5 ms·

How do you manage the 1 to 2 hours of daily exercise with a programmer lifestyle(assuming you are a programmer)?

SeanBoocock 10y ago
Not the OP but the way I achieve that is by getting up at 5:30AM and running for 60+ minutes. I wasn't always such a morning person but routine exercise was important for me and so I adjusted my lifestyle to match.
- Declanomous 10y ago
  I could never force myself to get up that early to run. Instead, I started going to the Y at 6 am to play pickup basketball for an hour or two. It was a lot easier for me to sustain. I'm not a morning person, and it was really helpful to know there were a bunch of guys who were counting on me to show up so they could play. I have trouble running in general though. I'm very competitive, and I find it much easier to exercise if I'm playing a sport. That being said, I am the kind of person who generally has to try to actively maintain weight. I exercise for health benefits other than weight loss. Most casual or semi-casual rec sports are very friendly to people who are trying to lose weight though. Gyms and rec sports are probably two of the most welcoming places I've ever been. It can be almost cult-like at times.
varelse 10y ago
I get up from my desk and go to the gym mid-day or I do so at the end of the work day depending on my flow. Also, I've cut most meetings out of my life, especially pointless time-eaters like daily scrum. Also: 1. No kids 2. I only watch 4-6 hours of TV per week 3. I walk to work, there's an extra hour right there at the expense of a higher rent (totally worth it). Previously, I worked from home 4. Most of my social life revolves around exercise rather than tech 5. Don't work for self-destructive managers TLDR: Find your way to a results-oriented rather than a process-oriented position.
- ameen 10y ago
  I so want to try this. Any tips and pointers? I'd quit the industry due to health issues (Obesity, NAFLD, Plantar fasciitis, etc) and would love to return if I can stay healthy in such a manner
  - varelse 10y ago
    While everyone's situation is unique, what's stopping you?
    - ameen 10y ago
      Depression I guess, I see most activities as fruitless given countless attempts to lose weight or strengthen my muscles. I recently met with an accident that destroyed my only healthy knee (ACL + Meniscus tears). Had an ACL reconstruction a month ago and for some reason I'm actually hopeful. I've charted out a diet and a fitness routine and have surprisingly kept up with the rehabilitation process fairly well. I guess this is one of my last opportunities to lead a healthy life. Also, not having a social group to aid in activities could've been an issue I guess. I'd like to learn the social aspects of sticking to a routine (Gym buddies, mates who take part in a physical activity, learning some new tech with a similar group of friends, etc).
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    One tip that may help: find a social, physical activity that you enjoy (for me, it was ballroom dance, but rock climbing, various sports, etc., can all work -- some sports may be less useful from a lifestyle perspective because the activity is highly seasonal, though if you have a social group they can probably be a source for alternate activities for the off-season.)
mankyd 10y ago
As a software engineer who does this - you make time for it. These days, I work out during lunch usually. I used to hit the gym on the way home in the evening. I take public transit and it was right at my stop. It's not different than any other industry, honestly.
piva00 10y ago
Can you explain what is a "programmer lifestyle"? I'm a programmer, I work out 1:30 every day after work and that's it, there's nothing special in my schedule: wake up, take a shower, go to work, get off work, go to the gym, go home and do whatever I please.
robodale 10y ago
Well, if you can find a job where you're working ~40 hours per week, this can be achieved. I know this is not the case for many people.
- varelse 10y ago
  IMO if you're working more than 50 hours a week and you don't own at least 3% of the eventual outcome, you should consider a less stressful position. Don't short change your health and well-being for a lower expected return than just working for one of the big guys. All IMO of course.
  - IndianAstronaut 10y ago
    Oh I wish this were true. I am clocking in 60hrs a week. I work under ridiculous deadlines.
    - varelse 10y ago
      Get... Out...
tdb7893 10y ago
What is the programmer lifestyle? I work 40 hours a week and have time for whatever I want to do in my free time
kazinator 10y ago
I cycle 7 miles to work, and back. That's some 25 minutes both ways. During the day, I go for a 4 or 8 mile run. That's another half an hour or hour.
intrasight 10y ago
I'm at the gym every day from 5-7. I'll allow almost nothing to interfere with that. Others I know get up at 5:30 and run 10 miles. Some I know do both!
Raphmedia 10y ago
When I am done working at the office, I drive home and then walk to the nearest gym. That's about 30 minutes of walking. I then spend 30 minutes doing cardio and 1h00 doing weight lifting. I then walk back home. If it's a nice day out, I skip the initial 30 minutes of cardio and run to the gym instead. Listen to tech podcast while doing your workout. Buy a crock-pot and precook your meals. They will be ready when you get back home.
collyw 10y ago
Cycling to work can be a great hassle free way to get exercise if you are able.
ThrustVectoring 10y ago
The right hobbies help out a ton. Like, I've been doing social dancing twice a week, and that usually takes up 3-4 hours. Plus, there's fun movements to do while bored waiting for transit to show up.
smelterdemon 10y ago
"Programmer lifestyle?" I'm at the gym 6:30-7:30. At work by 9 and home by 6:30. I have enough time to cook my own meals too, which I find to be as important as the exercise. Granted I don't have kids.

Not the OP but the way I achieve that is by getting up at 5:30AM and running for 60+ minutes. I wasn't always such a morning person but routine exercise was important for me and so I adjusted my lifestyle to match.

Declanomous 10y ago
I could never force myself to get up that early to run. Instead, I started going to the Y at 6 am to play pickup basketball for an hour or two. It was a lot easier for me to sustain. I'm not a morning person, and it was really helpful to know there were a bunch of guys who were counting on me to show up so they could play. I have trouble running in general though. I'm very competitive, and I find it much easier to exercise if I'm playing a sport. That being said, I am the kind of person who generally has to try to actively maintain weight. I exercise for health benefits other than weight loss. Most casual or semi-casual rec sports are very friendly to people who are trying to lose weight though. Gyms and rec sports are probably two of the most welcoming places I've ever been. It can be almost cult-like at times.

varelse 10y ago

I get up from my desk and go to the gym mid-day or I do so at the end of the work day depending on my flow. Also, I've cut most meetings out of my life, especially pointless time-eaters like daily scrum. Also: 1. No kids 2. I only watch 4-6 hours of TV per week 3. I walk to work, there's an extra hour right there at the expense of a higher rent (totally worth it). Previously, I worked from home 4. Most of my social life revolves around exercise rather than tech 5. Don't work for self-destructive managers TLDR: Find your way to a results-oriented rather than a process-oriented position.

ameen 10y ago
I so want to try this. Any tips and pointers? I'd quit the industry due to health issues (Obesity, NAFLD, Plantar fasciitis, etc) and would love to return if I can stay healthy in such a manner
- varelse 10y ago
  While everyone's situation is unique, what's stopping you?
  - ameen 10y ago
    Depression I guess, I see most activities as fruitless given countless attempts to lose weight or strengthen my muscles. I recently met with an accident that destroyed my only healthy knee (ACL + Meniscus tears). Had an ACL reconstruction a month ago and for some reason I'm actually hopeful. I've charted out a diet and a fitness routine and have surprisingly kept up with the rehabilitation process fairly well. I guess this is one of my last opportunities to lead a healthy life. Also, not having a social group to aid in activities could've been an issue I guess. I'd like to learn the social aspects of sticking to a routine (Gym buddies, mates who take part in a physical activity, learning some new tech with a similar group of friends, etc).
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  One tip that may help: find a social, physical activity that you enjoy (for me, it was ballroom dance, but rock climbing, various sports, etc., can all work -- some sports may be less useful from a lifestyle perspective because the activity is highly seasonal, though if you have a social group they can probably be a source for alternate activities for the off-season.)

mankyd 10y ago

As a software engineer who does this - you make time for it. These days, I work out during lunch usually. I used to hit the gym on the way home in the evening. I take public transit and it was right at my stop. It's not different than any other industry, honestly.

piva00 10y ago

Can you explain what is a "programmer lifestyle"? I'm a programmer, I work out 1:30 every day after work and that's it, there's nothing special in my schedule: wake up, take a shower, go to work, get off work, go to the gym, go home and do whatever I please.

robodale 10y ago

Well, if you can find a job where you're working ~40 hours per week, this can be achieved. I know this is not the case for many people.

varelse 10y ago
IMO if you're working more than 50 hours a week and you don't own at least 3% of the eventual outcome, you should consider a less stressful position. Don't short change your health and well-being for a lower expected return than just working for one of the big guys. All IMO of course.
- IndianAstronaut 10y ago
  Oh I wish this were true. I am clocking in 60hrs a week. I work under ridiculous deadlines.
  - varelse 10y ago
    Get... Out...

tdb7893 10y ago

What is the programmer lifestyle? I work 40 hours a week and have time for whatever I want to do in my free time

kazinator 10y ago

I cycle 7 miles to work, and back. That's some 25 minutes both ways. During the day, I go for a 4 or 8 mile run. That's another half an hour or hour.

intrasight 10y ago

I'm at the gym every day from 5-7. I'll allow almost nothing to interfere with that. Others I know get up at 5:30 and run 10 miles. Some I know do both!

Raphmedia 10y ago

When I am done working at the office, I drive home and then walk to the nearest gym. That's about 30 minutes of walking. I then spend 30 minutes doing cardio and 1h00 doing weight lifting. I then walk back home. If it's a nice day out, I skip the initial 30 minutes of cardio and run to the gym instead. Listen to tech podcast while doing your workout. Buy a crock-pot and precook your meals. They will be ready when you get back home.

collyw 10y ago

Cycling to work can be a great hassle free way to get exercise if you are able.

ThrustVectoring 10y ago

The right hobbies help out a ton. Like, I've been doing social dancing twice a week, and that usually takes up 3-4 hours. Plus, there's fun movements to do while bored waiting for transit to show up.

smelterdemon 10y ago

"Programmer lifestyle?" I'm at the gym 6:30-7:30. At work by 9 and home by 6:30. I have enough time to cook my own meals too, which I find to be as important as the exercise. Granted I don't have kids.