Dispatches From The Conservative Underground has an article titled The First Steps. He’s making a point that should be made early and often; preparedness isn’t necessarily a matter of amassing expensive piles of food and ammo. Rather it’s about doing what one can within their resources to become more resilient:
“On a personal level, I am a middle-aged man in relatively good health, but with some medical issues that could become a problem over the long-haul. My most immediate concern would the fact that I suffer from high blood pressure. It is well-controlled, but without medication, it quickly returns to stroke range. Stocking up on meds might work for a while, but only as long as they hold out.
This problem, I believe, can be better alleviated by shedding the extra weight, so one of the very first steps in my preps is to make that happen. I chose to go on a traditional weight-control program that many people seem to have forgotten – I don’t eat so much.”
Spot on! All the MREs and water filters in the world might not compare in value to going on a diet. (Which is free!) Surely, attention to one’s health is just as important as gathering “things”. Suppose the fellow from the quote loses weight but still needs his meds? Fine, he gained health anyway. Who can complain about that?
That’s an idea near and dear to my heart. Preparedness is about becoming a more resilient person and that’s usually a good thing. Generally speaking, even if the thing for which you prepare doesn’t come, you’ve gained something in the journey. If fiat currency doesn’t collapse and the grid holds out and the zombies never attack you’ve still saved for retirement, have a cool generator, and can do a push up. Win win!
I sometimes think the advantage of “survialism” is that it helps motivate us to “eat our vegetables”.
Hat tip to Theo Spark.
I would only note that when the festivities start, most people will end up going on a “diet”, though not necessarily intentionally. Being 30, or maybe even 40 pounds overweight at the start is not likely to be a problem, unless of course you are one of those who intends to go hucking around your AO, looking to take the fight to any invaders. Of course, anyone who does that before the enemy’s air assets are exterminated has no likelihood of surviving very long anyway. And if you’re somewhat overweight at the start of a time when food is not that readily available and you have to bust your ass every day to stay alive, the extra weight can be a good thing. Now 200 pounds overweight, on the other hand…
I chose to go on a traditional weight-control program that many people seem to have forgotten – I don’t eat so much.”
My Uncle Wade (who’s since passed), was having some health issues many years ago and his Doc prescribed weight loss to help out.
Uncle Wade lost a good 30 or 40 pounds and was looking fit and trim. At the family reunion that year, when I saw him I was pleasantly surprised at how healthy he looked so I asked him what kind of diet he was using.
I’ll never forget what he said: “It’s not a diet so much as a new exercise that I invented. It’s called ‘table push-aways'”
I would imagine that one rep at the appropriate point of every mealtime would be quite effective.
I feel for you. I would have died in 2005 without modern medical intervention, and I would die a painful death if society collapses or we go like Venezuela. I still want to do the best I can to help those I care about who will survive me. Plus it’s fun to see what you can accomplish.
If you want to lose weight, go to Amazon and get a copy of Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman–Used for about $4. Hippie sounding diet–whole plant based with almost no meat, oil, sugar or salt (except what’s in plants naturally) but no maximum amounts of most vegetables, fruit or beans. I didn’t go hungry, lost 85 in 10 months pounds and haven’t had a bit of problem sticking to the diet. It seems that now I’m at target weight I can go off diet as much as I want one day every week or two without gaining.
Agree on the forced diet if things tank on this continent. Have you considered what you’ll look like wearing the clothes of a 30+lbs heavier person? I didn’t, until I lost that myself a couple years ago. Seeing my ribs again is neat.
Calories in <= calories out. Flex the heart regularly. Its not that hard. Bonus (?) alcohol is twice as potent, and I can mostly keep up with the kids.
Since everyone else is giving dietary advice, I’ll just throw in my recommendation for Gary Taubes’ _Good Calories, Bad Calories_. Meat and fat good, sugar and carbs bad (now you don’t even need to read the book!). Add some morning cardio before the bacon and eggs breakfast and you’ll lose the extra pounds even faster. It’s worked for me.