Exercise and Farming

Growing up in the Midwest my entire life, I have an appreciation for farming.  While I have never lived on a farm or really did any work on a farm, you still can’t help learn a little about farming as it is a cornerstone to Midwest living.  The last 15+ as a physical therapist I have come to appreciate some large similarities between health through exercise and farming.  Let me paint some correlating similarities.

Farmers have to understand patience and sticking with a time tested traditions of growing crops.  Some things can’t be rushed or forced when it comes to having a successful harvest and many things need to be repeated year after year to ensure that success.  Farmers understand there are certain tasks that need to be done during every season and proper planning throughout the year are important to ensure a bountiful fall harvest.  And most definitely there is going to be some hard work and effort required during it all and no immediate results from all of this.

Come spring the seeds are planted. Then the fertilizer (nutrition) and water need to be added properly throughout the season to ensure the plants to grow well.  We need the right amount and kinds of food and water in our systems to help us grow properly.  If we have too much or too little of either it can cause problems.  Soil samples are taken regularly to ensure the right combination is getting received by the plants.  We need to monitor and test our diet and water intake regularly to ensure we are getting the proper amount.  With all this work initially we see no results.  The field looks the same for many weeks even though the seeds have been planted.  I am sure this is how many of us feel with our exercise program.  We put in a lot of work and want results and often do not see anything right away.

But just as the farmer knows with having faith in this proven system if you plant the seeds and prepare everything properly, the plants will come.  We have to have that same faith in our exercise program.  We can’t quit, we need to have faith the process.  After awhile out of the ground pokes out a blade, and the farmer has proof the system works.  After awhile you will see some small changes, you have a little more energy, your clothes fit a little better and your spouse or co-worker might ask “Have you lost some weight?”  While we live in a society of instant gratification, we have to realize that health through proper exercise and nutrition will not give us instant gratification.  The system just doesn’t work that way.  There is no magic pill and you can’t lose the weight (in a healthy way) in 3 days by drinking a magic shake.  Let’s face it magic is all about an illusion, it is not real.

Our exercise program, just like farming has to be judged over weeks and months, not days.  It takes about 9 months for a baby to fully form in the womb, not a few weeks.  A baby takes about a year to gain the strength and coordination to be able to walk, not a month or two.  On the farm you reap what you sow. Just as in exercise, if you are diligent and consistent you will see results.

During the summer as a farmer you will the results as the plants grow and grow.  But you need to make sure the weeds don’t also grow and choke out your valuable crops.  Once we are seeing results we need to make sure we don’t get any bad habits (the weeds) or get away from what is working.  If you do this you will enjoy a wonderful fall and an amazing harvest.  But just as with farming it doesn’t stop after that, you have to do it all over again the next year.  Also just like in farming most farmers will change up their crops every now and then to make sure they don’t deplete the soil of its nutrients.  We need to every now and then change up our exercise routine to make sure we continually have successful outcomes.

So if you are looking to start exercising for the New Year, remember the principles of the farm to help you have success.  Also check this article out for more info on why sometimes that New Year’s resolution doesn’t stick.


Photo from biopowerlanka.com