Guest post by Judah Hamilton, who blogs at Post Apocalyptic Survival.
image by familymwr
Many of you read TheSurvivalMom blog may be familiar with the program on National Geographic, called “Doomsday Preppers”. This show is an examination of the lives of real “preppers” who are all trying to get their preparations in order before the inevitable apocalypse.
The show has survival experts that rate the preparations of the featured survivalists and then they are rated based on their particular preparedness level. If you have ever watched this program, you will surely know that the majority of these “preppers” as they are called, are physically out of shape and not physically in any condition to tackle something as grandiose as surviving doomsday.
How do these people expect to survive some sort of apocalyptic doomsday scenario when they look like they are one doughnut away from a quadruple bypass?
While some of them may have extensive preparations, they often overlook the very real importance of being in peak physical condition. If the apocalypse really were to occur and these severely out of shape people were actually forced to leave their homes, how could they really expect to, “head for the hills”?
Could these out of shape doomsday preppers really hack it if they needed to march miles into the wilderness and live off the land?
image by Mr. T in DC
If you were really forced to abandon your home because of some disaster of apocalyptic proportions, the reality is you will be essentially reduced to the role of a refugee. Your days would be consumed by your constant wandering, searching for supplies, resources and whatever food you could be lucky enough to come across. To survive in these conditions the reality is that you will be forced to hunt and gather your food which requires you to be physically fit.
How could you be severely out of shape and expect to sow crops, defend yourself from external threats and perform the intensely physical tasks that are required for survival, like chopping firewood or walking extremely long distances.
Most of the people on “Doomsday Preppers” would surprise me if they could jog a full mile, so hiking out into the wilderness to sustain themselves off the land appears to be a long shot for these portly survivalists. If you were seriously concerned about “doomsday prepping,” wouldn’t you naturally consider your own physical fitness to be the pinnacle of your preparations? At the end of the day, the only gear you always have with you is your mind and your body, so it is the most important gear in your survival preparations.
While many survivalists are obsessed with building a home fortress, it would benefit them to be spending some of that time and effort on preparing their bodies as much as they have prepared their home defenses.
After all, you cannot only be prepared to be fortified in your home. You will surely be forced to head out in search of supplies no matter how well stocked your preparations are.
Making a daily workout routine part of your preparations should be a top priority of people who are preparing for doomsday. The reality is that your physical body is your best defense and if you are in abysmal physical shape, then how do you expect to survive the harsh conditions after the apocalypse?
I think that most of these “doomsday preppers” (and all survivalists for that matter) would benefit by spending a little more time running on a treadmill and lifting weights. That combined with constantly honing survival skills and reading sites like TheSurvivalMom will go a long way in terms of increasing their chances of survival.
You can read more from Judah at his site, Post Apocalyptic Survival, including this article, “How to Survive the Apocalypse on a Budget”.
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Gabor says
May 21, 2012 at 11:43 amOn top of all those true things you say, I would add, only go to the weight lifting, or treadmill, if that is the best you can do. Integrate the exercise into your way to get around (bicycle, walking) or your way of living life (chopping firewood, carrying stream water to the garden or tending the garden) makes a whole lot more sense to me than buying a membership in the gym, driving back and forth to do the exercise there, and having to make the money for both.Both biking and gardening gives me a nature-connectedness, and through that also joy, that driving and exercising in the gym wouldn’t do.
Alicia says
May 21, 2012 at 1:23 pmThis article really hits home for me. I started doing some cardio workouts 3 times a week about 2 weeks ago after my husband and I were talking about the plans we have to bug out if we do not have access to motor vehicles. We are both far from large, but we could both stand to take some pounds off and I certainly could benifit from more exercize. Plus I think that one of the cheapest (but maybe not easiest) ways to prep is to start with your mind and body!
Rob says
May 21, 2012 at 1:45 pmI only noticed a handfull of truly obese “characters” on the show. Many were rail thin and that can be worrisome, too. In a collapse situation, especially if on the move, the obese people will drop weight quickly and be able to utilize the muscle they’ve built up over the years more effectively. The scrawny ones won’t last long at all.
However, most of the people I saw on the show seemed to be in fine shape.
Gregory8 says
May 29, 2012 at 5:31 amRob: Unless a person has been working out both aerobically and some resistance training, they will collapse under the physical and mental strain of any serious sitation after a day or so. I do crossfit training 3-4 days a week and distance swim on the days in between. I’m in my late 50’s and can only do half of what the college kids I train with can do. I’ve been a firefighter, military, and LEO from 1973-2009 and I still need to improve because these younger people will be the challenge. I pity those who haven’t been preparing physically and mentally becasue they will fall by the wayside in no time. I don’t plan to go either quickly or quietly, that’s why I train. I also still shoot a lot. Kathryn, Pam, and Gwen seem to be doing well, but the rest of your “Preppers” need to get moving while you can. Good luck everyone.
bob says
May 21, 2012 at 2:21 pmI want/need to lose about 35 pounds want to get to or under 200 for my 5’10” frame. So a couple months ago I started a 30-45 min workout and try to do it 4-5 times a week. I run 1-2 miles and then do an asst. of basic stuff, push ups, pull ups squats etc. I really want to get off the two blood press meds I take to be better prepped if shtf. I have been eating better and less and to test myself I entered a 5k for this past sat. Actually suprised myself and finished at 28min and 40 sec to finish in the middles of the pack for my 50-55 age group. It does not matter what you do JUST GET UP AND MOVE!! start slow and then build up each and eveytime and before you know it you will be better off then before. Now I have only lost about 10 pounds in two and half months but I am in way better shape than before so some of that fat has turned to muscle, will add the mt. bike to the routine and try to step it up. Have my yearly physical next week so I hope to have some good numbers.
Judah says
May 21, 2012 at 7:21 pmIn response to the above poster who mentioned that only a handhold the characters were obese, I wrote this article after the initial few episodes. The preceding episodes didn’t impress me either and being rail thin is probably equally detrimental to survival as being over weight. My goal was really to point out the fact that it is hypocritical to be preparing for the possibility of doomsday while neglecting the even more likely scenario of health issues spelling disaster for the characters. Thanks for the great comments though and thanks survival mom for including my guest post! Love your site!
Judah @ post apocalyptic survival
Rob says
May 22, 2012 at 2:26 pmI hope I didn’t make it seem like I disagreed with your article. Quite the contrary. I think it is a very timely and informative article on an oft neglected subject.
Dagny says
May 21, 2012 at 8:41 pmNot only should endurance and strength be of concern but if one needs meds to deal with high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc., they are in big trouble post-TEOTWAWKI.
An apocalyptic world surely would be especially unkind to the unfit.
RightWingMom says
May 22, 2012 at 8:38 amExcellent article. Last summer reality hit me. I realized that if we were stranded more than a few miles from home my poor physical condition and obesity would be a severe detriment to me and may family! The thought of my 2 sons being in MORE jeopardy because I was unable to make a difficult trek home truly woke me up!
I have since lost 70 lbs. with a goal of loosing 30 – 50 more. This has been LONG over due, but PTL I woke up in time and added good physical fitness to my preparedness. I can only hope more people realize that being in the best physical shape possible is AS critical as storing beans, bullets, and Band Aids!
Rob says
May 22, 2012 at 10:25 amMaybe we should say “Beans, Bullets, Band Aids and Bowflex?”
RightWingMom says
May 22, 2012 at 7:31 pm“Thumbs Up!” 😉
Kathryn Weeks says
May 22, 2012 at 4:52 pmWith fitness you also need to have a well rounded regime. I am not a regime girl at all and need to be kept interested to keep up any fitness “regime”, so I have done BMX racing in the past and we now play squash, do and teach Tai Chi and also twice a week go to a fitness class at a Gymnastics Club.
The gymnastics club is great as we use a lot of the equipment, bars, rings, trampoline and rope climbing as well as the usuall strength, aerobic, co-ordination and flexibility stuff and the motivation you get by being in a class and making friends.
We are on 6 acres and so there is gardening, and the chooks, wood chopping etc etc so there is a lot of toing and froing there.
While I am not the fittest person in the world I am not bad either and am improving, I am pretty proud also that I managed to climb 5 metres up the rope with weights on my ankles which means my upper body strength is improving and also my determination (need lots of determination for rope climbing).
I lose interest pretty quick if I am bored so having a good class to go to once or twice a week is great as it keeps me motivated for other things I am doing on my own.
Pam says
May 23, 2012 at 6:32 amOk guys…let me say this…Just because I can’t run a mile due to a major back problem, does this mean I should go crawl in a corner and call it quits? Not me…I PERSONALLY think that mindset, ie mind over matter, will be as or even more, important than physical consitioning. I grew up in family that had some serious health issues (really bad genetics) as well as obesity (again, genetics plays a big part) but we managed to farm, garden, take care of a dairy her and hogs, run a sawmill, keep the house clean, the yard looking good and the kids were cared for, clean and as healthy as genetics would allow. Even at my peak as a kid I couldn’t run a mile…my body type is not that of a runner. Not many in my family could run a mile. BUT we were able to function, and prosper, due to perseverance. I am all for being physically in shape; even with the problems I have with my back (chronic pain, leg goes numb, lifting restrictions, can’t sleep, you name it) I can STILL outwork and outperform my nephew who is 5’8″ and 140#’s! I KNOW things have to be done and I do it. I am working from the time I get going in the morning until I crawl into bed at night; I get very little help as, even in the “bad shape” I’m in I get more done than most of my family combined can do in a week. I grew up doing hard work and continue to do it even today, I just do it a little (ok, a lot) slower but it gets done. I maintain the garden space we have; my house is very well maintained and clean; my long haired dogs (I have them for companionship as well as an alarm system) are well cared for, socialized and healthy; I care for the lawn and flower beds; I cook, sew, can; I manage to even get a walk in everyday. Most of my home repairs are done by me; I’m building a food/water storage area in a crawl space beneath my house; fence repairs are done by me. Let’s see, what else…? Bicycling with a trailer behind me loaded with some of my goods and my oldest dog would be my GOOD method if I couldn’t take my pickup with a trailer behind it. I HAVE A PLAN and I have my stuff ready to go. The rest of my family, without the issues I have, even my rail-thin nephew, not so much. I am a firm believer that MINDSET plays as much, if not more, of a role in getting things done and G-ingOOD. I am a firm believer that what I can’t do I can barter for; one person can’t do everything. When it comes to being able to offer something to a community, I have that in spades. So, YES, I agree, being in shape will be worth it’s weight in gold, but having the mindset to get things done is just as important.
Gwen says
May 28, 2012 at 6:49 amI agree with this post so, so much. I just don’t understand how people who are concerned about being whole and healthy through terrible events can not be concerned with the same in their everyday life. Do we think TEOTWAWKI will magically make all the survivors into marathon runners and powerlifters?
This has actually been my main concern thus far. I live in a city right now, so I don’t have a whole lot of space to stockpile food, raise chickens, etc. – but I can definitely get myself into the physical shape to be able to run, bike, or fight my way out of the city and into the nearby mountains. My main goals are to be able to fireman carry anyone in my immediate family, to be able to run 10 miles with a 30 pound weight, and to be able to bike 50 miles on a loaded bike. I also think it would be good to be able to climb a rope and do a muscle-up.
I’m getting there. I ran in my first 5k event just this weekend, and have a 10k coming up in September. I’m doing really well with the weight-lifting – I’m going for a 100 kg deadlift on Wednesday. (That’s 220 pounds lifted straight up off the floor, about 1.5x my own body weight.) I could definitely fireman carry my mom, and probably my fiance if he weren’t so awkwardly shaped, but I could definitely drag him out of a burning building anyway! I’ve started cycling everywhere, and while I can’t do a muscle-up yet, I CAN do a pull-up. I’ve also enrolled in boot camp and sword combat classes.
Crazy_Redneck says
May 29, 2012 at 5:36 amIf you run a small farm as part of your preps, I can assure you there’s neither any time nor need to do additional exercise. My wife feeds all the animals during the day which includes 27 dairy goats, flocks of turkeys, geese, ducks, chickens and guineas as well as milking the aforementioned dairy goats. After I get off work (I’m fortunate enough to work from home), I do the evening feedings/milkings. Additionally, during the evening and on weekends, I spend my time cleaning animal pens, composting, clearing land and fencing. I have gone from 225 lbs. of goo to a lean 198 lbs. since we’ve begun our endeavor nearly 2 years ago. Making changes to diet are just as important. While not completely primal, I have cut a lot of grains and high fructose corn syrup from my diet. This will help alleviate sluggishness so you actually have the energy to tackle such endeavors.
Dave-O says
May 29, 2012 at 11:04 amThe article is great, up to a point. I strongly disagree with the treadmill concept, maybe because of my bias and my involvement with Crossfit and resistance training!! I would like to see more folks doing functional fitness, even if it is not Crossfit. Consult your doctor first before box jumps, burpees, farmers’ lifts, wall balls, squats, deadlifts, plyo, lunges, pullups, snatches, etc. If the body is not conditioned to burn FAT, there is an issue with muscle breakdown, especially for folks with metabolic syndrome or Type 2 Diabetes. Weak muscles will put your joints and bones at risk for injuries. And there is the issue of the knees and back being prone to injury with the excess weight. Add possible hormone imbalances, and there are alot of nagging health problems that do not bode well if the medical facilities are nationalized and socialized.
John Gavazzoni says
May 29, 2012 at 11:48 amI jmay have missed it, but I don’t think anyone mentioned the importance of weaning yourself off medication—all if possible. It can be done by researching nutrional answers to whatever afflictions you have. Being dependent on medications in a survival mode is not something I’d want to face. I’m 75 require no prescription medication at all simply by avoiding mainstream medicine’s appaling protocol for maintaining good health. And by the way, my family health-history is not all that extraordinary. I’ll only give one expample of what I’m talking about. Contrary to mainstream advice, you can cure your Type-B diabetes in less than a month, without taking medication.
Mark says
May 30, 2012 at 4:32 amI see this in firearms training courses I attend also. Men with enormous midsections of fat. I always think that they better hope and pray that their firearms never break down because they are done if they do.
The mind is the first weapon, the body is an extension of that mind and any external weapon (i.e. gun) is an extension of the body and mind. Too many persons have focused their time and money on the guns and ammo (and gimmick accessories) instead of getting their primary weapons of mind and body in fighting condition.
JC Refuge says
May 31, 2012 at 1:59 pmI agree that our body and mind are our greatest weapons. I think we can all agree that we should spend at least as much time honing our abilities to use these as we do man-made weapons.
Steve Taylor says
August 27, 2012 at 6:08 pmDown 20 lbs this summer, better foods, hiking, biking and now stacking my 5 1/2 cords of wood…. I feel much better. 25 lbs to go to being in epic survival shape.