You should be able to push mow 2 full acres

I did this over the weekend and it seemed like a good benchmark for fitness. I posted about it, some disagreed, so let's discuss why they're wrong...

Not my land, but here’s a visual on 2 acres if you need one

Over 600 days ago, I decided to quit drinking, quit trading (instead deciding to average into index funds) and committed to going to the gym regularly. I shared parts of this journey with friends on Twitter/X, which I only continue to do because every time I post something, I’m flooded with direct messages from others who either want to quit and are seeking guidance or offered additional words of encouragement. I’ve mentored new friends from this and most continue to maintain their sobriety and active life. There’s a great community online who want to do better in life physically (and so with that, mentally), a laudable goal in modernity. The whole process has been incredibly meaningful personally.

This morphed into an ongoing fun meme I made about the gym aspect: did you go to the gym yet today, anon? My usual followers enjoy it and it spreads memetic good. Feel free to post your own versions (however you see fit, the images are up to you) the point is to make America fit again.

Anyway the other morning, I finished some work around our land and felt pretty good about it, and the level of cardio completed seemed like a good litmus test for being in shape. A few years ago I probably wouldn’t have been able to complete it, now after consistent workout it’s not a problem. So I posted about this, all part of the gym meme package.

Except that particular post went outside my normal community to a wider group, many of whom seemed visibly upset I dare suggest that:

• You get exercise outside, even in the summer

• Maybe don’t rely on equipment that involves purely sitting for everything

• If you can’t complete this task (never said you have to do it daily) you probably aren’t in shape

• Also note, I’m talking about a mower with powered blades but not wheels (you could do this with full manual mower, I would try but my terrain prohibits it)

Anyway let’s talk more about this, because America is heavily medicated for depression/obesity, and some of the reactions and quote Tweets illustrate why.

Multiple hours of cardio are important, you evolved for this

Our ancestors lived through activities requiring stamina, such as hunting and gathering as well as long treks across land. All this involved hours of walking and running. Modern research supports this evolutionary perspective, we know cardiovascular exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining health. Regular cardio not only helps manage weight but reduces risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Simply put: walking is lindy, especially extended hours of it.

You aren’t “just fine” as you are

The notion that we are "just fine" as we are is one that was well-intentioned by parents and teachers, but it’s wrong and leads to complacency and stagnation. You might think you are fine as you are, but you could easily be better. The CDC reports a stunning 42% of American adults are obese, a condition that significantly increases risk of numerous health issues and let’s be honest signals to the world you don’t care for yourself appropriately. Accepting and acting on the need for improvement should be an imperative. If you’re worried about appearance at the gym, I think you need to swap your mental model here, I strongly believe anyone not in shape and at the gym is a legend and deserving of high praise.

Exercise in the sun is different than the gym, you need that too

While the gym provides a controlled environment for exercise, outdoor activities have unique benefits that can't be replicated inside. Natural sunlight boosts vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function. Additionally, studies show outdoor exercise enhances mood and reduces stress better than indoor workouts alone (put down your phone while you do it too if you’re serious about thinking better). A 2011 study found that people who exercised outdoors experienced greater feelings of revitalization and positive engagement, as well as decreased tension, confusion, anger, and depression. If you don’t sweat in the sun regularly, this works better than SSRIs or any medicine big pharma will give you as a band-aid.

At some point you’re over-optimizing

The perplexing aspect of labor-saving devices is that they address the wrong issue in contemporary life. They have their own set of drawbacks (good times create weak men). The real problem today is that people are too sedentary, not that they're overly active, so what's the rationale behind making it simpler to mow your lawn? Is it so you can then spend that saved time going to the gym to mimic the physical effort you would have used to mow your lawn? Engaging in physical work and exercise provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose that machines cannot replicate. Over-reliance on (certain types of, but not all) technology for everyday tasks leads to a form of nihilism (I wrote more about that here and here) where life feels devoid of meaning and personal agency. Balancing fully-automated convenience with physical activity is important for maintaining a sense of fulfillment and well-being, if you just continue to outsource all parts of your life to machines you’ll not only end up in a dark place, you’ll become ill prepared for any type of survival situation.

No, you aren’t too busy

One of the most common excuses for neglecting physical fitness is a perceived lack of time, but prioritizing health and exercise is essential, regardless of a busy schedule. Integrating exercise into routines, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or biking to work, can make a massive difference. As the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca wisely observed, "it is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." Time for physical activity is a crucial investment in one's health, productivity, and longevity, and it often requires simply reallocating time from less critical activities. And if getting physical exercise isn’t always at the top of your list, I think you’ve let some weird postmodern version of life warp your brain. Turn off Netflix and social media. Take walking meetings. Figure it out, you aren’t an air traffic controller and can easily make time.

Wrapping up…

If you think you’re too important or too busy to stay in shape, it’s no wonder you’re depressed or anxious. If your reaction to the suggestion of a long mow or any form of physical work that ups your heart rate is that it’s somehow ‘beneath you,’ you’ve lost touch with a fundamental aspect of well-being and what it means to be human. Spend some time contemplating how you got here and why this is. And if a 2 acre mow in the sun (or equivalent level of cardio) with a podcast or meditative soundtrack doesn’t make you feel amazing by the end, well, you may be beyond saving.