Fitness/Conditioning for Upcoming Season

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I'm 47, and  few months ago my cousin had a stroke....same age as me. I decided to get in shape before it was too late. Since February I have lost 32 pounds. I'm eating NO junk, lots of venison, fresh Michigan salmon, and working out. Every other day, I hit the stepper one day, and lift wieghts the other. Feels good. I should be below 200 by Compton, about 190 by deer season.

[Zbearclaw]

I run and chase my kids around the yard.

The best thing I have found is to setup a race (triathlon, running, whatever) and put it on the calendar.  It was always hard for me to just "get in shape for hunting" as that is a loose definition.  When you have a defined goal on the calendar it makes it easier to skip the extra helping of desert and go for a jog.

Even just a walk each evening with the wife with a weighted pack will get you better than you are.

The way I see it, Lance Armstrong can get "fitter" everyday and he is a machine.  If he has room for improvement then so do I.

But, have fun.  The only way it will be life long is to enjoy it.

[LA Trapper]

Thanks Mike, good to hear from you.  I am in the middle of one of those monster weeks at work. Lot of work, very early and late.

Good to hear about the P90X.  My sons want me to purchase it (for them).  I tell them let's make it a group effort, so come across with some caah.

Billy

[Margly]

Interesting thread!      

Margly

[TheFatboy]

Fitness can become boring. Jogging or taking a long walk is great, but when summertime approaches, seize the opportunity to be with your friends and family! So far, I've been playing football, basketball, beach volleyball (which will really condition your lower body), throwing frisbees and all such things. It gets your heartrate going, and while you're having fun, personal fitness becomes second priority  

[kbetts]

No more smokes.  I don't have to worry about weight as I'm about 138 right now and have never been over 145.  I pick up the 25 lb. dumb bells about twice a week for shoulder presses, some curls, just whatever I feel needs some work.  The other nights its a hoe or rake in the garden.  You can concentrate on certain muscles if you're concious of it.  The odd nights its simple push-ups and sit ups while I watch ESPN and drink Coors Lights.  Got to stay hydrated.  Actually, most of it happens with silver bullets.  You can't cut out everything.

[BTH]

I'm 44 this month. I'm injured now because of overtraining to meet a goal related to my job.

The biggest thing I want to stress is building your core strength. I started packing a 50 lb weight vest on a stairmill since that was part of the test I needed to pass. My core wasn't ready for that and I messed up an abdominal oblique pretty badly. Core strength is key. I just stepped up before I was ready due to a time deadline I needed to meet.  

The TRX is great for building core strength. So is the Combat Conditioning program by Matt Furey. Hill sprint repeats are great for all around cardio, glutes and legs.

When I get rehabbed and ready to go again my plan is to mix it up with the following core exercises; planks, ab exercises, hill repeats, TRX, Hindu Squats, Hindu Pushups, and bridging. Always keep the body guessing. In my humble opinion us as bowhunters should aim at an all around fitness that suits our hunting style.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Originally posted by pdk25:
If you live close enought to a good Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school, give them a try.  Participating in the randori after the lessons will really put your cardio and muscular endurance to the test.  Lots of fun, too.

I went into Mr Ahn's Ju-Jitsu here in Macon, told them I wanted to sign up. One guy laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes......

I don't get it

[Raging Water]

Biggie,

You are welcome at my Ju-Jitsu school. My training partner is Ex-Marine and is 50 years old. He and I can still out wrestle the young guys.

Of course, we cheat, early and often.

[ron w]

Any martial art is good ,even Ti chi, what ever you choose start slow and build up slowly. No different than stating any fitness program! Anything to get you off the couch and out move'n!

[LoneWolf73]

I see alot of stuff about getting in shape for what you are going to do "hunting", but all the stuff seems to keep you out of the woods. Closest I saw, was the post about living on the farm to keep you in shape. Sorry if I missed anyone but getting in the woods, hiking, backpacking, trailriding(bike/horse), cutting trails, putting in food plots by hand deep in the woods, climbing trees with your tree stand, or just walking the woods stump shooting/scouting, etc. will do the job during the summer months. Doing the actual stuff or something "like it" in the gym/home/outdoors will let you know if you are up to the hunting season. Make it fun and productive boys!! Looking forward to the stories!

[Raging Water]

LoneWolf,

I will post this again because I think his fitness program is in line with your thinking.

 

 My 75 year old Dad is a 2 1/2 tour Vietnam Vet.

That man can out walk anybody.

He still walks, at a strong pace, thru the hardest terrain he can find.

Occasionally, he will drop for sit ups and pushups, or grab a tree limb for pull ups, or do some body weight squats.

Oh, he will pick up anything heavy, a rock or log, and throw it. He walks to the object, picks it up again and throws it. He will do this for a few hundred yards.

You will be fit and ready to go in no time.

[Bill Carlsen]

As important as the physical exercise is you simply cannot out-train a poor diet. You are what  you eat and what  you eat or don't can make a big difference in how you look and feel no matter how much  you exercise. I just took a nutrition course and by making simple changes in what I ate, when I ate it, etc. I lost 14# in 6 weeks without changing anything else. And, unlike other times when I tried to get rid of the belly fat I did not loose any strength. I go to the gym four days a week (I'm retired which makes it easier) but I was really surprised at how much difference the proper diet can make. In fact, I overall am eating more per day ( increased protein, decreased carbs, drink more fluids) and I am loosing weight.

[Shinken]

DITTO to what Bill said!

I am at the big 5 - 0 and have made some serious adjustments to my food consumption.  I feel better when I wake up, have more energy, and am losing weight.

It is soooooooo worth it!

The key for me was to quit eatin' the foods that stimulated my immune system.  Once I identified those and took them out of my diet life has taken on a whole new meaning!


           

Shoot straight, Shinken

[Bill Carlsen]

All that stuff around your belly is carbs...doing a thousand situps a day won't change it unless  you cut back on the carbs and add protein to your diet. And, I am not talking about going on a "diet"...just eating was is good for you and not buying and keeping in the house things that will be self defeating. Food that is good for you can be very delicious and your are right, Shinken, you will feel better.

[Zog]

Time for climbing to the elk!  Hope all that getting ready pays off!  

I didn't do as well this summer as before - I think I'm going to notice it!

[lpcjon2]

TTT

[Stone Knife]

Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I walked out to the pole barn once last week to get the golf cart so I could ride out to the end of the driveway and get the mail...........