Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:
> Bev; I understand completely. There isn't enough heavy work in the
> winter on a homestead to keep in shape. Yeah, I haul wood every day,
> but that isn't enough, with all the extra sitting around. As we get
> older, it's more important to stay in shape so we don't hurt
> ourselves when the work DOES come.

I know that you work around the property, too, and like I wrote a minute
ago, maybe it is just that there is no consistency in what I do, that I
am not working the right things.

> I do the Walk Away the Pounds videos. The 4 mile is a nice one, but
> it takes an uninterupted hour to do. She uses weights in the others,
> but not in the 4 mile for some reason, so I added the weights to that
> one; she uses 3 pound, I use 5 pound hand weights. That's no where
> near enough weight training to be ready for...oh, say, pulling a 300
> ewe out of the mud (which I've had to do more than once), or other
> everyday homestead tasks. I'd like to add more weight training, but
> don't have a weight set....is doing lots of reps with smaller weights
> as good for building muscle?

I'm not sure about your last question, which is why I need help myself.
BUT, be careful exercising with weights.  I have some ankle weights that
I have stopped using.  The theory is that weights, either hand or ankle
mess up your natural stride, and that could cause injury.  I wish I
could find a very logical article I read about using weights, how it
makes no sense to risk injury for an extra 5% of calories to burn, when
you can get better results by either speeding up your walk or doing more
reps..
Around here, I find that I have to use leverage for a good many
tasks...moving the chicken tractor, for example..there is a short chain
on the front that I could pick up and pull, but it is a lot easier if I
pull a steel bar through the loop and use the bar to pull.

B

--
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to
hate. Hate leads to suffering.”        Yoda