Reprinted from the ACJ - October, 1996
Exercise means different things to different people. I am reminded of a story that a friend told me about the various definitions of exercise.
While a student at a chiropractic college, he was out getting his daily dose of cardiovascular exercise by doing a little road work. As he moved along over the back roads in a wooded, mountainous area, a truck filled with trees and stumps approached from behind.
As the truck passed, the driver looked back over his shoulder and then locked up the brakes, stopping dead in the road. My friend continued until he was abreast of the truck. The driver, leaning over, called out to him, "Hey buddy, need a lift?"
My friend stopped and politely said, "No thanks, I'm just out jogging."
"Doin' what?" the driver replied through his chewing tobacco.
"Jogging—you know, running for exercise," my friend said.
The truck driver looked dumfounded, then confident in his next statement: "Hey friend, you want exercise, get yourself a pulpwood business." He then sped off. Needless to say, those two fellows had different views of exercise.
It doesn't matter what you do for a living, all of us have our own idea of what exercise is. But one thing we can all agree on is that every one of us needs to get a little more of it.
Just 30 minutes a day will produce significant benefits. It cuts the risk of heart attack, colon cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes and high blood pressure by up to 30 percent. This half hour doesn't have to be in a row, just accumulating the activity during the day is beneficial.
Now some good news. If you are working in the shop at a good clip, as during this past summer, you're getting a dose of exercise. Just like the guy cutting wood all day, the lifting, bending and walking around the shop aid in our quest for exercise.
Experts recommend high-repetition, low-weight activity for toning our bodies. If you're using hand tools instead of air ratchets to tighten bolts, you're getting your reps.
Industrial bolt-on headers can work the arms like a Nautilus machine. In addition to the shop activities, add mowing the lawn, playing catch with the kids and washing the car, and you are closer than you think to that magical half hour of moderate exercise per day.
Now some bad news. No matter how active you are, you can increase your fitness level by adding more exercise. Try walking to and from work, or throwing Frisbee with a co-worker at lunch.
We have all heard of the type of workout designed to keep you at your target heart rate for X amount of time. Take your pulse, go faster, don't let up! What a drag. Instead, do various activities to keep from getting bored. I dread my afternoon workouts that last only 30 minutes, but look forward to a two-hour bike ride.
Variety is the spice of life. Try working out with a friend. After doing a range of activities you can tell people that you are "cross training." It is never too late to start. Just make sure that you start slowly and always stretch your poor muscles before and after your workout. Add intensity as you get in better shape. There is no need to buy expensive equipment unless you are so inclined. The rec room floor and backyard will do just fine.
Here is an idea: As business falls off during the months of autumn, try these "around the shop" exercises. "Hoist rack chin ups" are popular. You can try the "radiator bench press," a exhibition event at the 2000 Olympics. The "dead car push" followed by a "test tank lap swim" is ideal for all-around conditioning. And of course the "delivery guy forgot the paperwork sprint" is practiced daily in most distributing shops.
I hope you all know I'm kidding. But do keep in mind that the daily grind can provide increased physical fitness opportunities if we look at it that way. Park further from the mall and walk in. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. My favorite is to get up and change the TV channel, leaving the remote lay where it's at (wherever it's at).
If all this fails, try starting a pulpwood business. I hear it's excellent exercise.
The above article was written by David M. Brown, Chief Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and is published by JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
114 Lost Grove Road / PO Box 96 / Princeton, Iowa 52768-0096
Phone 563-289-5123 or Fax 563-289-3825