Got a good work out today splitting the rounds I cut yesterday. My new work out program goes something like this. Cut, Split, Load, Stack, and repeat. Here are a few Pictures for today.
very nice....I agree with you on the workout too, I enjoy getting involved with the wood in March and relaxing once the last split is on the rack.
Nice work! I've never been a believer that this hobby replaces a gym work out though. You don't throw around much weight when you're splitting vertical. My younger brother works out at a gym and I can tell you my build is no where near comparable to his targeted work outs. He runs at least 7 miles a day and works out with weights every other day. No amount of wood working on my part is going to compare to that. Before I started heating with wood in 2009 my build was skinny, now it's skinny with a belly and a bad back.
I haven't set foot in a gym since I was 16.Started working in the woods at 17 1/2. With the exception of a few years in the late 90's to 2005ish when owning a 20 ton Speeco splitter I've split wood manually ever since.Almost 34 years now.Its not as easy as when younger nor am I as fast,but I still enjoy it very much & take more frequent breaks,listen to what body tells me. Nothing to prove any more. I still climb a little on occasion,not very much however.Regular job gives me enough of that.
Nature's Gym... nothing like it. No comparison to indoor gyms full of sweaty people burning energy, getting nothing done. If a heavy firewood workout is required, stack, re-stack, and stack some more. Do multiple reps with 150 lb rounds. Need leg workouts... throw a sling around the waist and drag a 300 lb log around for a while. All for free. After warming up doing this for a while, suit up and head out with a pro logger who stays ahead of a cable skidder, dropping trees and rigging them for 6-8 tree twitches... oh yeah, and do that in 4' deep snow or 90 degree heat. ... Now my back hurts...
The gym for our facility is attaced to the other end of the building i work in. I see them knuckleheads out there flipping big tires amd hitting te tires with sledge hammers and dragging sleds tied to they backs down the road. Imagine how productive they could be given some proper direction. :: palm to forehead::
I agree with the outdoor workout. I have done quite abit of gym workouts along with tons of outdoor work - wood and otherwise - stone walls - push a loaded wheelbarrow up and down a small incluine with dirt or mluch in it a few dozen times. I refer to it as gym muscles vs. man muscles . Although the cardio portion - may not be satisfied by outdoor work, I find myself much stronger and in general "fit" after extended periods of outdoor work. You use many different small muscles bending, lifting, tossing and twisiting. I also find gnerally I am injured less and attirbute alot that fact. Nothing wrong with either workout - being in shape is key to long life. I just prefer 1/2 cord split and stacked vs. bunch of bench press and curl reps.
Nice work there GrJfer! Best gym out there is our own interest combined with our own work ethic. Some of the strongest people I have known are guys who do physical work day in and day out. The have to set a pace and keep that pace up for 8-14 hours a day. Farmers, construction workers, etc., etc.
Some of the best workouts are the core stuff that I read about in a functional strength training book I have. Good stuff. Very tiring, but good stuff.
I'm on board with the firewood workout program. This was how I spent 2 out of my 3 day weekend. A friend called and told me he had enough wood for a campfire if I wanted to come cut it up and take it. This is what it turned into.
Good job, GrJfer. At least the firewood workout results in something useful. The gymnasium equipment makers should build generators into their stuff to charge batteries or co-generate power back into the grid. Your gymn dues would of course be reduced by how much energy your workout returned to the system (NOT !!!)
The Country tough splitter looks like a black Huskee, Maybe another Speeco (Blount) made splitter for Orscheln Farm & home., I think they make the Oregon splitter too. Splitting vertical is the only way to go What type of wood ?
Good eye Dave. It is a Speeco brand splitter made for Orschlen's. This is my second one since August. First on developed a bad leak at the control valve head. Long story short it sat around for three weeks waiting to go to the service center. Manager set me up with a new one and said he would sell the other as a used unit once repaired. Happy with h how he treated me. So I only have about 4 hours on this one. Vertical splitting is the way to go for me as I cut everything 22-24", those rounds get s bit to heavy to be lifting.
Yes, you are doing it right GrJfer. Actually, there is a good place for both types of workouts. Naturally putting up wood is good for the muscles and general exercise but there are times when folks need to concentrate on different parts of the body for various reasons and therefore, putting up wood might not work out best for them but exercise in a gym could be preferable. But all in all, I'll stick to the wood cutting and leave the gym to others.
You ain't round then. I'm same height & 170,and don't have any belly.9 yr older brother who's an inch taller & 225+ cant say that about him....
