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Comment by bch | Hacker News Reader

+1 for physical exercise. Curious though why you (or anybody else) would separate running and/or cycling from the gym? Gym gets its own (emphatic!) category and the sports are separate. Not a criticism, genuinely curious.

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Being outdoors is a big differentiator for me. I find (uv) light exposure to noticeably improve my self being. Also I can’t stay productively in the gym for 3 hours, but I can easily cycle.

Same. I loathe gyms, actually. Perhaps Ive been absent for too long to have an honest loathing, I've no attraction to them though (I don't begrudge anybody who likes them or uses them though - easy to see their value).

A bicycle, on the other hand... a thing of beauty.

Gym is important to set a body routine and get it used to “flush” emotions out with sweat. Daily exercise when in vulnerable state is non-negotiable imo (but hard). Not everyone can afford to bike every day. Hence why I recommend gym first.

> Not everyone can afford to bike every day. Hence why I recommend gym first.

Err....

Are we talking about affording in time? Because from where I'm sitting once you have a bike it's free, where gyms need an ongoing subscription.

Plus if someone (like OP) works from home, getting on their bike is likely easier and lower-friction.

> Are we talking about affording in time?

Mostly weather. There are very few locations where “bike every day” is a reasonable statement. Consistency is key.

If the people in the Netherlands can do it - where it's flat, windy, and rainy most of the time - then most people in the US can also do it. If it's too hot, go in the mornings.

Does the Netherlands have huge roads where everyone travels at 50mph+ in huge pickup trucks and SUVs with high hoods and drivers looking at their phones while driving?

Because that is what the majority of Americans deal with. Not to mention a significant majority deal with colder and or hotter and more humid weather. Obviously, it can be done, but the Netherlands is not the standard for low quality bicycling environments.

That’s a matter of clothing and determination IMHO :)

But sure, I get it. Personally I can’t keep up gym habits because the boredom is just overwhelming. I find other forms of exercise easier to stick at. Each to their own.

There are many kinds of gyms and I’m sure you’d like some. But since we’re talking loneliness here I’d particularly recommend to check out (and hang for a while):

- bouldering gyms - circus - bodybuilding gyms - dancing studio - aikido/wrestling - boxing

If your idea of gym is 24Fitness, then yeah, it is very boring.

Aside from the pragmatic reasons, I think it's a good idea to separate out cardio, muscle-building, and flexibility into its own separate categories, and ensure you consistently dabble in each. Obviously there can be are overlaps, but this taxonomy ensures a good balance.

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