for running enthusiasts.

That's mostly because running when you're overweight is murder on your joints. There are, on the other hand, plenty of overweight cycling enthusiasts.

I've rarely seen truly overweight people who spend much time lifting weights. Overweight people in general are not exercising much unless making intentional and significant progress toward the not-overweight category.

With that said, some people do lift enthusiastically and are happy to stay an a somewhat higher weight because they prefer to be "bigger", but these are not typically obese people. They're generally on the upper end of normal or slightly into "overweight" BMI, which is misleading/inaccurate for people carrying significant muscle anyway. Carrying some extra fat is also less of a concern for people who are doing significant amounts of exercise (cardio or strength). Sedentary and skinny is probably not healthier than active and chunky.

It's also worth noting that you can lift "enthusiastically" for 30-60 minutes 3 times/week and accomplish a lot. If you're a running enthusiast, you're sinking a lot more time in it than that unless you're actually doing sprints (which is more similar to weight lifting than it is jogging). Running enthusiasts are doing things like training for marathons/half marathons, which is a huge time sink.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#189

Post by greggyb » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

mosburger wrote: post #20

#3 Embrace the Uncomfortable - one thing I did a few years ago that might fall into this category (as an American) is start using the 24h clock. It makes working w/ remotes a lot easier because you become good at doing the +12 math and knowing which hour it represents. :)

All dates are yyyy-mm-dd and all clocks are 24-hour on every device I own. Took a little bit to get comfortable with these, but the former has been very helpful on technical fora with international membership. No one has ever been confused by my dates.

Re: Resolutions for programmers (2012)

#190

Post by pavel_lishin » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

jazzyk wrote: post #185

jonesb6 wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in the same place, but there are a lot of people who aren't. I think the gym is incredibly intimidating to the uninitiated. Probably best to start with pushups / situps at home, cardio at your local park at a deserted hour. Then once you get that confidence start at a cardio-focused gym like 24 hour fitness. Once you get the hang of gym'ing go to one that is more focused on your style, weight-lifting, cross-fit,…

"the gym is incredibly intimidating to the uninitiated" Many people say that and I am always puzzled why. Over the past 10 years, no one has ever looked at me funny or laughed at me - and I was in my early 40s when I started. Supportive crowd, eager to help if asked (spotting, etc).

> Many people say that and I am always puzzled why

Probably some level of social anxiety, and fear of being judged/mocked. The reality that none of that won't happen doesn't make itself obvious until you go once, and you don't go because you're anxious, etc., etc.