Strength from Unusual Places

Trainer Jason Ferruggia has the first part of an interview today with the Underground Strength Coach himself. I mentioned the Underground Strength Coach the other day.

Here's one of his best quotes: "Eventually, people get bored of doing the same old stuff or training in the gym all the time! Training outdoors in the fresh air kicks ass!"

Amen.

Go Swing a Sledgehammer

My best friend has told me over and over how she thinks she gets a great workout by simply doing yardwork on the two acres she lives on in the country. Now she's talking about more than just digging up weeds. She chops wood and hauls bags of grass seed, among other things. And if you saw her, you'd quickly realize that she's right.

Now comes more evidence that serious outdoor work does constitute a workout. Today's New York Times has a story about Nick Swisher of the Oakland A's, who put on 20 pounds of muscle over the off-season by doing things like swinging a sledgehammer. Swisher went to a place called Edge Athletic and Fitness Center in central Ohio. Edge specializes in training that's "more like Rocky in Russia, running through Siberia and hitting sides of beef," its owner, Bill Fry, tells the Times.

There are others who preach this approach, including the Underground Strength Coach. You have to love its simplicity, and the idea that hard yardwork will do more than give you a great-looking lawn. And it shows that there always are ways to keep yourself interested if you're looking for new ways to work out.