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Ask HN: How do you stay (somewhat) healthy?

72 points by paulsingh ↗ HN
I've been cycling for a couple of years now on a daily basis but find that most of my hacker friends tend to stick to the redbull+snacks+coffee+ramen diet. What sort of routines do you guys use to stay in shape?

168 comments

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pclark
cycle to work. walk lots. eat lots of leaves. fruits for snacks.
kitcar
Just remember, Cycling is not always better exercise than walking - for short distances, walking is "more work" than cycling.
hughprime
And for long distances, too! On the other hand, cycling builds muscles and works your heart more than walking does, so if your objective is anything other than just burning calories cycling is, I think, usually the better exercise.
pclark
oh, and dont drink fucking red bull
fizx
Funny story: A startup I used to work for occupies the former offices of a snowboard company. We continued to receive monthly promotional cases of Red Bull for as long as I worked there.

I was a jittery mess for the two months I had a 3+/day habit.

tyrmored
This can't have too much emphasis. Red Bull and its ilk will pretty much destroy your nervous system -- even one a day is probably too much.
Zak
Please explain how (with links to sane sources if possible).
jacquesm
'sane' sources as in not some random blog or 'answers' site, they're hard to come by, so I'm guessing that it is not all that clear cut.

I did find this:

http://www.springerlink.com/index/1185172kt700868t.pdf

Which has as a lead "Energy drink consumption has been anecdotally linked to the development of adverse cardiovascular effects in consumers, although clinical trials to support this link are lacking.", but there are some interesting observations in it.

And this one:

http://www.modern-psychiatry.com/taurine.htm

and this one:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet...

Of the not-so-sane sources this one seemed a bit more balanced than most:

http://brianx.com/nightlife/energy-drinks.html

What the hell is 'taurine' ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine

Enjoy the read.

redcap
Not a sane source but a personal anecdote:

I stayed up all night before my sub-thesis due date finishing it off thanks to Red Eye (red bull analogue). I had so much of it that I was literally shaking late into the night.

In general my caffiene intake is zero - my theory is if you drink it every day it has less of an effect than when you really need it. I rely on willpower most of the time if working late.

Zak
A reverse tolerance, as is commonly associated with marijuana? My experience has been different. I used to be addicted to caffeine. I wasn't measuring my intake, but at times it was probably near a gram a day. Since breaking my addiction, I have caffeine on occasion. A single cup of black tea now has a pretty strong effect on me, where previously it was barely noticeable.
peoplerock
Former biofeedback therapist here. The effect of caffeine on muscle tension is measurable: it is impossible for nearly everyone to achieve as deep a muscular relaxation (measured by EMG) after just 100mg caffeine.

I haven't looked at evidence in years, but the gastrointestinal and heart rate effects of even higher levels can be remarkable. I remember medical journal articles (Am J Psychiatry, i believe) referring to it as "caffeinism" - since the mental-alertness benefits habituate, but not the autonomic stimulation.

Like with any mind-alteration: exercise caution. Listen to what your own body tells you.

danudey
I suffer from attention deficit disorder, but before I was diagnosed I was self-medicating myself with stimulants – coffee and energy drinks. I started a two-Red-Bull-per-day habit. I found that I was better able to focus in the morning, and could more easily handle the morning's issues, making me far more productive at work.

So, apparently I have Crohn's Disease. I found that out because the Red Bull irritated my digestive system so much that I had my first flare up and ended up in the hospital – twice. That was three years ago, and I'm only just now starting to recover from it. I'm getting my energy back, I can drink and eat more food, etc. Except I have to take immunosuppressant medication to keep the Crohn's controlled, which means I get sick (cold, flu, etc.) extremely easily, and I stay sick a lot longer. Also, I've had a ton of radiation exposure due to all the CAT scans, etc. I've gone through.

So, next time someone tells you Red Bull (or whatever) is bad for you, don't just shrug it off like I did. Our bodies are fragile machines in a delicate balance. Upset that balance enough and the machine goes haywire, and it's pretty hard to find spare parts.

shawndrost
About Crohn's disease: a friend had it, and her doctor never mentioned the following treatment, which is newish and apparently quite effective:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy

jonny_noog
Thanks for the link. A person close to me has recently started exhibiting symptoms of MS (and no, in probably the one and only case on this site, that doesn't stand for Microsoft). I will be sure to speak to the neurologist about this treatment and associated research.
axod
It's still illegal to sell Red Bull in France isn't it?
unalone
P90X satisfies both my inner nerd and my inner extremist. I started with a roommate last year. I really need to get back into the swing of it this year before I start flabbing again.

http://www.amazon.com/P90x-Extreme-Home-Fitness-Horton/dp/B0...

EDIT: Also, thanks for posting this! You inspired me to finally set up the pull-up bar I bought last week. Having it outside the bathroom will hopefully prod me into starting up again.

protomyth
Vitamin B-Complex tends to help my fingers from feeling numb when typing all day. (Told to me by a doctor many years ago when I came to him with numb finger tips).
modeless
I've never been big on exercising for the sake of exercise, but I do regularly go to a rock climbing gym. It's good exercise, but more importantly it's fun, unlike lifting weights. It requires the use of your brain: a good climb is like a puzzle you solve with your whole body. Great way to meet people, too.

The only concern for hackers would be strain on the wrists. If you have wrist problems climbing probably isn't for you, but personally I feel like climbing has strengthened my wrists and actually been beneficial.

blackguardx
Actually, I am an avid rock climber and have noticed that rock climbing is good for my wrists. I used to suffer from severe tendonitis and climbing has helped strengthen my forearms so that it doesn't affect me as much. My tendonitis has never gone away, but climbing has greatly diminished it.

On top of that, I am pretty sure climbing is the best full body workout you can do. I am in the best shape of my life at 25.

yan
Every time climbing comes up, I am still surprised how many HNers climb. I've been gym climbing for about two years, climbing outdoors (sport and top rope) for a little over one, and I'm just starting to learn how to trad climb. I have a workable rack at this point.

If anyone is near the MD/DC/VA area and needs a climbing partner, chime in.

wwsculley
I know it might seem intimidating, but try some abbreviated Crossfit workouts (http://crossfit.com/) to get in shape quickly and then stay there.
paulsingh
Hmm, this definitely looks interesting -- I'll try this out. I've been doing the P90X workouts when it's too cold/rainy outside for a ride.
mr_luc
Interesting. That's three HNers (including me) that I've heard of who do crossfit.
yan
Crossfit-style work outs are great. I used to participate in a class that did very intense work outs three times a week. Also, look up what tabata runs are, they did wonders for my endurance.
nfnaaron
Sleep well, eat right and exercise. You'll have your best success if you do all three. Named diets alone, which most of us try over and over, won't get you long term success.

I do CrossFit for exercise, which I first heard about right here on HN, thank you very much. Unless you already know exercise technique really well, I would recommend actually joining a crossfit gym rather than just doing the workouts from the web. They'll teach you how to exercise correctly and safely. Do you know how to squat properly? Probably not. :)

I'm over fifty, out of shape and haven't exercised since I graduated high school. I've been going to CrossFit since this July, and I now jog six flights of stairs up and down at work (at 5,000 feet in Denver), and the workouts that wiped me out in the beginning are now merely really difficult. You don't have to be a jock, they scale everything to your ability. I'm really pleased. Check it out. Probably more than one near you.

chriskelley
Crossfit is great. Our new fitness coach for rugby is a certified CF trainer, and it's been great for our fitness level as a team.
TheElder
Refuse to use any type of drugs other other than the occasional aspirin. Of course, unless my life is really depending on it.
sprice
I make an active decision to (most of the time) eat good food, and to not eat bad food. I drink mostly water and try to exercise a few times a week. Easy on the coffee, almost no energy drinks.
gtani
There's lots of 5-minute exercise routines:

- walk up a couple flights of stairs, around the block

- do some yoga poses or pilates core strengtheners on the floor

- anti-RSI things: these powerweb and DynaFlex things I'm always shilling (they work, my wrists are ok after lots of pain)

http://www.fitter1.com/Catalog/Category/35/HandWrist.aspx

diN0bot
oh yeah, i used to make a point of taking the stairs up and down at least once a day. 14 floor, so wasn't easy. i pretended i was training for a mountain hike one day. i mean, i am training, i just don't know when i'm going to climb a really tall mountain.
carl_
honestly?:

- eat crap one day, eat healthy other.

- don't own a car/walk and take the stairs rather than lift.

- avoid public transport (where possible).

- work hard.

- get a good full 4 to 9 hours sleep per night.

- do some light weights every other day (or when bothered).

- drink lots of juices and waters and avoid fizzy drinks.

- alternate drinking beer and shorts without mixers.

brown9-2
Can I ask the rationale behind "eat crap one day, eat healthy other"? Why not just eat healthy (or better than "crap") both days and realize 2x the benefit? This sounds like an excuse to rationalize poor eating habits.

Also 4-9 hours is an incredibly wide range of sleep to prescribe.

brown9-2
Don't eat junk.

Try not to overeat.

Definitely don't drink sugary drinks.

I'm jogging 3 miles a day every other day. Worked up to my first 5K over the summer (following "Couch to 5K" program, google it), hoping to work up to 10k next soon.

brm
Learn to be comfortable eating while walking, spend your lunch time walking around exploring and observing... This happens to be good for the mind as well
inglorian
I actually wouldn't recommend this. Doing something else (watching tv, working, driving, even walking) while eating takes most of the enjoyment out of the food. Also, I can imagine very few foods conducive to eating while walking that are not street- or fast-food.
hughprime
Eating while walking is a bad habit of mine, but by this stage I can eat just about anything while balancing a plate on one hand. Steak is probably my limit.
brm
yeah because a tuna sandwich w/ tomatoes and sprouts, with an apple and a thermos of water would be totally out of the question...
weaksauce
One of the most fun active sports that I have played in a long time is racquetball. Very physical and very fun. Get a standing game going every week with some friends and you will notice your cardio benefits quickly. I also have a blast doing it because there is so much action going on that you don't have any time to think about breaking the build or anything else really.

I will also second the rock climbing gym as a fun exercise too. While it is physically demanding it takes longer to get physically drained so that could be a consideration. (3 hours vs. 1 - 1.5 hours for racquetball).

melito
Jog at the very minimum 9 miles a week.
zurcociremer
Jogging in place, 3-4 hours a week, 15-45 minutes per session

It doesn't have to involve jogging pants and running shoes -- you may do it barefooted and pajamas in the bedroom, before dinner.

brown9-2
But I'd bet jogging outside is a heck of a lot more fun than staring at a wall
alex_c
Depends on the weather, doesn't it?
mcav
I dunno. Some of my most fun runs are when it has snowed outside and you have to leap over snowdrifts.
jamesbritt
About 3 months ago, when the scale said 204 lbs, I decided I need to do something. I'm just over 6'2", but that weight was not muscle.

So: I stopped eating crap out of habit. Ate less at each meal. Started walking/jogging/running ~2.5 miles 2 out of every 3 days.

Much improved. Not that hard (once I get my ass out the door), doesn't take a lot of time, good results. Now at 190.

I also occasionally play Wii games as well, often wearing wrist weights (depend on the game), jogging in place.

alex_c
I'm terrible at sticking with a regular workout commitment, but I try to do whatever seems fun - and, most importantly, try to never turn down a chance to exercise (sports, workout, whatever) with friends, because that's always a lot more fun.

Over the last two years, I've done: rollerblading, soccer, jogging, P90X, tennis, frisbee, golf (driving range), swimming. I'm far from good at any of them, and I do occasionally go for a couple of weeks or even months without doing much, but I figure every bit helps. Fun is the key - as well as doing as much as possible with friends.

P90X is great for someone looking for a hardcore solution - it's hard, but it WORKS, if you actually stick with it (it's not a small time investment). I only did it for about a month, and I could feel the difference - now that winter's coming, I might start it up again.

patrickryan
I run a half-marathon twice a year which motivates me to train and run frequently. Also, I eat clean 6 days a week Mon-Fri,Sun and eat anything on Sat. If I do drink soda, it's diet dr.pepper. I try to limit alcohol consumption to Sat.

Summary: Eat clean 6 days a week, run/cycle/swim at least 2-3 days a week, and take a multivitamin daily.

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setori88
buy this book: http://www.thechinastudy.com
wvl
Or, don't: http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/peta-cspi-and-other-menac...
likpok
To respond to both: It is probably a good idea to watch what you eat. There appear to be two factions who agree on this. They disagree on how you should do this. One (China study) claims you should avoid animal-derived products (I think. Haven't really read it). The other claims the opposite (meat rocks!).

Needless to say, both say that the other technique will lead to suboptimal results, and both say the science is on their side.

flapjack
I count calories and try to stick to a consistent limit, and bike around 8 miles Monday through Friday. It's probably the 8 miles of biking that provides the benefit.
mattiss
Get hobbies that correspond to the lifestyle you want to lead. If you aren't having fun, you won't keep with it.

As a corollary, if you have an active hobby and any sort of drive to be good at it, you will train yourself as such. So if you take up say rock climbing and like it, then you will get lots of exercise as a direct result of climbing, and lots more to train yourself to get better.

achew22
I can't agree with this more, I walked into a rock gym a couple of years ago and picked a wall and said "I want to be able to climb that." I defined a goal and then I set a time frame for it. Admittedly I didn't make that goal but you better believe that I did achieve it a few weeks later and I was even more motivated for the next wall. The neat thing about rock gyms is that there are a lot of people who come in frequently (read: friends with active lifestyles) and they have to change the walls to keep everyone coming back. I'm sure there are many other activities like this but the rock wall was what did it for me.
aasarava
Climbing is a great sport for hackers. Each route up a wall presents a problem in need of solving -- and often, brute force won't help you.

You've really got to think through a route and learn the sequence of moves that'll get you to the top. And then, once you've got a route completely figured out, the gym changes it on you and throws a new problem in the way.

Highly recommended for people who like to work their brains while they exercise.

mattiss
Be careful though, it will take over your life! I am constantly battling between working 100% on getting a startup off the ground and selling all of my possessions, buying a van, and driving around the world climbing.

It is not an easy choice.

Quarrelsome
Spot on. I dance, hence I never have to think about staying in shape.
yef
Health is much more than "routines to stay in shape". Consider what you eat, your exercise, how you sleep, and how you manage stress. Personally, I go for lots of plants, 30-45 minutes a day, 6-7 hours solid a day, and re: stress, a variety of "getting things done" type techniques to stay on top of my work, which is my main stressor.
codedivine
Stick to a fairly strict healthy diet and regular sleep schedule.

Only broke this rule when working on a big deadline.