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Comment by lotsofpulp | Hacker News Reader

> And my health isn't that important to me.

In the US, if you have kids, especially while in your 30s like many people do nowadays, staying healthy through 60s can provide an immeasurable boost to your kids’ probabilities of achieving/maintaining security. Through 70s and being able to take care of grandkids is an even bigger boost considering daycare prices.

Getting to 65 without needing hospital care is a big benefit too, since 65 is when you qualify for taxpayer funded hospital care. I assume it will be more than 65 when I am older, or it will be means tested.

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No kids here and I'm not in the US :)

I mean I do care some about my health but not so much that I'll spend 6 hours a week on a mind numbing treadmill. And I absolutely hate team sports(the commitment and rules etc). There is just no sport I like.

The recommendation is "150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week", 6 hours of treadmill isn't required and it would probably make it more palatable without thinking like that. I'm not a team sports person at all, but I've found I enjoy the gym and jogging, those both can be solitary activities where you throw music or an audio-book on and just go.

I like racquetball. No team required, very, very few rules. Decent amount of movement, and minimal chances of injury depending on how you play.

Swimming is the ideal cardio, I think. No impact on joints, and almost zero chance of injury.

Racquetball is so great for the winter months if you live somewhere it's regularly below freezing. Really easy to pickup and play, hard to master.

It's really not about liking or not , most things are just habits. It's isn't necessarily a healthy state to like inactivity either. Humans aren't built to live in small square rooms , it's an acquired taste that most people have because they grew up in cities.

I think the treadmill sounds terrible as well, but maybe be open to the possibility that you would enjoy some if fitter and thinner. I’ve been strong and fit and I’ve been pretty overweight. The state affects what you perceive as enjoyable.

Try riding, maybe with an e-bike. Gets you out there in a similar way to hiking. Do it with friends or not. If you get vaguely hooked it gives you a new way to explore areas. Even if not that, please don’t give up on the idea that maybe you’d enjoy a sport if it didn’t suck. It’ll suck a lot less when you’re 10kg lighter. Two weeks of changed patterns and I’d guess you might feel differently.

I’m currently overweight and just took up a new sport to make exercise more fun. I ride and sometimes run, but no upper body. So started BJJ to get some form, suppleness, technique, social fun with friends. I’m not there yet but I can’t wait to feel a bit stronger again.

Have you ever been fit/strong? Friends who haven’t often just hit that initial annoyance or pain and quit. I have been fit so I know that feeling is just temporary and it doesn’t take long to fix.

You don’t need to. Just go for a 20 min walk every day and change your diet to be more healthy. Read “How Not To Die” to learn the food skills you need.

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