Exercise

[Janash37]

I regularly go to the gym and lift weights, mostly because I am slightly vain thanks to images of muscle-bound celebs, but more and more nowadays it is because I see the connection to my preps and the advantages of being able to hulk weight around if the situation requires.

Admittedly my cardio is suffering and could really do with a boost, which is why it has become my resolution for the new year to get on top of that!

I've met a lot of people talking about how they plan on bugging out or making some kind of home for themselves in the urban jungle once society collapses, yet they can't even lift the weight of their own body, let alone that plus any equipment they'll be carrying, which is kind of important if that's the kind of thing you're prepping for.

I'm just wondering how many of you do something similar and/or consider it an important part of your prepping plans and why?

[Toddie]

I'm a gym rat too. As for lugging things about, i try and make it out into the lovely countryside with all my kit on my back and spend a morning/afternoon making sure i can at least do 8-10 miles comfortably.

But you've made a very valid point, but i will add, people who aren't in good physical shape, be it due to conditions out of their control or not, will probably tent to bug in, not out.

Great thread and it's an issue that shouldn't be overlooked at all.

[Spiderwebb]

I agree, fitness (& health in general) should be a serious consideration. Individual goals will be subject to ability but nevertheless people should think about this in relation to their plans.

I too lift weights regularly (I have hyper mobility syndrome and have been advised many times to ensure I retain good muscle presence, or risk more injuries) and use dog walking (at a decent pace) to top-up on cardio; 12km on Boxing Day, 7km on Thursday etc. I also do interval running with the dog, including 100% flat out sprinting - not many people I know have run flat out for years - it's a good feeling.

I've been interested in fitness longer than I've been prepping and can really see how it plays to my advantage; although at 38 it's not as easy as it used to be! And I don't drink, smoke or eat any fast/junk food at all.

Having said all that, at this stage of my prepping game (complete novice), fitness will count for little without appropriate knowledge & supplies - but I'm all over that!

[junmist]

Due to ill health my fittness leavel is rubish but I try to keep as fit as possible but nowhere near to what it was 5 years ago I'd love to go to the gym or take up swimming again but do not have any spare money for it.
However I do have animals so lugging bales of hay about, animal feed and tyers(make great walls with rammed earth) is my weight lifting and I do as much walking as I can would love to take up running again as I realy miss that and I'm useless on a bike

[metatron]

I'm in the gym 6 days a week, two too three hours a day. I always do at least an hour of cardio, 30 min on the bike, 30 on the elliptical and I do a 30 min run as well, two sessions a week (although my running form is good, I don't want to destroy my knees, so I limit it). The other four sessions I tend to like to hit the rowing machine for 15 to 20 min if I have the time.

The rest of the time in a session after cardio is weight training, mostly free wights, but I've got nothing against the cable machines for muscle targeted training. I can't stand classes so avoid them like the plague, although I am thinking of starting to do split training sessions an hour or two in the morning and two too three in the evening, as my body is getting use to the training and lifting bigger for longer and focusing more on areas will give me increased results. Probably increases my calorie intake too from 4000 to 7000 a day.

I do it as I like going to the gym and the endorphins that are released into your body, being able to lift a car up is kind of cool too, lol.

[The Ace of Spades]

When I was in my early to mid twenties, I used to do a lot of weight lifting. I am, in fact, a former Weight Lifting/Power Lifting Champion. I also used to do a fair bit of Martial Arts - Ju-Jitsu and Kung Fu. I haven't trained for many years, but next year I will be hitting the gym again and getting back into Ju-Jitsu. Will probably do some swimming as well. I have done a lot of cycling this year which has helped to improve my cardio and I do quite a lot of hiking and climbing, too. My job involves a lot of heavy lifting, so I kind of get a work out from that, I do still try to keep as fit as possible, but I'm not as fit as I used to be or as I would like to be. I WILL be packing in smoking on January 1st, so that will provide obvious health and fitness benefits. (and financial) This time next year, I plan to have packed on some extra muscle mass and to be able to run and cycle for greater distances.

I guess we all need to be as fit as possible for when the Zombies attack.

Ace.

[Spiderwebb]

When I was in my early to mid twenties, I used to do a lot of weight lifting. I am, in fact, a former Weight Lifting/Power Lifting Champion. I also used to do a fair bit of Martial Arts - Ju-Jitsu and Kung Fu. I haven't trained for many years, but next year I will be hitting the gym again and getting back into Ju-Jitsu. Will probably do some swimming as well. I have done a lot of cycling this year which has helped to improve my cardio and I do quite a lot of hiking and climbing, too. My job involves a lot of heavy lifting, so I kind of get a work out from that, I do still try to keep as fit as possible, but I'm not as fit as I used to be or as I would like to be. I WILL be packing in smoking on January 1st, so that will provide obvious health and fitness benefits. (and financial) This time next year, I plan to have packed on some extra muscle mass and to be able to run and cycle for greater distances.

I guess we all need to be as fit as possible for when the Zombies attack.

Ace.

Good to have you in Area 9, especially if those pesky zombies try it on!

[SJS]

I don't do the gym (mainly because there isn't one within 30 miles of here, and because I don't see any need to pay for what I can do at home and in the field).

I add 100lbs of artificial weight to my packs when I'm in the field practising various skills (or just taking a hike). This should be standard practise for everyone, really, as it builds muscles and gets you used to hulking around a lot of weight. Hell, try climbing a tree (or climbing over a 7ft wall) with your own body weight on your back.... I'll bet 99% of you can't do it. Now lug about more and more weight over just 6 weeks and try again... you'll be amazed by how much better you do!

My packs don't weigh anywhere close to 100lbs themselves, so when the SHTF I'll be bugging out with substancially less weight than I've trained with. This means I'll be able to go even further than I can go when training.

It's the same reason athletes train with weights attached to them (heavy wrists, heavy ankles, heavy belt etc): so that they can perform better for the real thing than they manage to achieve in training.

Benching weights is fairly useless in terms of increasing your weight hauling limits. Yes, it can improve arm and shoulder strength, but what about your core muscles, lower back, hips, legs, feet? Increase your limits through practise with artificial weight.
Trust me, you'll thank for me it in no time

[The Ace of Spades]

SJS. As much as I agree with your methods of training through hauling a heavy pack over distance, or attaching ankle, wrist, and waist weights whilst running for improving endurance and stamina, I have to point out that there are many exercises you can do in the gym for exercising those body parts that you mentioned.

Lower back - Dead lifts with free weights, hyper extensions on a roman chair, lie backs on a specifically designed lie back machine.

Legs - Squats with free weights, squats on a smith machine, hack squats on machine, leg extensions, leg curls, leg press, calve raises.

Hip flexors are targeted indirectly via some leg exercises, but there is a cable machine for that, too, which involves lateral raises of the legs.

Feet - Skipping will help, but take it easy at first to avoid injury. Running bare foot will help, too. Reason is, your trainers provide support for those muscles and this prevents them from gaining any benefit from walking or running.

Many exercises are what we call compound exercises, and these target, in an indirect way, more than one muscle group. Example - Squats. These will, to some degree, target lower back muscles as your back supports all that weight and the muscles in your lower back contract and extend whilst performing this exercise.

If you train with weights, do cardio work, flexibility exercises, and endurance/stamina training, you can be fit enough for any task.

Did I mention that I am a qualified weight training instructor? It's not my job, but I am qualified.

Ace.

[st3vi3]

I have always been in to sports esp running from age of 6. as I got older I trained harder and soon became champion in many age levels upto age of 22. I then had my first child and cut back.

Now I train at home, gym or outside I try to involve my family. I always keep healthy diet balanced and natrual foods.
Important!! Involve family make it fun keep open mind too and it will last longer.

When / things go wrong fitter you are the better. Dont need to be world class just some level of fittnes is important.

Keep in mind... Fit for what??
I mayb fit for running but not as fit for a long distance swim.