There is nothing inherently “odd” with a rock on the ground as nature intended it. What is the “odd object” is the person who decides to voluntarily pick one up and walk around with with no other goal in mind than to get strong…really strong! And the people who pick up rocks, Atlas stones, kegs, sandbags, anvils and the like are stronger than those who just lift barbells and dumbbells. (You don’t want to be around later when they let you pick up the meal tab). That kind of work burns a ton of calories and a big appetite is a tangible reward of that fiendishly hard work.
Why is odd object lifting so much harder than heavy barbell work?
Barbells are easy to grab onto and control. Not so much with a rock like the one in the video above or a sandbag loaded with shifting sand or a keg filled 3/4 full with water or gravel. If you don’t believe me, lift a 100 lb barbell and then lift a 100 lb. sandbag. huge difference! Barbells are lifted in two planes and the bulky objects are lifted in three planes.
Not only are all your major muscles groups massively worked, so are the very important stabilizer muscles. It ain’t easy controlling that which doesn’t want to be controlled! You will benefit greatly from the big cardio blast that comes with putting your entire body and central nervous system into a lift.
A great benefit is that these implements cost little or nothing. You shouldn’t have to pay for a heavy rock, (right Dave)? Kegs and sandbags are dirt cheap.
Not to diss barbells in any way, but if you really want real world strength, add in odd object lifting. Your barbell and dumbbell lifts will also greatly improve by the addition of this kind of lifting .
Odd object lifting is really the total package of strength training. Are you doing it?
Facebook Like Button for Dummies