How to you get in shape to homestead?

adenblue · #1 04/12/08, 12:58 PM

What do you do to prepare for the physical labor involved in homesteading? Join a gym? Run up and down the stairs a lot? Just wait until you get your land and then break all the muscles in at once? I myself hate exercising for no reason, but I also know that I'm nowhere near the shape I need to be.

DQ · #2 04/12/08, 01:08 PM

When you start hauling feed sacks, driving t-posts and wrangling unruly animals you will get all the excercise you need. I always think its funny that people will do everything they can to make their life easy and then go pay to join a gym or spend hours walking to nowhere on a treadmill. take on strenuous tasks and fitness will be a nice side benefit in addition to the things you actually accomplish.

Cara · #3 04/12/08, 01:09 PM

Just do it...you'll be sore and tired as all get out for the first couple weeks, then you'll have the right muscles for the job.

ErinP · #4 04/12/08, 01:23 PM

stock up on Icy Hot and get to it.

mommagoose_99 · #5 04/12/08, 02:02 PM

Try seeding peas with a planet Junior that hasn't been used in 10 years. You will quickly become fit or like me won't be able to walk for a couple of days LOL.
Linda

mtman · #6 04/12/08, 02:07 PM

been working hard since i was 8 the farmers used to come by and id help them plant

mistletoad · #7 04/12/08, 02:10 PM

We have always been very active - hiking, biking, weight training, gardening without power equipment etc., but if you aren't it probably would be a good idea to start working out as part of your preparations. Even now I walk on the treadmill and ride my bike as the chores around here are mostly strength related rather than aerobic.

Jay · #8 04/12/08, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DQ

When you start hauling feed sacks, driving t-posts and wrangling unruly animals you will get all the excercise you need. I always think its funny that people will do everything they can to make their life easy and then go pay to join a gym or spend hours walking to nowhere on a treadmill. take on strenuous tasks and fitness will be a nice side benefit in addition to the things you actually accomplish.

I agree 110%.
For those that PAY others to exersize, I'll let them get a work out here for FREE! (Pansys and Whiners need not apply!)

Yes, the back hurts bending over in the garden, or loading/unlaoding hay/feed. Feet will hurt standing canning for days on end. Hands hurt from milking, or get cut up putting up fence. Head hurts from whacking one's self putting up new shed.
Different body parts 'hurt/get sore' depending on the season and what MUST be done. Time stops for no one!

It's part of life, and living, growing/taking care of your own whatever.
YOU can do it, or keep paying the bozo's at the grocery store to do your 'work' for you.

Beeman · #9 04/12/08, 03:04 PM

There is no "program" to get in shape to hurt your body like work can. Just use the over the counter pain meds and the deep heat rubs sparingly. It will only hurt till you die.

texican · #10 04/12/08, 03:10 PM

I belong to a very exclusive club... called Ace Hardware...

Anytime I feel the need for exercise, I get out one of my Ace "bow flex" machines... my two favorites are the round head shovel and the single bit axe. I've always got ditches that need digging out... and an one side, they have to be dug by hand, as the phone company subcontractors put the line just inches below the surface in places. The phone company doesn't charge me for breaking the line (since it should have been several feet deep) but if I cut the line, I have to fix it, or call the repair guy and wait three or four days for them to get it done.

Also have miles of fence, and some trees next to the line are ok, but some aren't... and an axe is the way to go.

When I get tired doing one thing, I jump on to something else. No need in injuring muscles, unless it's a do or die project...

Get you some shovels, hoes, rakes, hammers, and whatnot and just start doing it... I don't lift dead weights... to me it's a sin... when I know there's real work needin a'doing...

chickenista · #11 04/12/08, 03:20 PM

If you don't hurt.. how do you know you are alive?

newfieannie · #12 04/12/08, 04:31 PM

well then i know i'm very much alive today because my muscles are screaming. i haven't done any strenuous work most of the winter(well except for shovelling snow. must be different muscles) but the last 2 days up and down the ladder i'm feeling it. i can't stop though. have to go out and dig over the garden after i finish my tea and tomorrow i have to go back out in the country and jack up the barn so i can get through the door to get my mower ready for the season.

I do know one thing .i baulked at getting that jet tub but i wish it was installed already. i have heard it does wonders for sore muscles. i'm sitting on a heating pad right now. ...Georgia.

DQ · #13 04/12/08, 05:29 PM

I really look forward to the first real hard work day after a bad weather spell even the aches and pains, but it is really annoying when you truly hurt yourself sometimes and have to make your self take it easy. hard work not only gets you excercise while accomplishing meaningful tasks it is often a cure for insomnia. I forget how working my a$# off during the day makes me fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. during winter (light work) I am up all night constantly checking on things or letting a dog out or getting a drink.... in the summer I get to just sleep...whew.

vicker · #14 04/12/08, 06:06 PM

I've always been healthy and enjoyed hardwork, but when we moved to WV I got a job in a saw mill. I was 43 yo stacking lumber on the green chain with boys half my age. It didn't take me long to loose almost 50 lbs and 3 pant sizes.

Just do it.

chickenista · #15 04/12/08, 06:37 PM

Ok, OK.... The one thing we WILL share with you to help you out is...stretch, stretch, stretch, stretch and then stretch again before you even think about starting a hard day's work. You must warm your muscles up before you begin or you will end up like me and completely disabled for 3.5 months. I mean completely down and out. And in more continuos pain than I thought humanly possible to endure. I am still at only 50%, but today I did do some real good work.
And in the middle of whatever task you are undertaking.. stop and stretch again to release the muscles that are getting tight from all the work.
Did I mention you should also stretch?

adenblue · #16 04/12/08, 07:40 PM

Interesting replies. I am really not sure I am up to it when I read all this...

THETOOLMAN · #17 04/12/08, 08:19 PM

The place will get you in shape. It will not cost a dime . You will loose weight,feel better & sleep like a log!!

big rockpile · #18 04/12/08, 08:22 PM

I promise not to laugh,our family came by it natural.Picking rocks off the fields,pulling weeds,cutting fire wood,bucking Hay,milking Cows by hand,shoveling Manure,shoveling Grain,handling sacks of Feed,holding 800 pound Steers.Then to make it really fun find you a Job at a Sawmill where your handling Green Lumber all day,or maybe a Feed Mill loading loading out Trucks and Box Cars all day.

And to really get a laugh you might do this all in one day.

big rockpile

big rockpile · #19 04/12/08, 08:26 PM

Oh almost forgot when I worked at the Feed Mill all the feed came in 100 pound Burlap Bags.

145 pounds strong as an Ox.

big rockpile

ROSEMAMA · #20 04/13/08, 09:42 AM

Your heating pad is your friend!