Prison and Ancient Soldiers similarity?

[captkronos]

The last few years people became enamored with the workouts of convicts, mostly because anecdotal evidence is that dudes get jacked in the joint.  That's the stereotype.  I keep in communication with a buddy of mine who is in prison currently, he says the food is crap, and said the majority of meals consist of:

"We don't get much fat or meat.  Our diet is a lot of beans, 'cole slaw' (raw cabbage in a weak vinegar), 'patties' (half-soy/half turkey burger), cornbread, lots of boring, unsalted rice in turmeric, no oil-based anything.  It's hard to get fat on prison food."

I was thinking this probably isn't that much different from the common diet of ancient soldiers, beans, cabbage, minimal animal protein, etc.  The penitentiary is basically feeding an army (of criminals).  What he does say is the job he has kicks his ass, he's unloading trucks in freezing temps.  Guys constantly workout.  I read that in this type of environment testosterone increases for reasons including a constant raised fear or at least awareness.  He says one of the funny things about prison is how healthy guys stay.  

The bottom line to me is that prison might reflect the best model of what ancient soldier lifestyle might have been like (minus the buggery unless you were a Spartan). The body will "make do" and keep you in peak shape if you're constantly "stressing" it. 

I don't plan to volunteer. This is for educational purposes only. 

[BigBruvOfEnglandUK]

A lot of the guys in prison will look fairly healthy because most of them are young. Prison inmates tend to have shorter lifespans than the average person though.

[moxohol]

From all those involuntary protein injections or intake going on in prisons I suspect? Bruv, can u pass comment on this?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[brothersteve]

They also get commissary to buy other things to eat. Watching 60 days in, seems like a lot of junk food...extra fat and calories overall.

[BigBruvOfEnglandUK]

In the late 90's the prison gave inm8s £4.00 per week to spend. An inmate could get a job in the prison and earn another £10 I think it was and if they had money in the prison bank they could spend £10 of that per week as well so really not a lot to spend on extras even then and not all of it would go on food as there are other things to buy toiletries, writing paper, radios etc.

[Deuce Gunner]

MikeNY could of course give the definitive answer about ancient armies.

[BigBruvOfEnglandUK]

If only he was a member here, m8.

[Deuce Gunner]

We're not worthy. 

[lardy]

Ancient soldiers I'd imagine would of taken every animal for meat in sight whilst marching through settlements, sure they would of had a grain/bean allowance but that is only a reference to the armies from areas close to the Mediterranean, the germanic, celtic, pictish tribes would of probably had something closer to a British soldier from the colonizing period, a 1lb of beef and a lb of bread daily allowance, we've also got to look at logistics the invaded armies would of had access to better food than the invaders.

The mongols and ancient armies of the steppes had a meat and milk heavy diet, Early muslim expansion armies brought goats everywhere with them for milk and meat, the christian crusaders were said to follow a diet of almost entirely pork and cheese for several months at a time.

in ww1 and ww2 meat and biscuits were standard rations for the allies, the Germans had cooking tents dotted around serving meat and potato stews, the Japanese had a grain heavy diet but their mindset and tactic of using light framed bicycles was what allowed them to advance so quickly not their athleticism.

[BigBruvOfEnglandUK]

The next time you dislike your life, remember it’s all about perspective. I have a friend that’s reads 2-3 books a week, works out everyday, has no financial worries and has people that always want sex with him.
Yet he constantly complains about how much he hates prison.