anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

i'm not talking about prepping as in buying supplies


- put yourself on bare minumum rations/water for a couple days

- in february(?), sleep on the floor with some windows open

- confine yourself to one area (room) for a day - no tv/computer - no electricity

- start a new health/fitness regime



SURVIVAL IS AN ATTITUDE, NOT AN EXPENSE

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I had enough misery in the military... there's no prize for being uncomfortable, just for survival.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Yeah, its coming, I'm getting myself psyched. I watched Red Dawn the other night but instead of motivating me it made me cry but that's life..... I have two camping trips coming up at the alternate bug out site... The first one will be with all the luxuries but I will be making notes and staking out some spots for burying supplies when I come back alone.. ... The second trip will be by myself and will be a SHTF dry run. Minimum supplies, no electronic devices for entertainment.. I don't have any problem with long periods of solitude, I can cope with some thirst and hunger but the I hate being cold!!!!

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Best quote of the thread.


T

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

When I first arrived here in the hills I had no power & heat per say, in a years time I managed to purchase & install a small PV system, I used a wood stove for cooking & heat I rebuilt my great grandmothers old ice box and twice a week I would replenish it with a block of ice. During that period I had no television I read & listened to talk radio talk radio was comforting just to hear a human voice, soon I became aware and realized the extent of natures voice (animals mainly) the radio became less and less desireable .
The point is......I've been there done that, If I have to do it again it shouldn't be as bad because I'm prepped & ready, much more now then I have ever been.....thanks to GIM and all the members here, this place has been a God send

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Avalon, I hate cold, too. I have enough experience with it to know I keep functioning and can do what I have to do and look out for the others in my group, even on the verge of hypothermia, but OMG, I hate being really cold!

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Excellent topic CG.

I can handle the cold, but the heat and humidity in the summer months in the midwest is something I have to figure out how I'm going to cope with. June thru mid September can be brutal for people like me who hate the heat.

"Practicing" for the collapse is something I should do, but have not as of yet.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

In the 70's, I lived on a cow ranch 40 miles from the nearest town. No power, no hot water heaters, and no indoor john. All cooking and heating was done with wood. I learned how to make everthing from scratch and do it well. It was just normal life. Once you gset used to it, it's not that tough. Didn't have tv or radio for years and only a few others out there for company. Seven years like that taught me a mulititude of life skills. Solitude is good.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Once you learn skills like that .....you are fricken priceless.

There will be no shortage of people willing to share a foxhole wit ya.


T

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I've been slowly but surely acquiring a little extra cushion around my mid-section so that I'll have some reserves in time of need.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Mosquitos drive me nuts.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Garlic, eat it, string it an wear it, course it might drive off all your friends and there is no assurance the mosquitoes won't get to you anyway. :D

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I have been reducing my caloric intake for a few reason - one of the thoughts is if food becomes more expensive or there is a shortage.

As for the excercise - I hit the gym 4 times a week for 15 years - It's my primary hobby - but I ahve been trying to get more cardio in.

Good thread - people should be concious of their everyday waste, overindulgence & luxuries.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Nothing like a little tameshigiri and San Soo to take the edge off and prepare for come what may. You just may have to get real Medieval if the wrong person(s) come knocking.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Since no one else has said it yet.....
Give up the drugs people.

That includes the two biggest life-destroyers....alcohol and nicotine.

You don't need any of it. Seriously.
If a voice in your head is telling you that you need mood or mind-altering substances, it is lying to you.

Your life will be richer for it. Trust me.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

i've been eating 1-2 cloves of garlic a day
it's supposed to be a natural antibiotic
and i've heard it's good for mosquitoes too

when the little buggers get here
i might try a necklace of four cloves
or just smash up a clove and put it on my face

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Ramadan is coming for 30 days..fasting for 30 days is a good prep every year

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I picked up a free old propane BBQ and have done a bit of welding and made it into a crappy wood BBQ. I use sticks and some scrap wood from a renovation project I'm doing. It's more work that propane but now I've learned how to cook on it, and the flavour is amazing! The idea was originally I was going to do it just to get the hang of it, but now I find myself cooking stuff a few times a week.

And yeah, drugs addiction is gonna hurt a lot of people if things go bad. That includes prescription drugs that people think they need.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I'm not prepping physically for hard times, I'm simply prepping physically for the rest of my life.

Anybody that does not get aerobic (cardiovascular) exercise AT LEAST twice a week is just screwing themselves over for what their old age is going to be like.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I take my dog for a walk twice daily.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Dog (siberian husky) walks, high intensity biking for 1hr each day 5 times a week, and eating the best quality food that I can.

Even if the world never enters a SHTF scenario within the next 125 years (all our lifetimes), it's imperative that we stay in shape. We're surrounded by some much god-awful food and sloth/inactivity that my generation (the age 10-25 set) will die in record nubers/percentages from heart disease, diabetes, strokes, etc (the afflictions caused by obesity). "Dialysis" will probably become a common household word. It's probably the worst health crisis faced by the western (aka white aka european descended) world since the Black Death.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Baldwin, you are right. The numbers of kids your age with high blood pressure and diabetes is skyrocketing.

Another disturbing trend is the amount of kids being out on drugs for ADHD. A new law in our state requires that kids put on meds for ADHD have certain medical test. It just started two weeks ago. I have been flooded daily with boys between the age of 10- 15 yrs old. We are doing the average of 5 boys a day 5 days a week. The percentage of girls in comparison is small..That is 25 kids a week and that is a tiny percentage of the true picture.

There are so many other options for these kids. Its really sad.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Mosquitoes don't really bother me that much. They'll buzz me, but I seldom ever get bit. Black flies, on the other hand ... hoowee, they were pure nasty this weekend up at the cottage. Good thing it poured rain yesterday, letting us get out and get some work done.

Funny that this thread is here now, we just did this this weekend. No TV, heating with the fireplace, water run to the free running spring. Couldn't get in any swimming, tho. The lake's about 5c right now, with the ice less than a couple of weeks off it.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

We have a slow running creek in our backyard that pools in certain places
and the mosquitoes love it.
Instead of sprays, I just get a few goldfish at the local Walmart
and they eat all the Mosquito lavae in the water, works great!

No Chemicals, no bug zappers.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Lifting weights 5 days a week for about an hour a session. No cardio for now. My blood pressure is 110/70. Good cholesterol is at 60 (I think from all the fish I eat). If I run, I lose weight like a crack smoker. I can only put on strength if I put on weight (good weight).

I am headed into my late 30's, so I find myself being very careful with my form becuase I have bulged a disc one time (the pain was rediculous. Stayed in bed for 5 days and had pain subside over a 2 month period), and also have a slightly torn rotator cuff in one shoulder.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Scott, if you have a torn rotator cuff I hope you are not doing any overhead power lifting.. I had extensive damage to my rotator cuff. The surgery was a miserable experience and the results not great. The physical Therapist and Dr. really stressed no weight lifting over head and also certain extended arm rotation curls..

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

None of that stuff. What I have to be careful with is how far I come down with dumbbell bench presses, there is also a little pain doing heavy dumbbell rows, and if I go too far on dips. Just have to shorten my range of motion a little bit. It's not a fun feeling to realize you are starting to fall apart, but it is good to realize it and make some adjustments to keep your physical fitness at a decent level for as long as possible.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder. So many people have that injury. I actually think I did most of the damage over the years of lifting/pressing with a barbell which does not allow a full range of motion.

I see many people my age pushing their kids in soccer, lacrosse, etc. and they end up with injuries in their teens that will cause pain and poor conditioning for the rest of their lives. My mother blew out a knee cheerleading in highschool and it has effected her entire life since that time.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I am a rock climber so i have always kept myself in great shape as far as strength/weight ratio goes. I used to be able to do multiple one arm pullups (until about 5 years ago), but i'm now really heavy for a climber (167 at 5'9") and looking to lose 10 pounds at least; however, if TSHTF the extra weight might be a good thing. I used to climb mountains as well. In my early 20's I ate like a pig to get up to 170 before I went to Denali in Alaska. Came back weighing 155, and damn glad i bulked up beforehand! I don't think that being super thin will confer any advantage when the food runs short...

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

If anyone is worried about prolonged food shortage, I'd suggest bulking up on lean muscle. 1g of protein is worth 4 calories, as is 1g of carbohydrates. 1g of fat is worth 9 calories. In this day and age, keeping a scant amount of fat would probably be more detrimental to one's health than keeping some reserve calories in the form of muscle or not having any at all.

If you can, try and visit a middle or high school cafeteria during lunch periods. If it's not fried, it's drowning in a fatty, salty, and/or sugary sauce. Then they're drinking soda or powerade. (Powerade/gatorade contains H. F. Corn Syrup...probably the worst sugar that a human can consume). Then they go home and eat more greasy crap.

Pay attention to the doctors who tell us that generation Y and Z will be one of the few to die at a younger age than their parents.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Physical fitness and health is a way of life. There is no other physical preparation need be. Unless you are used to a slovenly and indolent lifestyle, in which case, you are not physically fit and healthy.

I admire the Spartans of old but we do not follow their Lakonic ways of self infliction of hardship, beyond exercise. No pig blood broth and coarse bread for me thank you.

Judging from what I have learned speaking to people who have done time in jail, they look back on their days of luxury with appreciation. Ergo, based on experience, one of the ways to prepare for a loss of comfort, is to reasonably enjoy it while you have it. WTSHTF you will regret having been overly fixiated on hardship before it really came.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Last summer and all through the fall up until january of this year I used to walk about ten miles a day. 3ish to get to college, 3ish to go see my girlfriend, and 3ish to go back home. Then in january I got a car, but I do plenty of walking at work and push and carry lots of stuff.

Trust me, if anyone is planning to bug out walking anywhere you MUST have with you an umbrella and a bottle of water. And good shoes, good good shoes otherwise you will get foot cramps and those are like toothaches for your feet.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

My wife endeavors to keep me from extremes, but I enjoy the lifestyle of readiness for what may come. I went camping in January and February in the mountains, slept outdoors, no tent, 20 degrees, and Brett and I had a blast. It's good to know you can do that and it's no big deal. I've gone 3 weeks without solid food and worked. Water and vegetable broth only. I have rebuilt / repaired stuffi nstead of buying a new item.

What was important was being honest with myself regarding what I am good at and what I am not good at. Don't kid yourself about your strengths and weaknesses.

I workout, take firearm training classes, eat well and keep the pantry full. But I also just had a cardio treadmill test and colonoscopy (all good results) because I know I am a 46 yr. old mortal.

Keep your powder dry but say your prayers.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Maddie, in Australia the native Aborigines measure the coldness of the night by how many dogs they have sleeping next to them.

They would say it was a 2 dog night if it was particularly cold.

Kiwi :bull-buddy-icon:

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I'm careful with my diet where I can be (fresh meat. vegetables, fish). Study some martial arts, addressing some other health issues and strength training.

Survival is of course largely about mindset. You can have absolutely nothing, just your birthday suit and survive, if you know how, and can maintain a positive mindset. There are many examples in history where able-bodied people have laid down and died, and others have refused that option, and carried on and survived.

For me, it's not just about survival, it's about being prepared, getting on with life, and if it comes down to survival, then not just basic survival, but surviving well!

If you first face and accept the possibility of death, survival becomes a hell of a lot easier as an option!

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I have changed my lifestyle, gone totally vegan, eating lots of rice and beans. Started Walking last July. Started Jogging in September, and by December I did my first Marathon, and finished in 8 hours. There is nowhere on my lsland not in reach to me by foot, however the jungle slogging is slow going. Now in May, am working on picking up more speed. I walk and jog about 40 miles a week, and spend some time in the jungle looking for edible plants.
Aloha Turtleguy

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

I try to run at least 5-8 miles a week now...my goal is ~18 miles/week.

Re: anyone here prepping themselves (physically) for hardtimes ?
 

Or be able to supply the demand that will grow for all substances. Remember, only trade for tangibles. :wink: