Anybody go by a gym lately....

[unregistered168043]

I recently have taken notice of an interesting trend in the fitness industry. I sometimes go by a gym and see people swinging hammers at tires, pulling ropes, and carrying sacks across a gym floor, and I am struck by a sense of irony.

Here we as Americans sit at desks and produce very little in proportion to our consumption. We borrow, print money and drive ourselves into debt to pay people who swing hammers, pull ropes and carry sacks in the course of producing goods. Then we pay a gym to swing hammers, pull ropes, and carry sacks

[bja105]

I think the mixed martial arts crowd uses these techniques. My buddy bought a used tractor tire to drag around. Later, at a home center store, he bought a sledge hammer. His wife was excited that maybe he finally had an interest in building or fixing things around the house. Nope, he beats on the tire with it!
On the good side, when he visits, I get my wood split.

[ItchingDuck]

This observation made me laugh because it's so true.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by Darntootin

I recently have taken notice of an interesting trend in the fitness industry. I sometimes go by a gym and see people swinging hammers at tires, pulling ropes, and carrying sacks across a gym floor, and I am struck by a sense of irony.

Here we as Americans sit at desks and produce very little in proportion to our consumption. We borrow, print money and drive ourselves into debt to pay people who swing hammers, pull ropes and carry sacks in the course of producing goods. Then we pay a gym to swing hammers, pull ropes, and carry sacks

Yeah I went by my gym today.

Loaded and unloaded 6 yards of wood chips by hand.

Moved a rick of wood from the field by hand. Loaded and unloaded.

Earlier his week I loaded and unloaded 7 yards of horse pucks.

Burried a road kill deer too.

And it is only Tuesday.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by bja105

I think the mixed martial arts crowd uses these techniques. My buddy bought a used tractor tire to drag around. Later, at a home center store, he bought a sledge hammer. His wife was excited that maybe he finally had an interest in building or fixing things around the house. Nope, he beats on the tire with it!
On the good side, when he visits, I get my wood split.

Great way to vent.

[braggscowboy]

I go by, but I don't stop! I am like am1too, I stay plenty busy doing the things that need to be done on a place. I am sure I could use it, but the gym is 30 miles away.

[Terrabus]

I wish I didn't work at a desk all day and I wish I had land, or even a yard, to take care of. Instead, I'm in an apartment. For now, anyways.

[MushCreek]

My gym consists of building a house and farm. Since I started carrying 60 lb sheets of sheathing up a ladder, I've lost 35 lbs.!

[Micheal]

Yep, I went past a gym - just yesterday. Have never been inside one; this is excluding back when I was in school right?
I'm wondering though; do they still call them gyms or are they now fitness centers or _____??????

[puddlejumper007]

beat a tire with a sledge hammer , would't that thing bounce back and hit you in the head..

[Txsteader]

Originally Posted by puddlejumper007

beat a tire with a sledge hammer , would't that thing bounce back and hit you in the head..

LOL, that was my first thought, too, PJ!

[RomeGrower]

I was hammering nails up in my kids' treehouse last night. Much more enjoyable than looking silly in a gym.

[hippygirl]

Originally Posted by puddlejumper007

beat a tire with a sledge hammer , would't that thing bounce back and hit you in the head..

IT CAN HAPPEN!

Many years ago, one of my BILs (he was 17 at the time) was on the front porch one evening hammering on "something" (can't remember exactly what it was). As I knew it had "bounce potential", I warned him to keep his head out of the way...and about 5 seconds later, BAM! Right between look-n-see!

Needless to say, he's been more careful since.

[Bret]

I believe in balancing activities. Last night I continued the heavy lifting excercises in the fence row cleaning. This morning I lifted only the toast and coffee. I also rolled the eggs in the incubator. But, I did not lift them. I know that there is only a small chance of exposure to MRSA at the fitness center. Granted, I risk tetanus where I workout. I have had a tetanus booster. The steam in the windows of the fitness center that I drive by, which makes me glad for the fresh air It costs a lot more but I'm always chomping at the bit to get back at it at the ranch. Not taking anything away from the fitness centers. I understand how important they are.

[Taylor R.]

I'll be honest. I DO go to a gym. I get plenty of exercise working around here, but I still go to the gym. At the gym, nobody is walking around under my feet while I'm working out or yelling, "MOMMY!!!! SHE HIT ME!!" I go to the gym because it is quiet, the physical activity without the stress that goes along with getting things vital to the running of the household done helps me decompress. I don't do any hammer swinging, just a quick run on the treadmill to warm up, then more (or less?) traditional weight lifting. An hour a couple times a week where no one needs me but me does me worlds of good.

[Ardie/WI]

Realize that those gyms are visited by people who mostly live in the city or suburbs. There is no wood to chop, etc.

The dragging sacks etc. are used to keep the work outs from being too boring.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by Taylor R.

I'll be honest. I DO go to a gym. I get plenty of exercise working around here, but I still go to the gym. At the gym, nobody is walking around under my feet while I'm working out or yelling, "MOMMY!!!! SHE HIT ME!!" I go to the gym because it is quiet, the physical activity without the stress that goes along with getting things vital to the running of the household done helps me decompress. I don't do any hammer swinging, just a quick run on the treadmill to warm up, then more (or less?) traditional weight lifting. An hour a couple times a week where no one needs me but me does me worlds of good.

Me too. 3X a week weightlifting and 5X a week for cardio. I have manual work around here too but it's easier to do a sustained workout on dedicated equipment and there are no distraction. I don't think anyone who has seen pictures of my place would call me a suburbanite or urban dweller.
ETA: though I used to live (for a couple of years) in downtown Boston and I was very fit then. When you live in a city you do a LOT of walking.

[jwal10]

I worked for a "farmer" once, big heavy set, regional vice president of a vacuum company. He had 600 acres with cattle and the barn was up a big hill along a winding roadlong. Beautiful place that looked down on a big lake. I would check in in the morning before going to check on the cattle and feed them. Most mornings he would be in his office "running" on a treadmill. Always wondered why he didn't go for a walk, check on the cows and feed. Would have been great exercise. But I guess I wouldn't have had a job there if he had. I took the job so I could recouperate, get some fishing in at a great trophy bass lake and make a little money in the process....James

[RomeGrower]

I run too, but I do it outdoors and I like it a lot. It's the best way for me to keep my weight down since I do have to work a desk job at this time in my life.

[Taylor R.]

My allergies that cause my asthma to flare up when my lungs are stressed mean no running outside for me, unless I ran in circles around my house so help would be near by. You pass out once on a side walk half mile a way and everybody gets all up in arms for some reason