Walking: Survival Fitness and Exercise

If you lack good fitness, fail to exercise regularly, or you are generally ‘out of shape’, even though you might have all of your preparedness supplies and extra food on hand (ready for SHTF) – you still aren’t ready because in a post-collapse world there will be little time for sitting on one’s ass all day.
Here’s one thing you can do to improve your ‘survival fitness’…


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?

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.

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?

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…

http://modernsurvivalblog.com/health/walking-survival-fitness-and-exercise/#more-19101