Fitness and Dieting for Elk Hunting

[Carcajou]

Headed West again for elk this September, and need to " Tune Up" the old Carcass..Just wondering what info you guys can offer up on exercizing for the High Country, and some dieting tips for chiseling 10 pounds from the body. It aint like I aint hunted Elk and Mountain Whitetails, but just thought I would try to get some new insight..perhaps some things I havent incorporated into my normal workout routine..I am all ears!  

[AkDan]

I like the body for life regime.  Lost 70lbs on it.   You dont need to do the shakes....just take the 6 small meals a day routine and run with it.   Really you can splurge quite often and still drop weight pretty quick.  You'll need some weights for strength training (every other day), and some form of cardio, be it running, biking etc....you can impliment it into any of them.  

Good luck!

[Tutanka]

As far as work outs go you'll get a bunch of replies all with different thoughts. For me personally I avoid steady state cardio (jogging), jogging sucks and it's boring.. I do a lot of interval training 2 to 3 months ahead of the season. These consist of hill sprints, farmer walks, tire rolls, and sled pulls. Interval training is basically go all out of 10 to 30 seconds, taking a 30 second to 1 minute rest and doing it all over again. My main focus on theses is to get the heart rate up and metabolism pumping. Ever wonder why long distance runners are usually small and sprinters are usually more muscular, interval training is a large part of this. Elk hunting takes as much strength as it takes cardio endurance.

As far as diet try the paleo (caveman) diet .  If you can't kill it, pick it, or grow it don't eat it that simple.

[JJB2]

P90x.  Even if you don't do the program as it's intended the plyo, yoga and cardio will shed that 10 lbs in the first 30 days.

[East Coast archer]

Dude,

Here's my advice.  Get in the best shape you can because it still ain't good enough when you're at 10,000+' and the the elk are walking the other way.  Looking forward to humping the hills with you at Denton unless you can make it to Sawmill.

Vinny

[centaur]

Nothing better than hiking hills to get in shape to hike hills, but mountain biking is really worthwhile, too. Riding on trails gives you the interval training mentioned earlier without having to think about it; it just comes with the territory. The hillier the terrain, the better. If you can invest some time and effort on the bike, you will lose weight and get in shape, but I am talking about at least 45 minutes or more, 5 or 6 days a week, at an intensity that will make you breathe hard and make your quads feel it.

[Geezer]

Don't get old!  (hasn't worked for me though)...

[oxnam]

1+ for P90X

I recently started Insanity and it is an incredible leg and cardio workout.  If your joints and heart are good, it would be tough to find a better and more complete elk hunt exercise prep.

[Tim]

Hey Old Man,  not much you can do with that old body of yours except have Pat carry a tank of oxygen and a drag rope!  

In all seriousness,  the P90x routine will have you therein no time.  Tony's program ain't fun but intense and easy to follow.

[vernon]

I've used the p90x and agree its a great workout with the best part being you can do it at home in a reasonable amount of time.  However, for me I try to train like I hunt so I try to hike as much as possible starting with a light pack and working my way up.  Somedays with no pack.  Of course I always carry my bow and some judos/blunts and shoot constantly.  That helps you to forget how far your hiking and how tired you are:)

[Geezer]

Though I live at 4500', every time I head up to the High Country the lack of air just about kills me.  The best thing you can do is get in good shape and then come three days early to 'try' to acclimate yourself to the environment you'll hunt.  You might also think about planning a hunt at 7500'-9000' instead of jumping out of the truck at 10,000'.

[highcountry]

Last week-end the kids and I worked on our diet, S'mores over a campfire!!  

[ron w]

Mix up your routine, some cardio, some weights, take awalk with a pack on, ride a bike. As far as eating just do portion control and you will be ready to go, worked for me last year!!  

[Gil Verwey]

Last year I lost 60 lbs before my elk hunt last year. I went from 254 lbs to 193 lbs in 7 months. We hiked in 10 miles and were in the back country at 11,200'. When I got to Colorado I was 193 lbs when we started the hunt and 184 lbs when we left the back country and got back to town.

I was on a low carb high protien diet. I went to the gym 5 days a week and concentrated on arobics. I used a stair stepper 30 minutes a day to try to get my heart and lungs in shape. It worked great for me. I carried a 70 lb pack in 10 miles and out 10 miles. We put on between 3 and 6 miles a day hunting.

I was 57 years old and will be 58 before the hunt this year and heading back to the same place. After the hunt I made the mistake of thinking I could eat what I want because I was so skinny when I was done with the hunt. BIG MISTAKE! I have to loose another 35 lbs again. I am doing the same routine I did last year, only this time I am sticking to the diet and excercise when I am done with the hunt!!!!

Oh yea I almost forgot, I also cheated, I got prescription diet pills from the Dr. Modern chemistry it is a miracle! Ha!

[Basinboy]

I just might be going chase Elk this season so I better start training myself. Good info gang.

[Carcajou]

Thanks everyone, great pointers! Vinny You know I will run with ya at Sawmill and Denton anytime! As for you, Tim, "Old Man"??  Holy crap! I aint that old!! How old are YOU, anyway?..I have been very fortunate over the years to have mountains close to home, and use them every chance I get..I will look into the P90X routine..Keep the info coming, as I am sure everyone can benefit from it!  

[old_goat2]

Hell, do like I did and move to elk country and it wont be that big of deal physically to go elk hunting. Just kidding, even living at over a mile in elevation, when you double that elevation, it can still be a butt kicker  if you don't train for it. One good tip I heard was to get one of those thin plastic bags from the produce section of the grocery store and wear it over your head as you workout to simulate high altitude. Good luck!

[monterey]

Diet with enough protein so you don't lose muscle.  Run backwards up hills.

[East Coast archer]

Instead of a plastic bag do like some guys I work with do, get an old gas mask and run with that on    It helps moisturize the skin too!  Looking forward to seeing you at both shoots.

[Carcajou]

Gas Mask??  Plastic Bags??        I aint trying to kill myself, just chiselin' and refinin'....haha