There are companies that will try to convince you that working a labor-intensive shift for them is the same as getting a great exercise. They'll lure you in by saying it not only benefits your health, but you get compensated for it as well. I worked at U.P.S. for a year, and this was their calling card for new hires. Some moving companies use it too, like Bellhop, which I was also hired for but declined.
Their strategy is a flat-out manipulation. A five-to-eight hour shift doing heavy labor exhausts the body. There is a point during exercise where the benefit of continuing it starts to get smaller. Depending on time and intensity, the body starts to feel overworked, leading to depletion and a higher chance of injury.
I know this because I've exercised for years, and worked some pretty grueling jobs. Whenever I go over my body's limit, I feel so tired that I don't feel like moving for several hours. Whenever I stay "in the zone" of a usual, moderate 30-minute exercise, I feel its maximum benefit, including elevated mood, greater energy, and enhanced strength. Anything over that drains the benefit, turning it into an energy deficit.
On a shift at a labor-intensive job, the critical moment would probably take longer since there isn't as much intensity involved. But not by much. A 30-minute cardio session for me would probably translate to an hour of high intensity labor at UPS or Bellhop. The people working long shifts at these places are at higher risk for a number of health issues, including injury, depression and even dementia.
To be fair, U.P.S. and Bellhop don't usually offer shifts that long. They typically fall within the 3-5 hour range. But that's still enough to stress the body, so don't fall victim to their scam.
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