To be transported there, we'd struggle. To grow up there, we'd be fine. It's hard to beat the working man, or "old man strength". I'm a pretty in shape guy for my age. Competitive sports till 40+, blue collar labor profession for years, & a pretty physical lifestyle for a modern person. Firewood, redneck logging, etc... I've never been in to the gym, or that type of exercise. My sons are all monsters. Huge gym rats, muscles on top of muscles. All studs. You'd think the same, if you met them guaranteed. I'm still undefeated in arm wrestling, & still hold
"the title" in messing around (grappling).
It's common for us to be sitting around the fire with a few cold ones, talking smack, & end up on the ground....lol. They are 28, 25, & 22. I'm 51. I've always told them, by the time you can whoop me, you won't. So far, so good..lol. Although I will concede, it's getting much harder, & I'm starting shy away from one of em...lol.
My point is simply, a real world physical lifestyle, is superior to manufactured strength. Cutting, splitting, loading, & stacking firewood is a better work out than curls, bench, lats, & dead lifting. Using a hammer creates more forearm, & wrist strength than dumbbells. Other than the wealthy, the average woman in the 19th century was tougher than the average man today. In so many ways, everyday life was physical. Easy days for them, would feel like hard days to us.
How many photos from the 19th century do you see overweight people in..?
I'd love to go back as a visitor, even hang out for a few days. Although, I know I'm soft compared to them. It would be a huge adjustment just to survive.