Prepping and Fitness

[Macsforfire]

I think as preppers one of the most important ways to prepare is to prepare our bodies for the possibility of a more physically demanding life, weather it's farming, fighting off raiders, running away from hordes of ravenous zombies, swimming for your life in a flood or just plain bugging out I think we can all agree fitness is essential. As a regular gym goer I believe we should hold ourselves to minimum standard of physical fitness so we can all cope with the rigors of SHTF. So as for what that minimum standard is.... Well obviously everyone is different and will be better at different aspects of fitness however as a general guide I will say Preppers should: Be able to run at least 1km without rest, Be able to cycle at least 5km without rest, Be able to swim for at least 30 mins without rest, Be able to walk/hike at a good pace for at lest 2hours with a full rucksack without rest. Be able to complete 20 press ups without rest, 30 sit ups without rest, 10 pull ups without rest, 10 squats without rest. Obviously it's a bonus if people are more committed and take up regular weight training, rowing and any combat/martial arts classes. These goals are not difficult for anyone who sets aside around 3/4 hours a week and can be easily exceeded within a few months and I seriously encourage any preppers who are not already doing so to begin working towards these goals as they will help you better than anything else come SHTF.

[Arzosah]

Might be an idea to check some existing threads about physical capabilities and disabilities before you go telling us all how fit to be ....

[Macsforfire]

Obviously my objective in this post was not to cause offence, and obviously I respect that everybody has different levels of ability however it is still sound advice to improve your fitness level be it for SHTF or just daily life. I was simply highlighting the need for increased fitness during any kind of disaster and that it is as important as stockpiling supplies.

[Plymtom]

Be able to run at least 1km without rest, Be able to cycle at least 5km without rest, Be able to swim for at least 30 mins without rest, Be able to walk/hike at a good pace for at lest 2hours with a full rucksack without rest. Be able to complete 20 press ups without rest, 30 sit ups without rest, 10 pull ups without rest, 10 squats without rest.

Try any of that and many of us wouldn't have to worry about Zombies or anything else anymore, and if TSHTF sure it would be nice to be fitter, but when your 52 and half of the rest of your family are disabled I think you'll find that going to the gym will actually decrease your survivability factor, the only way fitness related things will save my life in the Zombie apocalypse is if I buy a job load of treadmills and surround my house with them.

I'm amused not offended

[Arzosah]

I'm amused not offended

I'm weary, not offended

[junmist]

Be able to run at least 1km without rest, Be able to cycle at least 5km without rest, Be able to swim for at least 30 mins without rest, Be able to walk/hike at a good pace for at lest 2hours with a full rucksack without rest. Be able to complete 20 press ups without rest, 30 sit ups without rest, 10 pull ups without rest, 10 squats without rest.

Try any of that and many of us wouldn't have to worry about Zombies or anything else anymore, and if TSHTF sure it would be nice to be fitter, but when your 52 and half of the rest of your family are disabled I think you'll find that going to the gym will actually decrease your survivability factor, the only way fitness related things will save my life in the Zombie apocalypse is if I buy a job load of treadmills and surround my house with them.

I'm amused not offended

thank you needed a giggle

[Charlie 5]

I actually think that there is a serious point to be had here...Whilst I have no perception of the extreme efforts needed to care for disabled family members - I do know that help and care from 'the state' is virtually non-existent. Untrained, cheap to hire 'care' workers - some who mean well, but others who are just not capable....I digress...I will be 52 in a couple of weeks. I work full time and train all the time - not for hours and hours but do something everyday. I have lifted weights since I was 18 and have never stopped, not for birthdays, boxing days or holy days. I train, because I have to. Weights, cycling, walking, whatever it is...you only have one body. When it breaks down in a WROL or other civil disaster scenario, it may not be able to be repaired. You can have the best BOB, Bug Out Vehicle, Safe House, but if your body is f***ed then so are you. May not make any difference, but who knows...that's why we prep isn't it?

[Plymtom]

I/we are well aware of how much better it is to be fitter, many of us do what we can as do I though I admit not religiously as it were, and I'll never be a gym goer as school the jocks/nobs/bullies both student and teacher ruined any chance of me finding team sports or group fitness activities fun, so fitness apart from working hard and walking the dog type of thing is a strictly private affair ( I wont even allow my wife or kids in the room when I'm exercising ) so lets address the list seriously.

Be able to run at least 1km without rest.. no I have always been too short breathed and accept that in a tsunami or similar event I'd try but I'm probably screwed, however in other scenarios recognising my weakness regarding running out of breath, my energies would be conserved to making me a more dangerous person to take down, which worked well when confronted by a pack of dogs, I growled back went at the leader and off they ran (admittadely this wasn't Dingos just Alsations and shitbags on a housing estate I was called to work on.

Be able to cycle at least 5km without rest, that's doable but depends which direction from here Plymouth's bloody hilly so I'm OK for a good distance on the flat or gentle hills but as before short breathed and prefer stopping preferable to certain death.

Be able to swim for at least 30 mins without rest, Again at my own pace as it were and if I do it on purpose I always wear flippers.

Be able to walk/hike at a good pace for at lest 2hours with a full rucksack without rest. this one is a concern because if I had to bug out I'd wish to travel heavy ( I haven't spent all this time prepping to leave it all at home) so determined and survivable by going at a sensible pace and taking breaks rather than attempting an army style yomp would be my way, though my arthritis makes both the walking and the carrying harder these days.

Be able to complete 20 press ups without rest, 30 sit ups without rest, 10 pull ups without rest, 10 squats without rest. All doable with a little practice which has me admitting I've let things slip since finding out I have (manageable) arthritis, and that being a carer comes first I have to cope with their needs, and I had gotten myself in a bit of a spot trying to get fitter and loose weight, before the heatwave I was walking the dog for an hour or two 3 or 4 times a week, but at 5AM before I am needed at home ( it's the best time to take the chance to go out plus my son's are around should someone be needed)

I'd like to finish by saying get as fit as you can yes, but like my doctor says anything is better than nothing so be realistic, and if you have health issues or you're just older and see the sense in trying ask your doctor first, A&E is kept far too busy as it is, I'm all too aware that many here are older and maybe not in tip top health, who'll survive by staying out of harms way, or perhaps by fighting on terms an attacker is not prepared for

[nickdutch]

I will just do what I can. Funnily enough I have found out that skipping with a skipping rope like a little girl for 10 minutes is the aerobic equivalent of 30 minutes jogging. So I got out some of my hemp rope and gave it a go. It sure did feel like it was more knackering than jogging, but if I just do a few sets of ten each day, I am sure it will improve matters, but I have to watch my appalling bad back as after last nights attempt I kinda needed to break into my stores of cheap ibuprofen to make things a little easier and to reduce the likelihood of me waking up in pain in the morning. However my resistance band work out was absolutely fine, as was my youtube health video inspired workout and my Wii Fit inspired workout. Today my body feels more toned, even if the muscles are talking to me, and I am taking a day off exercise to allow the body to adjust to last nights exertions.
I never was overweight and I am very slightly underweight. I am using a combination of regular diet plus aspects of raw vegan to help keep me nourished, clean and pure.
We all can do what we can, and I think that there is no "should" about it. however, a skipping rope seems to be the cheapest health and fitness tool you can buy. So I don't see the point in investing in more things than just a rope, a resistance band and access to youtube to inspire you for all the other stuff you might want to try.

[dizzydays]

however as a general guide I will say Preppers should: Be able to run at least 1km without rest......

etc etc

Will someone just pass my coat?....






DD