Ask HN : hackers,what are doing to keep your self fitt &healthy? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN : hackers,what are doing to keep your self fitt &healthy?

12 pointskodeshpa28 comments

I know, we work extremely hard and keep ourself going, we slog 12-15 hours per day with all night coding. But what you guys are doing to remain fit & healthy.

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Combined P90X and Tim Ferris's body hacking program into an awesome system. I've been putting on about 1/2 lbs of muscle a week, with nearly no fat gain. Due to my height I have a take in a ridiculous about of food, but its well worth it.

The best exercise I'd recommend to anyone starting: the kettle bell. Do 50 reps (you'll need to break them up at the beginning) with 40-50lbs. If you don't see a change with those you never will.

second p90x

StrongLifts 5x5.

http://stronglifts.com/

I'm 8 weeks in to the 12 week programme. It's just 45 minutes three times a week and I'm stronger and healthier than I've ever been.

Nice one camperman. Can't go wrong here. Been on Stronglift's for over a year and it got my squat up from 40Kg to 145Kg. Aiming for 180 -200Kg by the end of this year!! Great program for discipline too which really carries through into your other work and area of life.

Cool stuff - I'm still a beginner of course but it won't be long before I'm deadlifting and squatting my own bodyweight (105 kgs).

I don't know about the discipline so much - it's so addictive I can't wait to get in the gym! But it's definitely helped me cope with a very trying two months personally and professionally.

I'm smoking Lights instead of Reds.

Unless you are trying to train for something hardcore like a marathon or a lifting competition, the pareto principle applies here. Do something. Anything. Whatever you like or can hack yourself to do.

As for me: - stronglift 5x5, slightly moded: lift twice instead of thrice a week.

- a running program that i made up (run ~4 times a week, 200m x 8, 400m x 4, 5k trial, 1mi hill climb + 2mi run)

- bikram yoga once a week or every two weeks

- some crossfit workouts that i can do

I try to workout most days, resting completely only once or twice a week.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's the chess of the martial arts world. Practicing it keeps you fit, but more often than not, in competitions and live sparring practice, it's superior strategy that overcomes physical prowess.

I hated lifting weights and running for my whole life, so it's quite enjoyable to spend four or five hours a week getting a great workout where my mind is constantly being challenged also.

The founder of the art called it "the triumph of intellect over brawn". But you will get fit practicing it...

You always learn something new about jiu jitsu in a good roll.

Just be careful that you are choosing the right place to train and the correct training partners. In my (bad) experience it is hard to find a BJJ partner who has the same goals as you mentioned above. This I attribute not to the sport but the sudden popularity of UFC. Broken ribs and fingers tend to slow down productivity.

Everyone talks about having to do something actively [like working out] but the simple things are overlooked:

1) get a good night's sleep [I actually lost about 20 lbs just by getting more than 1.5 hours a night of sleep]

2) eat a large breakfast [the best pattern is large breakfast, large lunch, light dinner]

3) take breaks whenever there's a respite in the work [just stand up and walk around a little bit before getting back to keyboard]

1) Using a standing desk so I don't die of sitting 2) Run at least 4 miles twice a week 3) lift weights 3x a week (different sets) 4) Yoga at least once a week 5) Meditation when I need it 6) Eating low-carb or carb free 1-2 weeks each month 7) Getting good sleep (no screens an hour before bed, no electronics in bedroom, no reading/tv in bed, cold dark room) 8) Not coding past point of diminished capacity

Seriously I am trying to avoid screen before sleep

Ok, to be a little more helpful... H.I.T. is great for folks who don't have time, but it doesn't achieve the same calorie burn as long term endurance training. This link kinda summarizes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_intensity_training

I ride my bike to the office and back, ~20 miles each way, ~1800 feet of climbing, keeps me relatively fit.

I've read this kind of response several times, and I can't understand how it works.. don't you sweat a lot after 20 miles? Do you have a shower at work? Don't you ever see clients?

I've discarded even walking 3 miles due to breaking a sweat (I wear a suit to work).

Don't get me wrong, cycling is great exercise, I used to do 10 miles each way to English classes and I was healthier than I am now, but I can't see myself cycling to work.

My ride for last 6 years has been up 1000 feet, then down. I don't wear any deodorant or any "products" and I hypothesize that has a lot to do with my body normalizing into a state where I just don't smell even though I do sweat. By the time I get to work I am all dried off due to the downhill, and I towel off in the bathroom before I change into loose fitting civilian (not bike) clothing.

My coworkers that I trust confirm that I just don't smell so its not a problem. I trust some of them to tell me if it is a problem and I will adjust accordingly.

Most of the time I don't see clients (I'm a software guy) and I'm wearing shorts and t-shirts (it is California).

When I did work in a slacks, dress shirt only position (for a very short time), I threw my beater bike in the trunk of my car and went out for rides at 5 (watched the clock).

Personally the less product I use, the less smelly and more natural feeling my skin and hair are. YMMV.

And I found that carrying a very lightweight backpack is my preferred way of carrying other clothes. I don't carry a laptop, just clothes for how cold it is in the morning and clean socks and such for the office. I leave a lot of clothes at work so I don't have to carry too much stuff.

Thanks for the answer :)

Changing clothing and toweling (plus wearing shorts and t-shirts) should do the trick then, but I can't do that right now :) .

Also, California weather helps, I guess that wearing some heavier clothes you'd sweat a lot more, and thus possibly smell.

All winter I've been wearing wool and layers. Id argue that the hot sun makes you sweat more. At least with layers you can peel them off.

Bike to work. Walk to errands.

Also, I don't slog 12-15 hours per day with all night coding.

I trick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricking). It's an incredibly fun sport and also a very, very effective way of staying in shape.

I run 3 times a week at lunch break. Only 15 minute runs. And try to eat healthy foods whenever I can... avoid pizza for a fresh sandwich. Small things make a difference.

I practice a martial art called Wing-Chun 2-3 times a week and I run 2-3 times a week for 30-45 min. That's about it...

Any specific food habits, we need to follow?

I avoid coffee and drink Lipton herbal tea.

rotate between hockey and ultimate frisbee at least 3 times/week. When the wind allows I windsurf and/or kitesurf

Weightlifting six days a week.

Umm, excercising instead of geeking out :)

I go up and down a step - 50 times twice every hour. Unlikely stairs - you get little help from momentum and so burn more calories. Plus I raise my arms up and down at the same time. Looks silly but - it works.

easy to remember, easy to do, quick burst of energy; but don't get sweaty

Also - do wall pushups (25 at a shot) for 300 a day. As well as squat: hold for 1 min, every hour. Can do in bathroom or stairwell for privacy.

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