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The fact that you keep mentioning "the gym" makes me think that you think of goals in a limiting way. There are many types of goals, and all kinds of effective options to reach them, some can even accomplish something else tangible at the same time. For example, my goal today is to move a couple thousand pounds of rock into my yard for free, spend some time with my nephew, enjoy being outside and get some good all around exercise. I will accomplish all three of those things at once starting in about an hour. Afterwards I will have met several goals, no gym required. I may not get six pack abs out of it but I'll feel great and I will have saved about $100 in landscaping materials.
I do believe there's a time and a place for "the gym" or other formal exercise programs, but I supplement or even replace that time with things that are more fun, interesting and productive whenever I can.
My definition of working out is something you do on a regular basis to maintain a high level of fitness. I don't expect working out to be fun. I enjoy playing basketball. I work out in order to play basketball on a competitive level.
I occasionally do hard physical labor around the house. I once dug a ditch across my back hard to create a French drain. I filled it in with a dump truck load of gravel. I tried to let not this get in the way of my workouts, but I did notice I dropped about 10 lbs.
I think one of my posts have been misunderstood. I believe that a workout has to be effective to have a purpose to exist. , I spoke about having a goal and I stand by that. I think a goal.is crucial, ask yourself, why are you working out? There has to be a reason. Something led you to make the desicion to workout, that is your goal. Of course different people means different goals, my goals are to get as big strong and athletic as I can, to me that can only he accomplished by engaging in a severe and punishing training program that simply can't be fun but rather focused and driven. I don't expect others to have my goals but some probably will. Fun? Absolutely no never, effective? Most certainly.
I occasionally do hard physical labor around the house. I once dug a ditch across my back hard to create a French drain. I filled it in with a dump truck load of gravel. I tried to let not this get in the way of my workouts, but I did notice I dropped about 10 lbs.
Amen to this. I did a little of this today. We just had some retainer walls built outside our house and I bought my wife some flowers for Mother's Day! I spent a good part of the afternoon breaking through rock and clay to dig big holes for the plants we bought. It was as good a workout as any I've had in the gym. We've got plenty more to go tomorrow. Orlando, I know you're in VA as well. Feel free to drop by and lend a hand, you beast!
I spent a good part of the afternoon breaking through rock and clay to dig big holes for the plants we bought. It was as good a workout as any I've had in the gym.
That's great! Findng reasons to do those sorts of workout IS my main goal and I do it all summer as often as I can. It gets expensive (paying for all the rock) but it's the best of both worlds because I get in great shape from it and accomplish something that really adds to my enjoyment in life (not to mention the value of my home) at the same time. I'm not going to get huge toned pecs from it, it won't help me increase the total number of #'s I can lift up at the gym, and it probably won't increase my mile pace, but I feel like that sort of thing is what my body is really optimized to do. So if moving rock (or whatever) around only increases my ability to move more rock around, and if it crowds out the time I have for more formal sorts of 'workouts', that's fine by me.
That's great! Findng reasons to do those sorts of workout IS my main goal and I do it all summer as often as I can. It gets expensive (paying for all the rock) but it's the best of both worlds because I get in great shape from it and accomplish something that really adds to my enjoyment in life (not to mention the value of my home) at the same time. I'm not going to get huge toned pecs from it, it won't help me increase the total number of #'s I can lift up at the gym, and it probably won't increase my mile pace, but I feel like that sort of thing is what my body is really optimized to do. So if moving rock (or whatever) around only increases my ability to move more rock around, and if it crowds out the time I have for more formal sorts of 'workouts', that's fine by me.
I think this speaks to the "why" as in "why do people work out?" For some it's all about looking a certain way. For others there are health related motivations. And there is nothing wrong with either of these, or any other reason, really. (Except for when it becomes an obsession. Obsession in any pursuit is probably not a good thing.) For a lot of us it is important to have a functional application to it as well. I'm in the military, so not being in good shape is not an option. But I also enjoy being outdoors, hiking, or being able to tackle a project around my home that involves manual labor. It sounds like you are in the same boat. It really was a lot of fun to break up rock and clay with that pick ax. It was hard work, though and it was pretty hot. But the bottom line is I try to find fun in whatever it is I'm doing. I am not alway successful at this (like when I'm at work) but I definitely agree it is easy to find fun in doing hard work around your house when you know you are adding to your home's value and getting a good workout in while you're doing it!
You don't get any snow outside the sierras in No. Cal. And by the end of may it would have melted anyways.
I'm very close to Tahoe. Plus, snow is not always gone by May. I've snowed on July 4 in Mammoth.
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Plus, snow is not always gone by May. I've snowed on July 4 in Mammoth. 
