Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=570129

by rockstar9 • 17 years ago

47 89 17 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

How much time do you spent making sure you are healthy?

What type of exercises do you do?

mahmud• 17 years ago

i dribble a soccer ball in the backyard every time i go out for a smoke, plus the occasional skateboard (yeah, i picked up skating when i was 27!)

bkudria• 17 years ago

Uh, zero, none, and, uh, N/A.

But I should do more!

ryanwaggoner• 17 years ago

You should consider doubling or tripling it.

wenbert• 17 years ago

0 * 3 or 0 * 4 is still 0 :D sorry couldn't resist

lowe• 17 years ago

with exercise i've found benefit as a function of time to be crazy non-linear. there's a much bigger difference between 0 minutes and 20 minutes spent exercising than between 20 and 40 or 40 and 60. so when i'm busy, i do what i can, keep it short, but never cut it out. i try to do something every other day at least. it clears my head and resets my stress.

i like to run. simple. no gym membership. no complicated/expensive gear -- only necessary investment is a pair of running shoes (runs around $90). best of all, you can exhaust yourself quickly: if you don't have much time to spare, just run faster* for less time.

* i wouldn't recommend taking this to an extreme. i knew a guy in college who'd max out the treadmill for a few minutes, sweat like crazy and call it a day. odds are that's terrible for you. (he also had an anger management problem...related?)

kajecounterhack2• 17 years ago

Hmm I'd recommend against treadmills if you can find a good park. Less boring, easier to stay focused, breath of fresh air, better for the knees.

zcrar702• 17 years ago

The park is definitely the better workout, because the uneven surface also makes you work out all the small muscles you need to keep your balance. People who run 5 miles on a treadmill often get tired after 2 in the park. Best to run on the grass if you can though.

erlanger• 17 years ago

I'd like to add that I believe basic calisthenics to be superior to weight training for most people. Whereas weights are designed to exercise specific muscle [groups], I think that activities like sit-ups and push-ups work muscles in such a way as to deliver more real-life benefit. They certainly expose you to less risk than weight-training and can deliver a full workout without much planning, a requirement when using weights.

In my opinion, most people lifting weights do so for superficial reasons, (not that there's anything wrong with that). I feel more practical strength when using a conservative calisthenic workout than I do when I used to lift weights, although my physique was more impressive when lifting. Note that I had proper guidance when lifting weights.

scott_s2• 17 years ago

If you do a bodybuilder-style lifting workout, it will target specific muscle groups. But if you're doing squats, cleans, deadlifts and their variations, you're using many muscles, sometimes your whole body. The transfer is going to be the same.

You are exposed to more risk (I'm recovering from a minor strain in my lower back from deadlifts - I'll be more conservative next time), but I think in the long run, the rewards outweigh the risks.

zcrar702• 17 years ago

I agree with this. If you're looking for exercises using body weight only, I'd recommend checking out Ross Enamait or Matt Furey, both of whom publish reasonably priced books with good workout suggestions.

nethergoat• 17 years ago

For those already in decent shape, here's a way to maximizing the use of those 20 minutes: high-intensity interval training (HIIT - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_trainin...). The basic premise is to alternate between maximum effort (sprinting) and medium effort (jogging) at set intervals. The key is that the sprints are anaerobic rather than aerobic. This type of workout induces a state of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, thereby raising your resting metabolic rate for about 24 hours.

Hop on a treadmill (or bike, elliptical, whatever), warm up for 5 minutes, then go all-out for 30 seconds. Jog for 60 seconds, then go all-out for another 30 seconds. Repeat the cycle 6-8 times. Cool down for 5 minutes.

Best bang for your 20 minutes. Do it just three times a week; add in lifting, normal cardio, etc. as desired.

fairramone• 17 years ago

I usually exercise 3 times a week -- about 45 minutes of running/jogging each time.

gaoshan• 17 years ago

I walk from the sofa to the microwave and back to retrieve my hotpocket. Some days I go out to the mailbox to collect the pile of mail that has built up from the days I didn't quite make it out (but the sun hurts my eyes and burns my pasty skin so I quickly retreat indoors to bask in the glow of my monitor).

On those days that I manage to taste the fresh air I occasionally get the feeling, way in the back of my head, that I should get out and do something. Someday.

carterschonwald• 17 years ago

on one hand, I love this joke, but on the other hand, while i enjoy nice weather, I'm sufficiently sun burnable that my idea of nice outdoor weather is a bright day with diffuse light due to a thin film of clouds

[edit: i do tan, just very very slowly :p, though that may be a consequence of summers spent doing cs / math research rather than healthy stuff :)]

jjs2• 17 years ago

Go to the local drug store and get some 80 SPF spray-on sunscreen. Also sun-protecting chapstick (the highest SPF I could find for chapstick was 30).

Don't forget to do your ears, the backs of your hands, and the back of your neck.

krschultz• 17 years ago

Sounds like skiing is for you, get to enjoy the great outdoors while usually being protected from the sun.

Brushfire• 17 years ago

p90x. But I dont strictly follow their schedule, I usually do it 3-4 times a week. You can do half of their workouts anywhere, and the other half with a pullup bar and some free weights.

nopassrecover• 17 years ago

Yeah when I do exercise it tends to be a p90x cardio or plyometrics. It's crazy how many calories these burn too.

latortuga2• 17 years ago

I've been doing P90X for about 2 months now (entering phase 3 this week). Before P90X, I did almost zero physical activity - I didn't play sports in high school and in college the best I did was ultimate frisbee maybe once a month. I haven't been following the diet plan which is probably a mistake but I've seen fairly steady weight loss and muscle gain - for the first time in my life I can do pullups (I'm up to 2!) and pushups! It's an intense program and will (absolutely will) wear you out if you're out of shape but my fitness is soaring and being able to keep up with a game of bball or frisbee is extraordinarily gratifying.

vaksel• 17 years ago

I'm currently doing the P90X lean program. After I finish that, I'll double my weights and will switch to P90X classic. I workout every day, since its pretty easy to make the time commitment when you have a daily routine.

You definitely see results fairly quickly + if you stick to the entire weekly regiment you'll focus on muscles that you tended to ignore before. i.e. for the first time ever I'm getting decent muscles on my legs.

As far as visible improvements(besides actual muscles), when I started out I was doing 10 more or less crappy pullups, and now I can do 15 proper ones(you know where you fully extend your arms)

patio11• 17 years ago

I do about 40 minutes of biking a day (commute to train station) and try to get to the gym twice a week for about 30 to 45 minutes. Since biking is enough cardiovascular exercise for anybody I mostly do weights at the gym, and typically (when I have an extra 15 minutes free) some yoga for stretching.

I recommend the chalice lift for a good all-purpose hacker exercise. Go over to that big set o' one-hand weights the folks are always using for bicep curls. Find the largest one you can comfortably lift with both hands. Hold it with both hands supporting the top, braced against your chest. Pick a point on the wall at forehead level -- your eyes never move from that point for the duration of the exercise. (This is a hack to avoid back damage.) From a standing position, pretend you are sitting down on a bench directly behind you. Then, from the sitting position, stand to return to your original position. You can actually use a bench the first few times to get a hang out of it. Sitting to standing is one rep. Do five sets of five reps or 3 sets of 10 reps. I like to vary the weight I use -- first work with one I know I can do easily, then with one I know is a stretch, then back to easy.

Works your legs, torso, and a bit of your upper body like you would not believe, scales trivially until you reach the limits of your upper body strength (but even for out of shape hackers you can get a lot of benefit at the final point for your arms -- I'm at about 30 lbs right now, which is really not that much, and it feels like a real workout and has been empirically effective since a few months ago 15 lbs was similarly tiring), requires minimal time, equipment, and skill. Biggest downside: you'll look like an absolute doofus doing it.

Bonus points: keep a journal. Things that get measured get improved, etc.

mrtron2• 17 years ago

That lift looks far too complicated and awkward for a noob to weightlifting.

If you want to start weight lifting go really simple to avoid any problems early on.

Squat, deadlift, overhead press, bench press. Do everything with barbells to start if possible, if not go with dumbbells.

I do agree 5x5 or so is the way to go - especially starting out as this will allow you to go with heavier weights.

Don't go to failure, keep well below that and stay consistent a few times a week. It is by far the best way to gain overall strength. Lookup 'riptoes workout' as a good guide to that basic plan if you want the generally accepted best way to gain strength from scratch.

latortuga2• 17 years ago

Lunges are also a really good choice starting out - you can modulate the intensity with super easily - change how low you go, add weights, put your arms in the air, do intense rep sets, add kicks, etc. Lunges are a great exercise.

nolanbrown23• 17 years ago

For an hour 3 times a week most weeks. It's tough, especially when it conflicts with coding time but it's worth it.

rsayers• 17 years ago

Daily.

I commute on a bike (5 miles each way). I also run 5k's when they come around, Lift weights twice per week, and go on long (50+ mile) bike rides when I can.

noodle• 17 years ago

if you're looking for motivation, i highly suggest finding some sport that you enjoy doing. go looking for it, i'm sure one exists.

i do a 2-3 hour workout 2-3 days/week centered around a martial art i compete in on the national/international level. the enjoyment factor really helps get you off the couch.

and i do about 1 hour or so of warmup into a weight routine 2 days a week to compliment the other training.

adamdoupe• 17 years ago

> if you're looking for motivation, i highly suggest finding some sport that you enjoy doing. go looking for it, i'm sure one exists.

This is exactly what I've done. Rock climbing at a local gym 3 times a week. I also run 3.5 miles 2 times a week but only for the added fitness.

I really enjoy rock climbing; it's an excellent combination of physical fitness and problem solving.

dejb• 17 years ago

Totally agree. I find organised and/or team sports to be most effective because you are committed to going regularly.

picasso81• 17 years ago

I was spending too much time at the computer, and decided to put together a basketball team together for the UCSF (mission bay) rec league. I also shoot at the park on Folsom & 7th every day from 5-6pm. Feel free to join if you like to ball - it's great exercise.

IsaacSchlueter• 17 years ago

This is great advice.

No matter how many resolutions I've made, I'd never follow through on going to the gym. I eventually realized it's not that I don't like exercising, it's that working out in a gym is incredibly boring.

I started taking taekwondo classes 4 days a week (classes are about 90 minutes), and it's great. The workout is much more strenuous than I was getting with a personal trainer for about 1/8th the cost, and it's building strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. I'd had minor back problems my whole life, and they've completely gone away.

Plus, there aren't many workouts with such a clear and tangible progression from novice to expert. It is very motivating to attain new skills, and yet know that there's a lot more to learn.

Also, I try to get out on my bike on the weekends when the weather is nice.

puzzle-out• 17 years ago

Yep, in the past I would go through a month of exercise addiction at the gym or pool, then do nothing for the next four months. I've been off-road cycling (mountain biking would be a hyperbole for south-east england) for four years now, non-stop; its a great thing to discover an activity you enjoy so much, and the exercise becomes an added bonus.

mattyb• 17 years ago

I run 6 days a week and ice skate 2-3 nights a week. Running allows me to both stay in good shape and do a lot of thinking; I've caught quite a few bugs during those morning runs. I played ice hockey in middle school and have loved skating ever since, so it's more for fun than health.

diN0bot2• 17 years ago

so true! walking or running or biking or swimming make for excellent designing or problem solving time.

doesn't replace solitude with a whiteboard, or other parts of the process, but definitely helps with getting one's thoughts in order and seeing around assumptions. i feel more creative when my blood is flowing.

quallsd• 17 years ago

What is this "exercise" about which you speak?

vlad• 17 years ago

You almost nailed it. It's not how much exercise you do during the week, but that you spend time to do it regularly. Again, it doesn't matter exactly what you do. The point of exercise is that it challenges you a bit. So, if you go to the gym 4 times a week, even half hour before they close, you will be able to get 20-25 minutes of running in.

That consistency of showing up, even for 15 minutes a day 4 times a week, is what builds the habit. Building the habit is the important part. After you get the habit, then you will naturally start doing more challenging things to avoid boredom, because the constant is that you keep going, but what you do is what may change day to day. As well, you will find yourself setting aside more time to go to the gym because you'll feel more confident with your surroundings and the people. You may also become interested in classes, and start promising friends that "you'll see them at 5pm tomorrow." As you get (or stay) in good shape, you will learn about and be invited to various other athletic events or sports, which will reinforce the habit to stay in shape.

mrtron2• 17 years ago

An average of half an hour a day.

Weights a few times a week, running a few times a week. I play hockey during the winter twice a week.

I am hoping to get back into good shape soon...it gets harder as you get older.

diN0bot2• 17 years ago

i go outside everyday to at least play keep away from my dog with my husband. sometimes we play tennis, or variations on tennis, rather.

sometimes i run to a pool and then swim. on weekends i tend to do longer runs, or else long bike rides to ponds for swimming. this is now that it's warm. during winter i swim indoors after work most days.

i'm trying to start up weekly roller hockey (thurs, 6pm, ahern, cambridge). all you need are skates/blades and whatever protective gear you want. i can bring sticks if you let me know.

i also enjoy roller tennis and roller frisbee. hmm, i guess that's it. i tried indoor soccer this winter, which was prett good. i used to fence. sometimes i spar outside, but i miss the precision of electronics.

i love moving outside. i think people interact with such freedom and joy when outside, especially in nice weather (though all sorts of weather can be interesting). just shooting hoops with someone can make for a more easy going conversation.

recently i've learn yoga, which again is especially awesome when done outside, say after running to a nice field or creek.

i pretty much work constantly at my computer, though i try to read at night before sleep (rather than working until my eyeballs literally need massaging). i try to tear myself away from work with things like piano and sewing, but exercise is the most consistent and best feeling.

oh yeah! pickup ultimate frisbee at least once a wee!! winter pond skating and ice hockey this year was also sweet!!

jemerick• 17 years ago

I play ice hockey 2 to 3 times a week depending on the league's schedule. I would like to do more exercising like weight lifting and maybe some biking...

krav• 17 years ago

This guy's blog is great. He talks about exercise and eating in an intelligent manner, and is living proof of the results

http://theorytopractice.wordpress.com/

hschenker• 17 years ago

30 to 40 minutes a day, 7 days a week.

4 days a week: cardio. 3 days a week: weights.

For cardio, it's most often the stationary bike in my condo gym. I pedal as fast as I can get to 1,000 calories (about 32 minutes). I sometimes go for a 10k run instead, if it's nice outside (about 45 minutes). In the summer, soccer with my work team replaces cardio once a week.

For weights, I run through a circuit of exercises in about 35 minutes. On a universal gym: seated bench press, quadricep extensions, hamstring curls, tricep extensions, lat bar pulldowns. With free weights: back flys, shoulder lifts. On a mat: various situps. To finish off: 2 minutes of very high-intensity cardio on a stairclimber.

Weekdays, I do my workouts right after work, before dinner. I don't think I've missed a workout for about four years, except when traveling. (When traveling, I do a 25-minute body-weight "core circuit" of situps and pushups in the morning immediately after getting up.) Weekends, I get the workout (usually the cardio) out of the way as soon as practical...usually after getting laundry or some other task started.

If doing this every day without fail seems rigid and bordering on obsessive, it's because I've learned for my own personality type, it's vital to make it part of my daily routine. The less I have to think about it, the more likely is that I'll stick with it and make no excuses. There's now never any question as to whether I will or won't exercise on any given day - it's as routine as eating dinner.

kajecounterhack2• 17 years ago

I run. 5-12 miles a day depending on speed (5 being the shortest, fastest, and 12 being long and moderate with a pickup at the end) -- quit track to do programming and startup stuff seeing as I'm in high school, but I keep discipline cause it helps me stay focused academically too.

jjs2• 17 years ago

I've recently taken to exercising several hours a day; mostly weights and taking decently long walks.

What I've noticed is that this actually gives me somewhat more time to code, as I spend much less of the day feeling tired and don't need quite as much sleep.

staunch• 17 years ago

First 30 minutes is machines/free weights then 45 minutes on the treadmill jogging.

Mon/Tue and Thu/Fri 6:30AM -> 7:45AM before I go into the office. I have to do it before I go to work, so that I never miss any days due to working late. I don't allow myself to ever miss even one day, to keep the habit in tact.

I forgot how much more alive I feel when I exercise until I started again after a long break.

yan• 17 years ago

Mostly every day. I go climbing two to three times a week, two to three hours each time. I try to run every other day, 3-4 miles, and I try to make it out to the gym twice or so a week. Nothing's that consistent except the climbing, so I hope to make it into a proper regimen. Last half year or so I've been going to the gym/running about twice a week but nothing on a schedule.

However, I have set definite goals for climbing and have a 5K and a 10K in May, so that's something specific to train for.

arnorhs2• 17 years ago

heeeeyy.. I'm a climber as well :-)

quellhorst• 17 years ago

I used to do from 1-3 hours of trail riding on my mountain bike every day. Lost 70lbs of fat doing so.

The benefits to my physical and mental health were huge.

graemeklass• 17 years ago

3 to 4 times a week. Running, weights and occasional team sport (footy, basketball). I try to mix it up a bit to keep me challenged and motivated.

rudyfink• 17 years ago

Seven hours a week, assuming golf doesn't count as exercise.

My commitment to myself is to spend at least a half hour a day on average doing something. This is an antidote to being a professional sitter. The doing something was a response to having trouble with sticking with other plans.

For the last several months I have been doing. Four hours - weights and biking/running/swimming. Three hours - stretching and body weight exercises.

Before that it was almost entirely rock climbing at a gym.

arnorhs2• 17 years ago

I go indoors-climbing about 1-5 times a week. Gymnastics 1-2 times a week (even though I haven't been showing up for some while now) In the summertime I also go jogging maybe once every one or two weeks

branden• 17 years ago

I'm not someone who can exercise for its own sake. I'm no good at creating a structured routine for myself, and I'm terrible at following schedules. I get around this by living a bikeable distance from work and the grocery store. I've been able to cram in around 30 miles of bike riding per week simply by forsaking the car in my daily activities. If you can't keep yourself sticking to an exercise schedule, try piggybacking it on to your existing routine.

natrius2• 17 years ago

I can't recommend this enough. I'd lost weight before, but could never keep it off. Biking helped me sustainably lose 30 pounds. I also get to be even more smug than Prius owners.

The downside is that my car doesn't start anymore because I never use it.

WalkingDead• 17 years ago

Watchout biking. It may cause impotence. Not joking.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1023994375.html

That was the first link from google. There are others more informative. Make a few searches if interested.

Derferman• 17 years ago

I play ultimate here at school, which entails three practices a week. I find that if I don't exercise on a weekly basis, I become easily irritable.

baguasquirrel• 17 years ago

When I was in school, I learned the real value of exercise. When I had time to do them and still get 6 hours of sleep, I stayed healthy. When I didn't, I'd start to feel sluggish after a week and I was prone to sickness.

Doing a startup can be particularly difficult because there's nothing to force you to go out. But the toll it will take on your mental agility will compound.

You don't need an enormous amount of exercise. I'd advocate going out and taking a walk whenever you're stuck on something. It usually clears my head and I'll have an answer for what I was working on when I get back.

lleger• 17 years ago

I play ultimate frisbee for my university. We play for three hours three days a week. That's enough exercise for me.

When it's the summertime, and, thus, when I have more time, I work out with the powerlifting team.

donaq• 17 years ago

I exercise thrice a week, on average. Twice are chin-ups, sit-ups and push-ups followed by a run. The other is basketball.

christofd• 17 years ago

I cycle around 30 min everyday to get around town and on nice days or weekends I'll go for longer trips on my mountainbike. Used to do long distance running and martial arts 3 times a week. Don't care to pick up running again, which can be perfectly substituted with cycling, but I'll get back into martial arts.

I'd really like to spend some time hiking again in the Rockies or back in Germany in the Austrian Alps :)

As mentioned on here - you have to get in the habit of exercising like 2-3 times a week. Usually you'll get that in any team sport through high school, such as basketball, soccer, football, hockey etc. After high school you just got ta keep up that rhythm. However, it will more difficult to get into the habit if you haven't started it earlier in high school already.

AND: NO JUNKFOOD/ NO POP/ NO FRIES... VEGETABLES/ FRUIT/ WATER etc. instead; DON'T EVER EAT AT MCDONALD'S (THAT WILL F*CK YOU UP INSTANTLY)

sown• 17 years ago

This. THIS X 10!!

I find that my ability to exercise is very heavily impacted by even the most small amount of junk food. Anything with flour or sugar is pretty much out. Even diet soda gives me a headache now. :(

jamiequint• 17 years ago

I do CrossFit (crossfit.com) 2-4 days a week, its really hard, has good results, and is time efficient. I also swim occasionally.

quisxt• 17 years ago

I run about 3 miles every morning and then a longer run on Saturday or Sunday. I've found that I really need to exercise every day, or during the day I can't get into that deep zone of concentration where I'm the most productive. Running more than 3 miles, and too tired and sore, and end up napping during the day.

It's also fun and feels good :)

wallflower• 17 years ago

I run with a group two to three times a week. If I were not running with a group, I don't think I would run at all. The social aspects and accountability of exercising with other peers cannot be underestimated.

nightowl• 17 years ago

If you cannot do any excersize (ie - can't leave the office) I found the Tibetan Rites to be a very good alternative to jogging/cycling. At least you are doing something.

Since I started doing to tibetan rites I manage to work longer without needing a break, and manage to keep to deadlines more (but yea, still miss them). Apparently helps getting the entire energy system flowing which in turn leaves you energised and refreshed.

More info here:

http://www.lifeevents.org/5-tibetans-energy-rejuvenation-exe...

siculars• 17 years ago

for minimal time commitment i would definitely recommend running. i recently started running to train for the nyc triathlon. running is easy to pick up and offers serious physical challenges. time wise, you can adjust the challenge to your fitness level by increasing the speed without increasing the time. as noted elsewhere, you dont even need a gym membership, all you need are a pair of sneaks you feel comfortable running in.

as for things you can do at home i would recommend the basics, ie. pull ups, push ups and the plank instead of sit ups. mix in various twisting efforts into the standard pull ups / push ups/ plank and you will start to notice the difference in just a few weeks. add a medicine ball to your routine to mix things up and confuse your muscles. these kind of exercises can be done without leaving your house and for a few minutes at a time.

if you feel comfortable exercising outside the house i would seriously consider exercising with other people. friends, strangers, people who are at your level or a bit beyond to help motivate you and get you past your current plateau. get social. you will find that fitness is an infinite challenge with no level cap. whereas your mage in wow can only get to level 80 (currently) you can keep going indefinitely. but beware! you can also regress.

doing the aforementioned will bring you a long way to getting in shape in just a few weeks. after that you will start to plateau if you do not ratchet up the intensity/time/difficulty or mix up your routine.

something i would definitely not recommend and specifically argue against would be any sort or weight training. weight training, imho, should only be done by those who already consider themselves in shape at a certain threshold. weight training works to isolate specific muscle areas and does not on its own encourage an overall health level.

personally, i had been a swimmer in my high school years and then did some club water polo. i always biked but never ran. so last year i decided to get into the triathlon scene at the sprint level and did my first last october. the tri concept is appealing to me because of the multidisciplinary nature and multiple entry points for the novice. i would wholeheartedly recommend sprint distance triathlons to those in moderate shape looking for a physical challenge.

lastly, but perhaps most importantly: stop drinking soda excessively. some might even say completely. just this one act will go a long way to slimming you down and greatly adding to your overall health. follow this up by cutting out sweets/chocolate/popcorn/insert favorite junk food here. it can not be overstated how much a healthier diet will help you reach a greater level of fitness than exercise can alone.

silencio• 17 years ago

I've been trying so hard to get in the habit of exercising for any amount of time on a regular basis, but every time something's managed to break it, something usually involving massive amounts of pain in my legs or chest that make me not do anything for like 3-4 days when it becomes impossible to get motivated to pick up the routine anymore. (My doctor is pretty convinced I'm just accident prone.)

So far the list's included p90 (gave up first day), two different gyms (smelly and old vs. new and clean?), wii fit (this gets boring fast), pilates, walking around, snowboarding (live in LA, don't get much of a chance to go see snow...), swimming, or (really) sex. The last of which is the only thing that happens regularly but isn't enough exercise. Oh well.

I'd love to do something I could actually stick with, but I don't have a huge motivation to do so when clothes still fit (even my teeny weeny not yellow or polka dotted bikini) and I can go up a couple flights of stairs without a problem. I'm pretty surprised to see so many people here are exercising regularly (or maybe they're the only ones answering...:P), maybe I can pick up a few good tips from here :D

alrex021• 17 years ago

5 days a week Monday to Friday with each weekend off to rest. I eat healthier foods by making sure I have home-made food with me, in my office, every day during the week.

jacoblyles• 17 years ago

I'm an outlier. I could never stick to running or lifting weights. Too lonely, too boring. On the other hand, a team sport that met once a week was too easy to skip.

So I fight. I admire fighters, and I figure it is right for a young man to try to earn himself some glory.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I lost 20 pounds. I did things I never thought I could do. I've cried after practice.

On the downside, my schedule is packed between grad school and Muay Thai/ Jiu Jitsu practice. Also, I'm not sure that getting punched in the face is the best way to stay healthy.

But you know what they say: it's better to burn out than to fade away.

Plus, there's no better cure for the ennui, the malaise of the modern world, the lack of purpose, the depression of your savanna mind sitting behind a desk all day than to experience your body as it was meant to be, in all its glory, in the world's most honest and objective form of competition.

intranation• 17 years ago

I cycle to work every day, which is about 4.5 miles each way. This adds up to about 40-45 minutes of exercise per day, which is awesome as it's both quicker than public transport and also keeps me fit.

radu_floricica• 17 years ago

What took me off my armchair some years ago, when I had really become a couch potato, was weightlifting. By chance a gym opened 2 minutes from my flat, so I paid them a visit. First the guy there showed me how everything works: he did a few repetitions, then I did a few repetitions (of course, at the lowest setting) on every machine there. After 10 minutes I thanked him, sat on a couch, begged for a bottle of water and spent the next 20 minutes trying hard not to be sick.

In a few months I was in reasonable shape, but you could see a big difference in posture (and in not getting sick) from the second visit. Kept doing it for about 6 months, then on and off another 2 years. Then I started doing other stuff, mostly for fun. Last thing was indoor climbing - most fun I ever had doing sports. Also very good at unexpected things: I never expected my balance to improve so much.

My point is: weightlifting is the best thing to start with, for two reasons. Time wise it's by far the most efficient, both as time spent per week (twice is enough), and as time until getting into shape. Second, it's very useful for whatever you want to do in the future. Whatever the sport chances are basic strength and a bit of endurance are required.

dfranke• 17 years ago

I'm a fencer. I fence three times per week for about two hours.

philh• 17 years ago

Mostly I just walk places. I willingly walk over an hour into town to avoid catching a bus. If I'm late, I'll run part of the way.

I'm currently living on campus and have far less walking to do, but I play airsoft every few weeks. I also go to clubs and spend hours at a time dancing.

I have no idea if this really constitutes effective exercise, but I've never had health problems.

known2• 17 years ago

One hour brisk walk between 5AM to 6AM.

jamesbritt2• 17 years ago

Right before sleep?

known2• 17 years ago

Wish I could.

mroman• 17 years ago

I am doing around 2 hours per week total, and it has positively changed my life in many ways.

I bought a crosstrainer a few months back, and it is the very best $200 USD I have ever spent, I highly recommend it to everyone.

I do 20 minutes or so on it, at a decent pace, and as many pushups as I can handle, every other day . . . my body must react real well to exercise, because I now get looks from the ladies!

A well shaped geek I am, if you can all believe it :)

Seriously however, exercising has improved my life in a myriad of ways.

jasonlbaptiste• 17 years ago

4 times a week for certain, sometimes 5.

Run a 5k, then abs and 24 sets of lifting.

Can't stand treadmills, so usually run outdoors.

I usually get insanely focused and clear my head while working out, so it's equally as beneficial from a mental health standpoint as a physical health standpoint.

zackola• 17 years ago

Try to run 3-6 miles at least 3 times a week + http://hundredpushups.com/ Also try to stretch, but that doesn't always go so well. Yoga makes me crack up laughing.

mannicken• 17 years ago

5-7, usually closer to 7, I take a day off only if I'm extremely sore, and two days if I'm sick. Last summer I did about 10-14 sessions a week (morning and evening) but that was just wrong and I was constantly depressed and overtrained. Now I'm just running every day for fun :)

Oh yeah, I'm a runner.

artlogic• 17 years ago

Last year after trying a bunch of different things fitness options, I got into cycling. I now commute by bike whenever I can and participate in long (50+ mile) weekend rides. In the summer I am riding on average 10 miles a day, but that drops to maybe 10 miles a week for the winter months.

One great thing about cycling is that the community is very hacker-esque. Once you learn the talk, you'll feel right at home.

Another wonderful thing about cycling is that a stressful 15 minute car ride can turn into a peaceful 30 minute bike ride, giving your mind a rest. I find that after a quick ride I am more likely to come up with good ideas and be productive/creative.

jgalvez• 17 years ago

Earlier this year, I started taking a 7km walk everyday. 210km a month. I never stopped. My health and overall physical aptitude has been awesome.

luccastera• 17 years ago

I play 2 outdoor soccer games a week + 1 indoor game. That's about all I do these days. In the offseason, I try to go to the Gym once or twice a week.

wushupork• 17 years ago

martial arts training twice a week and calisthenics in between for core training.

the martial arts training is about an hr of warmup and basics and half and hr of running forms (standardized routines).

between the martial arts, I try to do core workouts at home which include exercises with the chinup bar, gymnastics style static exercies, like handstands, planches

i think consistency is key. even if you dont have time, try to do something, anything. i find that i feel really crappy if i miss my workout or training. it definitely keeps me energized.

arantius• 17 years ago

Never. But, living in NYC, I walk around a mile in 15 minutes, each way to and from work, every day. I also walk or bike any time I need to run errands.

HeyLaughingBoy• 17 years ago

I try to get on my treadmill for at least 30 minutes three times/week. If I have the time I do more and I also do weights, but that's my desired minimum and I can usually make it. Now that it's finally warming up (can't believe it snowed yesterday!), I'll probably be taking the running outside.

But IMHO, the biggest bang for the buck is simply to move around Don't be one of those people who drives around the parking lot for half an hour looking for a closer spot to avoid walking an extra 20 feet to the door. I get in the parking lot and PARK. If I have to walk 200 yards to get in the store, it won't kill me and the exercise is good for me. The only exceptions are heavy rain, subzero temperatures, or carrying a baby or toddler (which I haven't had to do for years).

Just get off the couch and do something and your health will automatically improve. Humans are built to walk, we just don't do enough of it.

tsbardella• 17 years ago

I bike to work. I ride my bike every weekend. I am thinking of running.. I lift wieghts 4 times a week

jamesbritt2• 17 years ago

I've been trying to make a point of walking every day, though it works out more to every 2nd or 3rd day.

I used to listen to music, but found it too easy/tempting to skip around to find a better piece, and my mind kept focusing on all sorts of "must do" shit that made me want to go back in and work.

So I started listening to audio books. It makes up for the reading I used to do when I lived in NYC and traveled on buses and trains (now it's walk or drive, so less reading :( )

I prefer short stories; more immediate sense of satisfaction and completion, and greater variety. Right now I'm going through Tobias Wolff's Our Story Begins. Great stuff, and I find that I make myself walk longer if I think I can get to the end of the current story.

Ask HN: How much do you exercise a day/week?

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