How do you guys manage to stay in shape while working on your startups?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3219308

by augustin1989 • 15 years ago

12 15 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am constantly on my computer and when I'm on the eliptical I can't seem to do my work fully. So I have to spend an hour working out then go back to my work. So I was wondering if there was a better way to work and work out at the same time?

declancostello• 15 years ago

For me the whole point of working out is to take a complete break from the computer.

I do some martial arts twice a week ( jiujitsu )

Other than standing and stretching at regular intervals, I don't think it's productive to try and do both at the same time.

fezzl• 15 years ago

Eat less, seriously. Most of us are over-nourished by default. Then try to bake your exercise into your daily life instead of the traditional method of blocking off a few hours to do solely that. Walk to work, walk back. Climb more stairs. Do house work.

simon3• 15 years ago

I agree. I just wanted to question your use of the term over-nourished. My understanding is that we are generally over-fed (myself included ... but now actively working on it) but woefully under-nourished.

Jon Gabriel (sp?) teaches that most people are low on Omega-3's and that the first step on any diet is to add Omega-3 before changing or subtracting anything. I did this and while I'm only a single data point, I found that I was less fanatical about food afterwards.

jlyke• 15 years ago

Great advice. Other examples include extra standing (desk?), biking to work, and taking the stairs.

md1515• 15 years ago

I do recommend changing your diet a bit. As fezzl pointed out, most Americans/westerners are hardwired to eat more calories than needed. I eat Indian vegetarian food and, ironically, I calculated my caloric intake to be 1500-1700 yesterday. I had to eat a few things once I realized it was far too low.

I usually force myself to block off an hour or two every day for exercise because I was raised with it and if I do not, then I feel strange, then grumpy, then downright erratic. My suggestion: Try to find something that is fun, not boring. I play soccer at an intense level, which is much more fun than running around a track or treadmill.

Also, (and this is arguably one of the most important things) remember how little it takes to workout really well. Your body burns calories much better when it lacks oxygen. Instead of running on the elliptical for an hour, go out to a park after work for 15 minutes and do nothing but sprints. You'll get a workout that is over 10 x better and it takes less time.

simon3• 15 years ago

Upgrade your diet and then address the fitness.

I followed the Slow Carb diet (from 4 Hour Body book) and then switched to the Warrior Diet. A total loss of 51 pounds as of this morning. (38 from SC & 13 from WD so far)

Look at kettlebells for intense exercises with low time requirements. If you have more time, try any full-contact martial art, especially the wrestling ones: Judo (my choice) or BJJ (if you don't like standing up! :-).

But do something positive sooner rather than later.

mzbridget• 15 years ago

Everyone has great points here. I took up intermittent fasting where I eat within an 8 hour window. Normally, I only eat one huge meal per day. It saves me time too. I also use a kettlebell and keep it by my workspace (It basically taunts me to workout). In 15 minutes I can get a full body workout and I have left my work for that time and cleared my head which makes me way more productive for the rest of the day.

Mankhool• 15 years ago

In an hour, especially if you can get in an hour 5 days/wk of weights/stretching/cardio, combined with a good diet should keep you in shape and the weight off.

simon3• 15 years ago

Agreed. But an hour is a lot to ask most people before they start to realize some benefits. That's why I recommend the diet first and then short workouts. If those work for them, the desire to exercise will cause them to step it up themselves and do more activity because they have learned to enjoy it.

RoyceFullerton• 15 years ago

I am a skinny guy so my problem is not keeping weight off but rather putting weight on. When I am deep into my work I put off eating and end up skipping meals.

My co-founders and I have started going to the gym for an hour or so every night which is a great break from work. Before it got cold and I started going to the gym I would sneak out for a 30min run every other day, a lot of great ideas come to me while running.

olegious• 15 years ago

A healthy diet is 80% of your health- I agree with the Slow Carb diet and Warrior Diet recommendations. Personally I stick to a modified Paleo routine (I do dairy- yogurt, cheese, goat milk).

As for workouts- you really don't need much- don't waste hours on an elliptical, it is far more beneficial to do an intense 20 minute sprint session (10 x 100m sprints with 1 min of rest in between each round) or a 10 minute circuit involving pushups, pullups, squats, etc. 3 quick, intense 30 min workouts, combined with a decent diet will keep you going.

Chico• 15 years ago

Man, you definitely can take 1 hour off in a day 3-4 times a week. Just take this time and go to the gym or do some interval training outside (sprint/job/sprint/jog etc. cross-fit style).

You can sleep a little less if you really need the time, but I'm sure you can take the time to workout... I do take it.

onan_barbarian• 15 years ago

Why would the recommendation for someone who is busy with a startup be anything different than the recommendation for any other busy professional?

If you absolutely have to feel productive, go spend an hour on a treadmill, bike or elliptical listening to tech podcasts or something. Typically you won't be able to do intense, short-burst training while doing this. That's ok, a bit of long slow distance won't kill you.

fhoxh• 15 years ago

You'll never--as you've discovered--be able to do either activity particularly well if you're doing them concurrently. That is a dead-end; Just bury it. Focus fully on one thing and one thing alone.

Next, get rid of your elliptical. It's a wildly inefficient use of your time and effort.

Finally, get a Kettlebell.

According to a recent study from a well respected fitness research organization, in collaboration with an equally well respected research University, Kettlebell workouts can burn up to 20 calories per minute. This is primarily due to Kettlebell workouts being comprised of total-body movements that bring cardio and strength training together, in one quick workout.

The only other activity known to man that is that efficient is cross-country skiing, uphill, at a fast clip. Considering that your work-space likely lacks snow and hills, a Kettlebell may be more readily appropriate. ;-)

For more info, see: http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/kettlebells012010.p...

proxwell• 15 years ago

If you're trying to work on the elliptical machine, I think you're missing some of the benefits of working out. It's a chance to unplug and let your mind drift creatively. I find that a lot of problems solve themselves while I'm running or weightlifting.

If you're really die-hard about working durning your workouts, try business audiobooks, or let Siri read you your emails.

How do you guys manage to stay in shape while working on your startups?

Related Stories