Is 50 the new 100?

Nah

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

you just "forgot" what lifting 100 feels like.

Re: Is 50 the new 100?

Jerry Nicholson

My theory is that the gravitational constant keeps increasing. That is why things I could lift easily when I was 42 now seem to be twice as heavy! My wife says I am getting old but I reject that idea.

Jerry

Re: Is 50 the new 100?

David Yoho

I'll be 68 in several weeks and remain fairly active. However, I've been aware for some time that my brain continues to write checks that my rear end can't cash!

Just 3 days ago I raked a load of wet leaves onto a tarp out front and needed to drag it to the woods behind the house (about 130 feet). It was all I could do to move that heavy mess. Had to stop several times to get my breath and regroup. I finally got it back there but it was a struggle. Yesterday I did it again but with a smaller load. It was much easier. Just have to remember to work smarter and not harder!

Tip on raking leaves, wet or dry

Larry Barrett

I have always used a rake like, well, like a rake, sweeping leaves along until the pile got too large, then moving on to the next spot. When my wife first arrived here from Thailand, having never seen Fall or a rake, she wanted to help but quickly found the pile got heavy. So, not knowing any better, she turned the rake over with the 'fingers' pointing up, held the handle low (easy for her since she is less that 5' to begin with), and slid the rake along the ground pushing the pile with little effort. I watched with astonishment.

At that time, 50 years ago, our rakes were bamboo and sometimes the individual 'fingers' would catch on something and snap off. Rakes now days are often some sort of tough plastic and the 'fingers' bonded together, not individual, so almost no chance of shaping off. This works great and has saved my back many times.

50 lb weights

John K Jordan

When I buy animal feed it comes it 50 lb bags.

Square hay bales are generally 40-60 lbs.

Even trace mineral salt blocks are 50 lbs each.

So far I can still carry two 50 lb feed bags or two bales of hay at the same time.

I load, unload, lift, stack and carry for use well over 32,000 lbs of these things every season and most are handled twice and some three times so that makes moving maybe 30-40 tons by hand. I handle even more weight when offloading and stacking wet boards at the sawmill and big chunks of wood to process into turning blanks. I'll be 71 next birthday.

When I buy feed at the co-op I tell the help I'd rather load it myself. I figure when I get to the point where I can't handle a 50 lb bag of chicken feed it's time to give it all up and go sit on a rocking chair on the deck.

If your boards are beginning to be a chore perhaps an exercise program would help.

JKJ

Re: 50 lb weights

Stuart Johnson

Are you channeling Robert Duvall and "Secondhand Lions".

Exercise Program....

Barry Irby

I grew up on a farm. I once made the mistake of telling my Dad I wanted a set of weights. He said I have a set for you and sent me out to load 400 bales of hay onto a wagon and then off load into the barn. By Myself. It evolved driving the tractor to the bales (piles of three), getting off, loading the hay, climbing onto the wagon, stacking them, drive to the next bales, rinse and repeat. At the barn, put a few on the conveyor and then go and stack them. Over and over.

Last interest I ever had in weights.

I may need an exercise program now.

Re: Exercise Program....

Garthfromsandiego

Been there done that. Grew hay on about 15 acres on my former property in Virginia. Primary purpose was to prevent the forest and brush from reclaiming the land. Once was asked why my bales only weighed 40lbs. My reply was that I could handle 40lbs bales all day by myself. Even that would be a significant challenge now.

Re: Exercise Program....

paul in AZ

I have without fail run less than 3 miles every day.

Re: Exercise Program....

TomD

It is kinda interesting to compare how young people looked around WWII, even their commando contingent. They sorta looked like the 100 pound weaklings of the Weider ads, compared to today's designer muscled, chemical enhanced product. But they could work. There is something to be said for heavy work.

Re: Exercise Program....

John K Jordan

One year when hay was scarce I drove about 50 miles one way for a load to pick up in the field. The guy said "this is great hay, you'll love it."

The hay was terrible. Full of weeds. Bales were so light in weight I could literally pick them up with one finger. Thing is that unlike some other places, hay in TN is sold by the bale, not by weight. A $5 bale could weigh 35 lb or 65 lbs.

I now buy from a guy whose bales are around 60 lbs., 150 bales per load, usually get three loads. He loads 10 bales at a time with a grapple so at least that part is easy for me - all I have to do is stand and watch!

I unload and stack by hand - a good workout.

BTW, I don't run any more but my Fitbit tells me I walk 4-6 miles on the farm on a typical day. Not so much when it's pouring rain!

And sorry, I'm not familiar with "Secondhand Lions".

JKJ

The reason I am divorced.....

Barry Irby

My now X wife said "I want to join the Y so I can run on their track". I said, If you want to run, would it bother you if there was a lawn mower in front of you?

We get along much better now that she lives in another state.

Re: Is 50 the new 100?

Jason Roehl

My dad was age 68 when I first noticed he was “getting old.” He grew up on a farm in SD, and though his career was a desk job (engineer, then management), he always remained active—softball leagues, golf, walking, yard work, etc. He retired in his late 50s, and then would go with a volunteer group of mostly retirees that helped build churches several times a year.

Then one summer he came to help me re-roof my house. It was late June, and we started tearing off on a Monday that was hot and humid. We got one half done, and he was ready to pay someone else to do it. Next day, my college-age nephew and a friend’s teenage son showed up to help, so they finished tear-off, while we did some repairs and started laying shingles. We got roof-top delivery, and the rest of the week was much cooler, abnormally, and thankfully. Near the end of the project we were a couple bundles short on shingles, so we got some. Dad grabbed a bundle (architectural style, so 80 lbs/bundle), and struggled to put it on his shoulder to carry it up the ladder. After the shock of the sight of his struggle wore off, I told him to put it down, and I would hump the remaining bundles up the ladder, since I was a fairly in-shape 36 at the time. Ten years later now, due to my renewed dedication to fitness over the last 16 months, I would have an even easier time hauling those bundles up the ladder—I weigh a good 25 lbs more, mostly muscle.

Jason

Re: Second Hand Lions: Here you go.

Mark Nowicki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkccqolaVGg

Re: The reason I am divorced.....

Mark Nowicki

I am surprised you are still alive.

I have been saving the: "You should learn how to drive a vacuum before a car" for when I really needed it, but was too lazy or scared to use it for 40 years now.

I also brought that up over the years

Dick Coers

I'm a farm boy, never once were the words "work out" ever spoken. I also quickly learned to never say I was bored. Boredom would result in being assigned to cleaning hog pens. The entire day was a work out. With the major change from agrarian to desk labor, people now want to pay for the opportunity to sweat. I ride an eBike for activity and recreation. Passed 12,000 riding miles last week. On eBike forums, one of the major comments about commuting on an eBike is that they don't want to sweat. I guess they will have to pay to sweat after "work".

Re: Exercise Program....

Ray Newman

Exercise?? Exercise?? I thought you said extra fries!

Re: Secondhand Lions

Stuart Johnson

If a good clean movie well worth watching.

I'll second that!

Re: Exercise Program....

al morgan

Yes, when precisely did we mass migrate from jobs that physically tired us, to jobs that barely challenges us with any physical work at all? 1953 maybe? One of the reasons I went to college and into engineering, was to avoid ending up digging ditches...not because that was menial...no, it was HARD work! I'd rather sweat my brow, then exercise my muscles.

Re: Exercise Program....

James G. Dillon

Al, your post brought back old memories. Eighteen years old and full of myself, my buddy and I left Ohio and went to work for a construction company in Tennessee. Digging ditches, with a shovel, was our specialty. My buddy and I were the only two white guys on the crew of 30 or so African-Americans. On the first day, we wondered why everyone else would only take a shovel full of dirt. pause, talk-a-bit, then throw the dirt into the ditch. Well, eight hours later, we understood why. We could barely lift our shovels! Being somewhat smarter than I look, barely, I later moved onto less demanding endeavors. But it made me appreciate and respect those who work in construction or other outdoor environments on a full-time basis. Jim

Re: Exercise Program....

James G. Dillon

For some reason, I could not edit this post. I said eighteen years ago. I meant I was 18 year old at the time. Jim

Re: Exercise Program....

John K Jordan

>>>For some reason, I could not edit this post.

I see your name in your post was black text and not blue. I think that means you don't have a profile or aren't logged in with exactly the same name as when you created the profile. Maybe that would keep you from editing a post. (I think you also have to include a password at the bottom of the screen just above the "post" button). You might send a note to Ellis for the details.

JKJ

Re: Exercise Program....

James G. Dillon

Thanks John. Yes, something seems to have changed in my profile since Ellis had system issues recently and I thought I had to "relog" in. Will check tomorrow. I appreciate your recent posts regarding "life-on-the-farm"! Jim