Raising the American Weakling (2017)
nautil.us
nautil.us
If overall physical strength has some relationship to health and longevity (which I believe is generally accepted to be some indication of), then lack of grip strength would be a simple measure of fitness.
I don't think it's a huge mystery why wealthier groups are physically weaker (and less healthy, and more overweight). There is less need or requirement to do manual labor compared to people in developing countries. Jobs tend to be more white collar than blue collar. Kids tend to have more indoor entertainment options (electronics, computers, toys).
Science fiction has often portrayed advanced civilizations as soft, physically weak beings (gelatin creatures in glass tubes and such) that use their mental gifts more than their physical ones.
However, humans will probably not reach a point of not needing their bodies in order to maintain health and long life. So we really should all be regularly active. Besides, there's ample evidence that good physical fitness also benefits the mind as well as the mood.
Sport climbing will be part of the 2020 olympics. I love it and look forward to going with a buddy of mine each weekend. Also have grip exercisers in my carry on because I travel so much.
It really has to be built into one's daily routine. The Netherlands is a great example here, they have very high rates of active transportation (walking/biking) for the developed world.
That's why I think the "cult" aspects of CrossFit are a lot of what makes it so successful. Other examples are people that adopt yoga or martial arts as a way of life rather than just an activity.
― Mark Rippetoe, Starting Strength
Rather than someone interpret this as "do deadlifts over squats" I'd say "do both because they're both great for your body if executed with proper form and weight."
Heavy lifting and trying hard is important, like you say, but it's a relative thing to experience, genetics, age, etc. I've seen grannies pull 1.1x bodyweight and I'd say they were lifting "heavy".
Also as to what is a heavy amount of what is a light amount - its irrelevant to an individual. You should lift the an amount that pushes you beyond what your comfortable with, but not so much that your risk injury.
I don't know how wide spread that fad was but if that was when the norms were established, it might bare considering.
Low or zero THC hemp oil has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation, and some old folks have reported remarkable reductions of arthritis while using hemp oil.
If you can reduce your pain to the point of being able to do physical exercises that are full body, you should give it a try. Squats, dead lift, and bench press are very beneficial when done correctly, and they will improve your grip strength as a side benefit (can't move the weights around if you can't hold on to them!)
Don't feel super-strong, can do few pull ups, few dips, dozen of push ups and I'm more than 40. Also hate running, hate it since the army...
Point is, I'm skeptical of grip training ~ health. Or maybe if you've over-trained for that aspect, it may be lying...
Deadlifts are great, but mix in some other types of resistance training to maintain balance.
Probably a good mix of neural and tendon and muscular stuff, not just a "let's go test a bunch of random people's flat bench press score and find out who's been hanging out in the gym a lot".
Never tried the Iron Mind numbered grippers, but I have an Ivanko Super Gripper. I use it cautiously as years of Judo and BJJ have given me "high mileage hands".
I wonder how many people alive today have never swung a hammer to real purpose, and if the same could have been said of their parents.
Broken cabinet? Gotta call the landlord; If I tried fixing it myself I'd technically be breaking my lease.
I know americans renting stuff in Germany have been surprised they're supposed to bring everything including their own kitchen.
So there's up and downsides to both approaches (fixing your own stuff vs. having to bring it in the first place.).
For things you don't own (broken window, toilet, etc.), not fixing them yourself may be important though because your landlord is supposed to foot the bill.
In my experience GP's comment stands: if you start fixing shit that isn't yours, you're in violation of most residential leases.
Time is at a premium which makes gaining more knowledge, skills, and physical aptitudes outside of your paid labors a luxury. Perhaps if people were working a 30 hour week and making enough to sustain themselves they would have more time to have such hobbys and ambitions, but most jobs that pay enough to thrive off 30 paid hours a week require far more than just 30 hours a week of work to stay employed. And most jobs that do have people working only 30 hours a week usually don't pay enough to comfortably sustain somebody.
I have a pretty fixed amount of freetime in the evening, but good luck doing carpentry or masonry at 8pm to any purpose (I mean, you could probably sound insulate a room enough to enable it as a hobby, but you won't be fixing up your house yourself).
I say this having been raised by a loving immigrant dad who was forever tinkering in the garage. We had the worst of both worlds; we were reluctant to ever hire a professional because Dad could fix it, and Dad had an ever-growing list of things to fix, and less energy to fix them as the years piled on. He left us with two half-fixed cars, a half-finished shed, a jury-rigged pump system for rainy season, and an overgrown yard.
It's ok to have somebody else mow the lawn.
It's true until it's not. Many well-off people were trying to cut all kinds of costs after their pay got cut or jobs lost during the Great Recession. Quite a few people down here were saving money hunting deer, raising chickens, fixing their own cars/homes, etc. Some of these skills can be good to have just in case.
Being impossible to remove by hand is a feature as far as these manufacturers are concerned!
Let’s not make it seem like mowing a lawn or doing some minor handiwork around the house is more than a little kids job.
If nobody else is gonna suggest its possibly environmental chemicals then I guess I get to be that guy.