Ask HN: What is stopping you from being fit?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13217488

15 24 10 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

iends• 10 years ago

It probably boils down to sugar addiction. I am often hungry but too tired/lazy to make something healthy and instead eat something that is easy to obtain (processed food that's high in sugar).

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

I eat lots of sugar (and pizza), but I have very low bodyfat. It's about how much you eat (food with sugar often has lots of calories).

Just track how much you eat, then you can be lazy with food preparation (I am too). If you feel hungry and need something filling, eat some protein.

Tracking calories can be annoying at first, but after doing it for a couple of week you'll get intuition and you won't need an app anymore.

akulbe• 10 years ago

Another vote for sugar addiction. If I could kick that, problem solved.

kzisme• 10 years ago

Not knowing enough decent meals to make - fast food and quick snacks (in excess) are more readily available.

new_hackers• 10 years ago

Time, job, wife, kid, desk job

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

Do sporty activities together with your wife and kids.

RUG3Y• 10 years ago

Being busy and also being depressed, not finding the motivation to do what I know is good for me.

_RPM• 10 years ago

I've recently lost 35 pounds in the last 4 months. It was challenging, but I wanted it. I currently have 20 more pounds to lose. Here are some things that worked for me: Calorie counting. Weight loss is truly the most simple thing ever. All you have to do is eat less to lose weight. I also maintain a more active life by getting exercise daily in the form of walking or running. Since I've lost weight my mile time has improved by the minutes.

UnoriginalGuy• 10 years ago

Being overweight.

What you eat MOSTLY dictates your weight. Your fitness level MOSTLY only impacts your medium-long term health. Yes, broad strokes, but more true than untrue.

Being overweight and trying not to be overweight requires a LOT of mental energy and trying to fight the sugar addiction/control diet is genuinely exhausting.

If I got fit, I'd still be fat, and it would sap the little mental energy I have to spare that I use for weight loss/control at the moment. It may also give me a false sense of achievement. Plus if I'm not careful I could fuck up my knees indefinitely.

I look at fitness goals as something I'd do when I am in the "Overweight" BMI region rather than the "Obese" one. But even then I'd likely look at HIIT[0] because I think I'd do it more consistently than several hours at the gym (even if it has less health gains, it is "good enough").

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_traini...

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

I can't stand running and other boring cardio. Try to find a sport that you can enjoy (and that your body can handle). For me it was BJJ, lots of fun and you get plenty of cardio at the same time.

But you are doing the right thing by focusing on losing weight through nutrition.

1mike12• 10 years ago

It's cold as hell and I can't run, bike, or swim anymore. I don't like doing the aforementioned on stationaries because it's so artificial and boring.

Rzor• 10 years ago

What I believe to be symptoms of depression. Oddly, I think exercises would actually improve my overall state of mind, but being unemployed doesn't help get to that point. I don't think I would either, not that fast at least. I would have to do a lot of research.

fiftyacorn• 10 years ago

Kids - well didnt stop me - but make it harder. In the past i would go for a 3-4 hour cycle or 1-2 hour run then get back and crash on the sofa.

I could still do the cycle or run - but it would take time away from my kids, and its not fair for me to be grumpy around them because im tired

I still do an hour a day commuting though, and an hour on the the weekend

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

Do something together with your kids. They will enjoy it too.

(Maybe not cycling or running though... but they will probably enjoy stuff like rock climbing)

stevekemp• 10 years ago

Nothing.

If something is important enough to you then you'll find the time to deal with it.

iampoul• 10 years ago

Cake

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

Nothing, I'm in great shape.

Understand the basics of nutrition, mainly calories in calories out. I (and many people I know) often move 5 or more kgs up or down in preparation for a tournament with weight classes. It's really no big deal if you track your calories.

I'm always surprised how people struggle with losing weight, it's really not that hard to do.

Do some sport that you enjoy regularly that covers your cardio and lift some weights. Eat somewhat healthy, but mostly watch how much you eat.

dagw• 10 years ago

I'm always surprised how people struggle with losing weight

I'm always surprised how people struggle to quit smoking. I smoked a couple of cigarettes, once, and then just stopped. It's really not that hard to do.

dreistdreist6• 10 years ago

I might have to clarify, I wasn't talking about obese people who are addicted to food. I was thinking more about all those people who "just need to lose 5kg" and yet 2 years later they are still the same weight (or heavier).

Addiction is a different problem, but losing weight itself is easy if you track calories (I know lots of people who claim the opposite).

tmaly• 10 years ago

lack of time is the single biggest factor for me. I need to make working out and eating better a priority

rwieruch• 10 years ago

I have one person in my life who makes sure that I stay fit. She is enthusiastic about fitness, health and food [0]. Every month I can expect a new fitness trend to hear about.

[0] http://21moves.com/

cauterized• 10 years ago

Time. Laziness. Finding a mode of exercise that doesn't feel like a chore.

NumberCruncher• 10 years ago

No one mentioned TV. I went from watching terrestrial channels to streaming because I was bored by the TV ads but it did not reduce the hours I spend watching TV. Being between 2 jobs I had 5 weeks ofs so I bought an indoor cycle and putted it in front of the TV. Since than I only watch TV either during cycling or during relaxing after cycling. If I would like to watch TV but I do not want to cycle I pick my jacket and go for a long walk. Since then I feel more fit, sleep better and started doing other sports (climbing) what would not be possible being overweight.

forgotmysn• 10 years ago

Ask HN: What is stopping you from being fit?

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