Vegan Fitness Girl's 'Secret' To Getting Super-Fit Fast? Grab Squeegee, Clean Floor!

A vegan fitness friend of mine---and one of the best athletes with whom I've ever trained---told me a great, true story the other day.

She worked in a restaurant. There was a large expanse of rough, textured, concrete floor space behind the front counter. This space had to be cleaned thoroughly each night, after closing time.

None of her co-workers wanted to clean that floor; ever. Why? Well, first it had to be swept. Every scrap of food or other debris had to be removed. Then, it had to be scrubbed, using a long stick with a course brush at the end. Buckets of water mixed with detergent had to be filled, lifted and dumped onto the floor.

And the part that all the other employees least enjoyed? It was the long-handled 'squeegee-work' required to complete the job.

After the sweeping and scrubbing, when your arms were really 'feeling it,' said my friend, the 'squeegee work' was the toughest of all. Why? Your arms and core, had already gotten a great workout; from bringing out of that grooved concrete surface, literally 'clumps' of accumulated flour. This stuff couldn't be swept up. It gathered in masses, rather, as you pushed and pulled the water and detergent with your brush. Then you'd immediately follow that 'flour workout,' with the pushing and pulling of the remaining water toward the drains with your 'squeegee.'

Why was this so hard? Well, on a grooved, textured floor, it requires quite a bit of strength, core, and arm work to push that squeegee flat over an uneven surface.

I know this is one heck of a workout, as I was an Alaskan commercial fisherman for years. And one of my 'specialties,' on the trawlers, was my 'strange enjoyment of getting in a good workout,' by cleaning the boat floors; from top to bottom; floors which were often full of clumps of sugar or flour.

Well, my vegan fitness friend told me that this floor cleaning job took about an hour to complete. At the end of that hour, you'd have gotten in such a great core, and even, cardiovascular workout, that you'd be completely exhausted. Remember, this job was done after a full day's work on your feet; another reason most employees avoided doing it!

So why did she do it? And why did she volunteer for the job?

Several reasons.

First, she got in a great, full-body workout on that concrete floor. This was evidenced by her fellow workers' envy of her 'ripped,' athletic arms, along with the rest of her body. Yes, she had always taken good care of herself prior to volunteering for the 'floor job,' yet this one seemed to add even more power to her 'arsenal.' Others noticed! They often asked what her 'secret' was, to having such great arms. How about that for a valuable 'fringe-benefit' to 'squeegee work?' The attention of others can be a great motivator as it lets you know you're on the right path to your fitness goals.

Second, these floor cleaning sessions allowed her a certain, detached quiet time, at the end of a loud, hectic and demanding day. I know from personal experience, that this 'quiet time' can often be one of the most satisfying parts of your day, even if it involves a bit more 'heavy lifting.'

And third, her willingness to do such a tough job, at the end of an already demanding day, separated her from all the others who wouldn't even consider volunteering for it. This willingness to engage in hard, physical activity when others are not, not only separates you physically from others, but psychologically as well; maybe even spiritually!

Yes, there is just something deeply satisfying about getting in a great exercise session; especially in situations where others often choose to 'take it easy.' Try it, and you'll see that this is so.

Am I recommending that you volunteer for every possible physically-demanding job that presents itself at the end of an already tough day?

Let me think about that.