Prepping fitness, how do you do it?

[hsalin]

What plan / program do you follow for increased fitness ?
What have you learned from prepping fitness ?

It would be interesting to see what others do or have done regarding building a fitness-level "good enough" for shtf scenarios, and the philosophy behind it. I think a good variation and continuity is the key, with a lot of focus on endurance.

 

[Maverick]

I don't watch TV, Lot of hiking, chopping wood. I'm doing nothing any different than I would do in a post-shtf.

 

[jontte]

long walks ( that dog sets the pace many times) various terrains,strength training also,eating sensibly.
started with 108 kg and are now down to 94 and still loosing that baggage accumulated over a long period,evry now and then I'll pack my back pack with some wheight and march.

 

[lonewolf]

long walks-getting a new puppy soon, cycling, walking miles around car boot sales and open air markets.

 

[jontte]

what puppy will you get???

 

[lonewolf]

cairn terrier X West Highland White bitch, was born on December 27th.

 

[Kevin L]

I am an avid outdoorsman and a cyclist.

I'm very opinionated on this issue.

Several years ago, I had financial problems. Please don't judge me for this...it can happen to anyone.

I stopped using my car and adopted a bicycling lifestyle. The money I saved helped pull me out of the hole while giving me a comfortable cushion besides.

It also got me in shape very quickly.

The money normally spent on a car I put into prepping.

I also bought a bike trailer, so I can go to the store and bring home a week's worth of groceries, 25 lbs. of cat litter, and so on.

I can do this in Florida because it's tropical and the geography is quite flat.

I do recognize that this life style may not be as practical in other parts of the country.

If someone decides to experiment with this kind of lifestyle, consider a collapsible, folding bicycle (Citizen bikes has many reasonably priced models). These bikes can be carried on a bus and/or train (with the right case), stashed under your desk at work, and kept in your car as a lifeboat in case you break down somewhere.

 

[Dani]

I live life. . . some days in the house cleaning, cooking, others out in the garden and everyday with cattle and goats feeding and cleaning out barns/ replacing bedding. It is my lifestyle and I am under weight considered by weight charts by 5 - 10 lbs but I can still lay down some male who challenge me with an arm wrestle left handed. . . that is my strong hand and they don't know that one.

 

[Marv.Schmitz87]

In the spring and summer i run about 3 5ks per week. Some weeks only two and some weeks 4. It's a nice 20 to 25min workout and helps me to warm up for a 30 min HIT full body workout. Just excercises with your own body weight. I don't have to use any equipment for it.

 

[Skeeter]

My wife is big into weight lifting, and her and I will wrestle for extended periods of time to build our strength and conditioning. I also do 100 pushups and situps each morning, and also use the hand sqeezer things to improve my grip strength.

 

[dannyboy71me]

Ample supply of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. No need to run.

 

[Brent S]

I’ve been working on loosing the 15years of extra weight I accumulated from eating too well! My goal is to loose 30lbs. Overall. I get plenty of exercise allready but had to adjust my portion control. Honestly, I figure the people that have a little extra weight will have it a little easier in shtf. At least their bodies will have some reserves to tap into. Seriously, being in shape is good for you both now and after shtf.

 

[dannyboy71me]

I heard its just a myth that overweight people fair better during famine. The body canabalizes the muscle tissue or something.

 

[Kevin L]

I’ve been working on loosing the 15years of extra weight I accumulated from eating too well! My goal is to loose 30lbs. Overall. I get plenty of exercise allready but had to adjust my portion control. Honestly, I figure the people that have a little extra weight will have it a little easier in shtf. At least their bodies will have some reserves to tap into. Seriously, being in shape is good for you both now and after shtf.

I don't often disagree with you, but I do here. I believe excess weight will be a liability post SHTF. When an overweight person fasts, there are chemicals called ketones that build up in the bloodstream (a similar process can happen with diabetics for slightly different reasons), and this can damage the kidneys.

Also, more bodyweight means more blood, and so the need for more electrolytes.

I've been trying to lose weight as well.

 

[Brent S]

I don't often disagree with you, but I do here. I believe excess weight will be a liability post SHTF. When an overweight person fasts, there are chemicals called ketones that build up in the bloodstream (a similar process can happen with diabetics for slightly different reasons), and this can damage the kidneys.

Also, more bodyweight means more blood, and so the need for more electrolytes.

I've been trying to lose weight as well.

I’m down 14lbs so far in about 2 months so far. First 7 came off easily and quickly but then it slowed down. I’m almost half way towards my goal

 

[Kevin L]

I’m down 14lbs so far in about 2 months so far. First 7 came off easily and quickly but then it slowed down. I’m almost half way towards my goal

Hang in there. Don't give into food temptation.

 

[jimLE]

Im doing a lil more walking now. seeing how I now live in town.and a few places are well within walking disdistance.other than that,i pretty well continue on as before.i moved.but yet.i do need to get a bicycle. And start riding it..

 

[Brent S]

Hang in there. Don't give into food temptation.

I’ve never dieted before as I was skinney as a rail up to about 45, then Mother Nature started winning.... honestly it’s not too hard, but I do think about food all the time. I read up a little on several different views about diets and decided to mostly just do smaller portions vs really starving myself. I also decided to shoot for 1lb drop a week. Everything I read said most people that loose it all really fast tend to gain it all back later. I also am doing lower cholesterol foods mostly. I still splurge on my favorites like fried chicken and steak, just a lot less frequent and smaller portions too.
Whatever anyone’s health issue is, weight, sugar, cholesterol or just getting in better physical shape, it is something you can fix if you want to. Remember you don’t have to change your life completely, just start making little steps to reach whatever goal you have. If you have a bad day and slip some, don’t sweat it, were all human. Just start back on track the next day. Baby steps....

 

[Mountain trapper]

It's getting that time of year to start putting up our fire wood. Cutting, splitting and stacking firewood is pretty good exercise. So was putting in our hay earlier this summer. I usually start trapping and hunting around November through April. That means a lot of hiking and snowshoeing. Of course winter means a lot of snow plowing and shoveling snow too. Once the ground thaws out in the Spring I'll have miles of fence to repair, hundreds of fence posts to put in and some new fencing to build. And none of it is on flat ground. I guess just day to day life is enough exercise for me. Trying to eat a healthy diet consistently is another story and is harder than it sounds. With the wife gone so much of the time I have a hard time eating a proper meal. Too often I tend to put together whatever is easiest to fix; frozen pizza, frozen mac & cheese, frozen fish etc. We did get a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and other stuff from the garden which was nice. Man also needs a lot of meat, bacon, sausage and cheese to survive too. Fortunately I don't smoke or drink alcohol, but I do enjoy an occasional cigar and a glass of fine Scotch or maybe a good beer.