Your physical fitness is just as crucial as your preps when SHTF: Stay healthy by walking regularly and following a balanced diet

Many preppers spend a lot of their time preparing for the worst. They’d stockpile supplies and emergency kits for maximum survival. But one thing that a lot of people, not just preppers, neglect is physical preparation. Health and fitness are often overlooked because people take for granted how easy they have it in the modern world. Preparation is all about being able to endure whatever is thrown at you. In any disaster scenario, you could find yourself climbing several flights of stairs or even running for your life. Now, imagine doing these tasks while carrying a decently sized bug-out bag. Are you fit enough to survive in a post-SHTF world? (h/t to ModernSurvivalBlog.com)

Stay fit to stay alive

People have become heavily reliant on the convenience and comfort of the modern world. The over-reliance on technology made people lazier and more complacent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 71.6 percent of adults aged 20 and over are overweight. If disaster strikes, plenty of these people could struggle to survive because they aren’t physically fit to face the challenges.

Law enforcement and military often go through strenuous physical exams to evaluate cadets and prepare them for combat. While you don’t need to go through extreme lengths to stay physically fit, you should still be able to do basic human movements without tiring quickly. Anything can happen in an SHTF scenario, and, more often than not, you’d find yourself alone, with nobody to rely on. This could mean running from threats, climbing over rocks, traversing foliage, and carrying supplies. Struggling to finish any one of these tasks can be a death sentence. (Related: Why physical fitness is good for survival and why all preppers need to take good care of their bodies.)

So, before things hit the fan, you must train your body to endure the hardships that come with any disaster. Thankfully, it isn’t particularly challenging to do.

One of the main things you can do is to get up more and walk around. Walking is one of the simplest ways to get in shape, provided you also ditch junk food in favor of healthier options. Aerobic exercises like walking are not only good for cardio but also help you shave off a few extra pounds. The CDC recommends around 150 minutes of physical activity per week, which is about 2.5 hours worth of exercise. If you want to take it to the next level, you could double the time to 300 minutes per week. That’s only 44 measly minutes of walking each day. Maintaining this training program can help you get fit in no time at all.

However, exercising alone isn’t enough to get the job done. Experts claim that exercise goes hand-in-hand with eating a balanced diet. Eating certain foods can help give you energy, which is then used up by all the activities you do every day. Choosing the right foods also plays a significant role in staying fit and healthy. Most canned and processed foods contain a lot of salt and sugar. While they are easier to prep and stockpile for future use, the additives in these foods can end up damaging your body instead of helping it. Also consider adding more protein to your diet. A healthy amount of protein is essential for body maintenance. In addition, it helps build and repair muscles, allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of working out.

Don’t just rely on your fully stocked pantry and your survival and prepping skills alone. While those can definitely help you stay alive, you also need the strength and the endurance to carry out your tasks.

Sources include:

ModernSurvivalBlog.com

CDC.gov 1

CDC.gov 2

Military.com

Healthline.com

UrbanSurvivalSite.com