If you lack good fitness, fail to exercise regularly, or you are generally ‘out of shape’:
In a post-collapse world there will be little time for sitting on one’s dairy air all day.
Here’s one thing you can do to improve your ‘survival fitness’:
Walk!
Are You Physically Fit?
You might have a year of food storage and supplies for you and your family, but do you have the fitness, strength and stamina to walk for 10 miles? (or even 1 mile?)
Are you physically fit enough to work hard all day in a garden (for example)? Do you have any idea how much more physically difficult your life might become while surviving after a major collapse?
We Are Overweight as a Society
Watching and observing others while out in public places, it is evident that there are many (the majority?) who appear to be overweight and likely ‘out of shape’. While not being judgmental (just observing), these same people will have great difficulty in a world tipped upside down where things don’t come so easily.
While we enjoy the creature comforts of our modern world, an unfortunate side effect is that we as a modern society are not getting anywhere near the exercise and physical activity (generally speaking) than what was meant to be. As a result of eating less nutritious food (junk food) coupled with living the lifestyle of a ‘couch potato’, we have become fat, spoiled, and out of shape. This is not a recipe for successful preparedness.
Consider The Work and Labor (Post Collapse Society)
For those who are into preparedness, it will do you well to consider your circumstances should you need to become ‘really’ self reliant (independently or within a group) – post collapse scenario. When the modern systems have failed around you, there will be much more physical labor required of you during your new daily duties. If you cannot do it today due to being overweight or out of shape, you will not be able to do it tomorrow if you need to.
What to do?
Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
Get up. Move your body. Stop sitting.
Just move. Stop sitting so long. Walk. Walking is perhaps the best single thing you can do to improve yourself in this regard.
No need to run or jog – just walk. It gets the blood flowing. Walking burns calories and will help manage your weight. It strengthens stamina. Walking improves your mood. It helps to focus your mind. It can lower your blood pressure over time. Walking is said to lower your ‘bad’ cholesterol while raising your ‘good’ cholesterol. It could reduce risk of diabetes, and will generally make you stronger and more fit.
All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of brisk walking. Research shows (Mayo Clinic) that regular, brisk walking can also reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging.
Walking is a gentle, low-impact exercise that can ease you into a higher level of fitness and health. Walking is a form of exercise accessible to just about everybody. It’s safe, simple and doesn’t require practice. And the health benefits are many.
So, do not ignore your ‘survival fitness’ while making your preparedness plans…
Funny how God works. Just start back on my exercises today. Thanks for all that you do Ken.
You are welcome! Glad to hear about starting again… I just finished my lunch and I’m going for my walk right after I finish this sentence 😉
The snow has melted off the roads today so I’m Going for a walk right now. I really enjoy your site. Thank You.
It definitely requires a bit more motivation during the winter – but I try my best to get out and walk even during this season (I’ve been a bit better about it this year compared to years gone by). Fortunately I have a very long ‘driveway’ (snow-packed ‘dirt road’) to walk without worries of being hit by ignorant traffic 😉
Great advice in this article and usually overlooked in prepping. If you live in cold weather area like I do I recommend having something like an elliptical trainer, exercise bike or treadmill. This way there is no excuse not to get in 15 minutes or so of exercise daily.
Excellent advice. After suffering some tendon tears in one of my hips, I couldn’t walk very far at all without severe debilitating pain. After a long recovery, I am now back to two brisk miles a day, looking forward to getting back up to five. Can hardly wait. Besides, you get to check out who and what is going on in your own ‘hood. First hand observations(intelligence) is always better than neighborhood gossip.
“Besides, you get to check out who and what is going on in your own ‘hood.”
That’s absolutely correct. It is amazing the amount of detail and things you notice when walking as compared to driving through a neighborhood. Huge difference. Knowing the details of your surrounding home environment will be very valuable information during a time of collapse. Thanks for pointing that out…
Walking is the best fitness exercise for the average person. I alternate walking and running days.
My concern is, how fast should we plan on the zombies being? Some shows they only stagger around slowly and on others they move PDQ! I hope I only meet the slow ones. 😉
It doesn’t take very long to get out of shape. I am 71 years old and used to walk 4-5 miles per day, summer and winter (broken up into about 3 walks at different times per day.
Last November 30 I fell and broke my leg — a fracture of my fibula that was displaced. I had to have a metal plate put in and spent more than 6 weeks in an orthopedic boot. It was snowy and icy the whole time and my boot was not good for walking on ice, so I spent the whole time inside.
5 weeks ago the doctor let me take the boot off. My ankle was stiff; my muscles were weak. The muscles of BOTH legs atrophied. After 5 weeks, I can now walk 4-5 blocks per day — not 4-5 miles — and it is hard to stand long enough for our congregation to finish singing hymns on Sunday.
You should never stop exercising, even in winter. The older you get, the faster you lose strength.
Ouch!
Some thoughts for you that I hope will help.
You should consider getting some traction aids. I use Kahtoola Micro Spikes when it gets bad. Routinely carry ICEtrekkers Diamond Grips. The spikes are sized for boots, the grips for shoes. Neither are cheap but one trip to the ER costs more. I avoid anything from Yaktrax. They just don’t last very long and can’t be repaired. By me anyway.
If you have medical insurance you might want to go to a physical therapist for the legs. They can give you a number of exercises that will help. Physical therapy does hurt. Sometimes a lot.
Thanks for the advice. I did buy a cane and that helps some, gives me a third point of contact to the ground, but I have to be very careful that I don’t put the cane down on a slick spot.
I have Medicare and Medigap, so just about everything was covered. I did go to physical therapy once. I’m getting better. Two 6-7 block walks today.
I will definitely check on the TCETreckkers or something similar. It takes a long time to heal at my age if there is an accident.
Good for you DaisyK, you certainly have all the respect in the world from this crowd, don’t you ever give up, I’m hitting the big 62 in a cpl of months and try to stay active. I demand to do two 1 mile walks when my job allows it, than a romp around the place with the Lab. Hardest thing is to keep the weight off. My mom just hit 93 this Jan and is still going like a crazy lady, Gata LOVE it, Heck she’s even playing Bridge 3-4 times a week. I hope I have 1/10 the energy she does when I get that age.
That is a good idea
Great article! I suggest a stationary bike. It will be perfect for cold days when you dont want to go out. It will elevate your heart rate more than walking and tone you faster. Making your legs stronger to carry items or to walk even longer, if we have to. They are small enough to place in your room or garage and can be found for around $100.00.
I need to walk more. We had snow this morning! GASP (made the news)! But alas, it’s all gone, and sunny this afternoon. So I have no excuses to get outside. I walk around our big backyard. The neighbors down the street have dogs that will bark and follow you. I am scared they might attack.
We bought a bike for inside the house. Going small steps to get in shape.
Texasgirl, a nice can of Pepper Spray or better yet Bear Spray will work wonders for an unruly dog. Usually only takes once. Not so sure about there, but arn’t dogs running free a problem with the Animal Control Officers? you may casually mention it to the neighbors.
Three days “bed rest” results in a loss of 50% of your muscle strength. Get out of bed and get off the couch!
I have been pointing people towards GORUCK. Light events are definitely achievable and are good goal / gut checks for folks.
Just read a study that said if you can’t get out of a chair unassisted, don’t use your hands to push up or rock back and forth, you only have about 6 years to live!Once you lose your mobility you go down hill fast! Do squats to build up your legs. Biggest muscle in your body.
I started doing OCR’s(obstacle course races) about 2 years ago. They are a blast and a full body work out. Gonna be 57 next month and love the challenge and fun atmosphere of the races. Check them out in your area!!
I am guilty of not doing what I used to do. I went to a dinner today and my fat clothes don’t even fit me now. Thanks for the reminder to get moving.
I have combined walking and weight training for my fitness for years now.Getting out in the winter is a challenge,but my one year old lab/Aussie shepherd mix needs her daily walks.So even in snow and biting windchills,we have been out!
My family loves to go for walks, whether on the road or on hiking trails. Well, I’ve been laid up with a couple of herniated discs for over 2 months. I just had my back surgery yesterday, and it supposedly went good (time wil tell). I’m supposed start with 2-3 minute walks up and down the hall. Hopefully I can make some good progress without re-herniating anything. Looking forward to getting back out on our daily walks this summer.
Rob, I dont know about surgery, but I do know that the general “knowledge” in the past for back injuries was bed rest, or taking it “easy”. It has recently changed significantly in the fact that now they are telling injured patients to get back to walking, even short walks, as soon as possible to keep the muscles from locking up and generating a debilitating “pain cycle.” I’M NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. I am one who went thru the years of pain cycle, shots, drugs, therapy, and very little of it helped any at all. My saving grace ended up being an inversion table to stretch my back back out straight. Took a couple of months, daily, 20 min a couple of times a day, but now I’m in pretty good shape (in regards to my back). I know it,and still use that inversion table, when I do something in the yard I should have had help with! I now have a local trail I bike(currently banged up!) and walk about 12 mi round trip. It sure helps to get those big muscles of the legs and up into the low back to pumping! Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery, ASAP
Walk Walk Walk!
Take the stairs, elevators are for the elderly and disabled.
Walk the dog, don’t just have it shit in your yard everyday.
Walk to the store, if you live in the city of course.
Walk and talk on the phone.
Walk and listen to music.
Walk and think.
Good post!
I wish I have thought it for myself! 😉
Due to medical problems, I too have become very sedentary. I am not even 40 yet. I am on so much medication it’s pathetic. I have tried to get off of it, but I get very sick. I gained 50 pounds on the last medication they put me on. I am trying very hard now to lose the weight. Exercise and walking makes me very sick. If I move my head around too much, it causes vomitting and pain. The rower sounds pretty neat. It doesnt’ sound like I would have to move my head too much.