#2 Survival Tool

Guyon

Guyon

Biscuit Whisperer
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This post stems from the fact that I need to lose about 15 pounds. :o

We post here a lot about tools. Knives, fire starters, SAKs, and all manner of kit. We also spill a lot of digital ink on techniques--how to start a fire, how to baton with knives, etc.

Quite a bit has also been written about the mentality required to survive demanding scenarios in wilderness settings, and most would agree that the #1 tool for survival is the mind. Proper mental state (a strong will to survive) and clear thinking (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan, for example) are critical for success.

But what about the #2 tool? Here, I mean the human body. What about when planning ends and action begins?

I would opine that, more often than not, with all other things being equal, the fitter body is going to survive more times than the breathless, out-of-shape body. Just as one example, you might be able to start fires like a pyromaniac with gasoline, but if you're not in good enough physical shape to cut and to collect sufficient firewood, those skills are wasted.

Just wondering who here gives much thought to physical fitness as a critical component of the survival equation specifically, or of the wilderness equation more generally.
 
Excellent point---and I'm here to tell you that most people do not take their health seriously enough.

If you weigh 100lbs more than you did in High School(and I have many patients that fit that mold)--your going to have a hard time lugging all that weight back to a safe area.

If you smoke 2 packs /day---etc...
 
I excercise everyday... it's just part of who I am, and when I'm in the woods it definitely pays off.
 
I just started working out for real at a gym for the first time since i was in high school. wow what a difference. now when my wife and i go on hikes it does not kick my ass. and it makes my feel more energetic at work.:D
 
im in high school and participate in our schools Cadet Corps. Me being a sergeant means i have to set a good example. Im the role model for 80 13yr olds. Over the past year i finally managed to achieve a 6pack. I cant tell you how much better you feel when your fit. When i first started off in cadets i was pretty unhappy because i was unfit and got tired and felt very lethargic. Now i feel like going out, doing more and doing it better.
 
Good post, and not one many like to discuss. You're absolutely spot on about the #1 tool - the mind. knowledge and strong determination can overcome weakness in the body, but I would consider them inversly proportional only to a degree. Much in the way the the younger studs can overcome knowledge with skill, speed and strength...but only for so long:D Your body's fitness is like any other tool that is used everyday...you must maintain it, strengthen it, keep it sharp and clean. The more you're out of shape, the more likely you'll put yourself in a "survival" situation where the odds are against you.

ROCK6
 
I have always thought of my body as tool #1

every assesment of a situation begins with "how am I functioning?" secondly "What do I have to work with?"

That being said , the ability to work within your own limits is realy important too .
I used to be a chronic asthmatic , its no joke trying to do stuff when breathing is about all you can manage .

Alongside being fit and staying that way , knowing your limits and working within them is important too , the only way to know your limits IS to work to them and push them etc tho ... its not an excuse for slacknes , but a way of increasing endurance , to my thinking anyway .
 
IMO it depends on the situation. A little extra body fat would do well when food is scarce. I would need to count on my wits to survive @8% body fat.
If your leg is broke, a little "extra" might not be so bad.
 
I am off topic here, and I am not affiliated with this site, but can I advise using www.sparkpeople.com

It is a free site that allows you to track your calories, know what foods have what calories, track your excercise and whatnot. The man who runs it made his fortunes with e-bay (early investor) and this is his way of giving back.

I have lost 26 pounds in 8 or 9 weeks using the tools on this site and would advise it to others.

TF
 
I battle to keep the weight off, I'll admit it. My normal job doesn't help me as I spend most of my time either writing, studying, or teaching.

Back in 99 I weighed 225. I got serious about my health and started working out. I got down to a rock solid 185, what I weighed at 20 years old. I remember one day during that phase getting ready for a mountain trip, I stepped on the scale to weigh my pack and it read my previous weight. Think about that! I had been carrying around my full pack, 26 lbs. I lost a total of 40 lbs and felt great.

I'm up to a stable 195 right now because I don't have time to hit the gym like I did before. That needs to change soon. Mac
 
After I blew out my knee it has been hard for me to keep wight off. Add to that I'm borderline diabetic and I just plain love to cook and you can guess I'm carrying quite a few extra pounds. My ideal weight is about 175 and right now I'm just over 200 (5'9"). I have a 67 mile backpacking trip scheduled for this summer so I'm working on it. Since I can't run anymore aerobic exercise is my biggest challenge. I need some sort of home machine. Fortunately I haven't lost much strength other than what age has claimed. I can still bench well over my body weight. I try to strap on mt backpack each day and at least walk around the neighborhood. I leave it weighing 50lbs so I can grab it and go. BTW it is a brand bew Cabelas and I think I am going to send it back.

My wife just competed in an Army event called a Mud Run. It was held at the old Fort Ord, now part of the Presidio of Monterey. She finished well back in the pack but she completed the run and obstacle course.

You are so right about conditioning. I've been on fires where a volunteer company has shown up and incident command would not let them participate due to their age and lack of fitness. Heart attacks are a major killer in the fire service.
 
Pict and Tralfuchre that's AWESOME! Good on ya!

I've always been a lean feller; I've even tried to put on weight, but it never seems to take. Everyone says that it's youthful metabolism but I'm not so sure; leanness seems to run in the other side of the family.

As far as keeping in shape, I'd say I do well. A very thought provoking thread...
 
Guyon said:
But what about the #2 tool? Here, I mean the human body. What about when planning ends and action begins?

I would opine that, more often than not, with all other things being equal, the fitter body is going to survive more times than the breathless, out-of-shape body. Just as one example, you might be able to start fires like a pyromaniac with gasoline, but if you're not in good enough physical shape to cut and to collect sufficient firewood, those skills are wasted.
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Excellent point Guyon. I'm in fairly good shape (always could be better) in that my hobbies (hiking, snowboarding, mtn biking, ect...) + semi regular exercise keeps me pretty fit. I also have three young Daughters that keep me going:eek: but good health, and fitness is a definite must in a real survival situation.
 
I exercise quite a bit, to the point that it's doing my body harm. The weather just got good, so I'm about skateboarding everyday now. A day where I plan to take it easy and rest, just rolling around for an hour or so quickly turns into an all-day skate session. Lots of times I stop skating for the day it's because my legs are cramping too bad to do much of anything, but even then I'll just go eat something, wait a bit and keep at it. I can feel my legs aging much quicker than the rest of my body. Not surprising considering it's common for some of us to start skating at noon and keep going past midnight. We're addicts :)

I also lifts weights and use a punching bag most every day. Walk a couple miles a day. Whenever I'm doing something in my room like cleaning, reading a book or playing bass, I usually take breaks and do a few curls, inclined bench press and a couple other basic lifts.

Probably the most important part of all this though is really watching what I put into my body. No pop, candy, caffeine, artificial ingredients, cigarettes, fast food etc. That makes a HUGE difference in how I feel day to day and how well my energy levels stay regulated.

I've always placed a lot of emphasis on physical conditioning. My best friends girlfriend is to the point where if we want to go somewhere to hang out, it can't be too far from where we park or she won't walk the couple hundred feet to get there. I could never imagine letting myself get in such poor shape unless something like a disease or broken bone prevented me from doing things like that. When I go to the woods I often break out in a sprint or find a branch to do pull-ups on. I just think it feels good to exercise to put my body to some use, since our day-to-day lives require so little of it.
 
ROCK6 said:
Good post, and not one many like to discuss.
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Yeah, my suspicion is that some folks think that gear and techniques can overcome almost all adverse conditions. But when push really comes to shove, fitness has to play a key role in whether a person makes it or doesn't. And the other day (as I was contemplating a new exercise schedule), it struck me that I don't recall a lot of posts to this effect. After having done a search, I can report some similar thoughts, however.

Here's one from just a few days back that I missed:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462033

Here's one more from last year:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351618

I found others that come at fitness more tangentially--e.g. training for altitude, martial arts and survival, etc. And I'm sure there are lots of individual posts that speak to the issue of fitness. But there really aren't that many entire threads that treat physical fitness as an essential part of the survival equation.
 
Here's someone that was thinking along the same lines as I am:

markmarkmark said:
it's funny how often this point is overlooked...i know people who have their bug-out packs all ready, know all kinds of skills, have all the tools, but have never carried a backpack in their lives...they don't walk, they don't run, they don't do any exercise, but they think when the SHTF, they're going to rely on all their book learning and equipment-accumulation to pull themselves through...yeah right, lots of good it's going to do you when they find you huffing and puffing and puking your guts out 600 yards from your house, huddled over your 70-pound bug-out bag...

your body's your most important survival tool, second only to your brain...if it ain't in shape, good luck getting by with your $700 custom blade and tricked-out survival rifle. most likely, i'll stop by and "borrow" it off your carcass. :D :D :D
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yea i need to lose some weight fairly bad but i just dont know how or am that motivated im 14 going to be 15 in april and weigh 144lbs any one wanna help?
 
I'm an amateur bodybuilder (natural) and pretty hard core fitness nut, and it's a lot of fun at 50 to be able to run circles around the young guys in the gym and on the trail. My wife is a competitive bodybuilder. Fitness is overlooked not only for survival purposes, but for every quality of life aspect. Measured against the possible financial impact of health issues, being in the best condition you can is the best investment you can make for your financial security and that of your family.
I can't count the number of "survivalists" I've seen at gun shows who had more armament than small countries, but had a belly hanging to their knees.
 
I feel fitness can be free myself, so I go pushups/situps night one and runing night two alternating back and forth. I know it isn't going to give you a jacked body or anything like that but it will keep you fit and healthy.

Ajcz motivation comes from within partner. If you want it bad enough you'll do it. Good luck to you.
 
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