Chopping Firewood for Fitness

Lately, I’ve been out chopping firewood. People ask me, “Why chop wood when you have a perfectly good modern furnace?” Well, because my furnace doesn't give me an excuse to swing an axe like a crazed lumberjack in my own backyard.

(Illustrative Only)

My place started out as an ancient cabin back when the "main street" was just a dirt trail along the Escanaba River. The original builders heated the place exclusively with a fireplace, and while a few additions have been tacked on since, the old hearth still rules the roost. If I get a good blaze going in the morning, the house stays cozy and the furnace doesnt bother to kick on.

Every now and then, I’ll fire up a burn barrel for scrap wood. If it’s clean timber, I’ll even grill over it. Nothing says "fine dining" like food infused with raw, primal smoke and a hint of backyard adventure. (FYI it is actually good. My smoked catfish and chicken were delicious!)

I chop these up
2-3 more times.

Beyond saving on heating, it’s my ultimate anti-desk-job hack. For hobbies I’m a fitness trainer, yoga instructor, firefighter, lifeguard, and coach, so sitting still makes me twitch. Every hour or two, I step away from my chair, head outside, and chop wood for ten minutes. It clears my head, gets the blood pumping, and keeps me from turning into a human pretzel at my desk. If you’re looking to get in shape, skip the gym membership—just buy an axe and do something constructive.

The way gramps used to do it!

Since you can burn abou 400 calories an hour even if I only go out three times a day I might still get in half of that, do some exercise in the house and you get another few hundred, bike down to the store and you get even another few hundred. Watch what you eat and you have a healthy lifestyle. 

I generally keep about half of this finely cut kindling firewood. I only use the clean stuff because I use it in myhouse. However, once I'm done cutting up my pile I usually keep half and sell the other half to a neighbor or something so I can buy a little more. Eventually my heating bill goes down, fitness goes up, and I enjoy more of the outdoors. It is a digital nomads way. 

I have a fitness trainer license, a yoga instructor license, coach swimming, play lots of sports so if you need a little virtual coaching help send me a message to the right.