Training for the outdoors

[Grizzly Adams]

Just kinda curious how many of you guys out there train for the outdoors? And if so if you have any programs or anything you’ve found helpful. Turned 44 this year and am overweight. Figure it’s either time to start getting my poop in a group or just accept not being able to do the things I’d like to do. And the latter is not an option
So basically just looking for advice and motivation

 

[Sluggo]

I step on the scale every couple of days. If the number is bigger than the last time I eat less and exercise more.

 

[NodakBob]

Ride my bike and walk with boots on. A friend gets so wore out wearing heavy hunting boots because he wears the lightest shoe he can find the rest the year…

 

[Twitch]

I fill my backpack with all the things I would have in it if I was hunting the backcountry for elk, including a full camelbak of water, and hike along the trails along 1806 or out at harmon lake. Usually keep them around 4-5 mile hikes.

 

[Slappy]

As Twitch mentioned, rucking is very popular and effective.

 

[bucksnbears]

I cut alot of firewood, miles walking for sheds, coyote hunt, and just generally spend alot of time outdoors.
That being said, I'm getting abit pudgy.
Ain't 50 years old anymore.

 

[Lycanthrope]

get an elliptical and do 30 minutes on it every day...

 

[CatDaddy]

get an elliptical and do 30 minutes on it every day...

.....for a month until you get sick of staring at the walls of your house while you sweat. Then put it in the basement and sell it in a garage sale 7 years later.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

.....for a month until you get sick of staring at the walls of your house while you sweat. Then put it in the basement and sell it in a garage sale 7 years later.

A guy can't hardly give thise away let alone sell. Got my parents older one that is in perfect shape because they bought with good intentions then never used it because it took "ambition". I keep threatening to use it but that means I have to move it out of storage.
That being said I got a little lazy this winter outside my ice fishing treks

 

[KDM]

Just walking a mile or so every day will do wonders for your whole mind, body, and spirit. Once you do that for a month or so, add a backpack of healthy snacks and water. Then start to carry your rifle and a full load of ammo. By fall you should be ready to hit the fields without having a major medical event. This is for ND mind you. Mountains are a whole different kettle of fish. Good Luck!!

 

[Jiffy]

Train like you hunt. Pretty simple.

As with any training, make it twice as hard as you expect your hunt to be.

I commend you on thinking about the physical fitness aspect. It is by far the number one weakness of most hunters.

Marksmanship being #2.

 

[guywhofishes]

ugh — I can’t stand working out just for the sake of working out and I loathe public shooting ranges

 

[Twitch]

ugh — I can’t stand working out just for the sake of working out and I loathe public shooting ranges

I’m way better at my backpack regimen when I have an elk hunt planned. I lack big time with no mountain motivation to look ahead at

 

[Lycanthrope]

.....for a month until you get sick of staring at the walls of your house while you sweat. Then put it in the basement and sell it in a garage sale 7 years later.

ive got a big TV mounted right in front of my elliptical and treadmill, use them almost every day, if Im watching tv, might as well be exercising while I do it.

 

[Maddog]

Train like you hunt. Pretty simple.

As with any training, make it twice as hard as you expect your hunt to be.

I commend you on thinking about the physical fitness aspect. It is by far the number one weakness of most hunters.

Marksmanship being #2.

I will drive around an extra five miles each day then until hunting season.
LOL

 

[Ericb]

Decided I was getting a little to out oh shape about a year ago. Have a eliptical and a home gym. Use it every morning before I go to work. Throw on some music and hit my routine. Its really my only alone time and I've come to appreciate it. Actually feel worse if a miss a day at this point.

 

[Allen]

My doc talked me into a walking program. I almost always balked at an opportunity to go for a walk in the past, so it was a tough sell. Anyway, I do it frequently now and I've been pleasantly surprised at the whole experience. It is a bit of a time hog. If you work up to 3-6 miles a day and walk at 18-22 minutes per mile, that's a significant investment of your time.

But it's worth it.

 

[Allen Gamble]

Time is worth your health, which I'd hope most of us would agree on. Set yourself some realistic goals to achieve and when you don't want to do your exercise, that is the day you absolutely MUST do it. Hardening your mind will sharpen your body.

One example I will share - I did an excessive amount of cold plunging this year in preparation for ice fishing and rifle season. 5-7 times a week in anywhere from 33-50 degree water, 5-12 minutes at a time. Not only did it prepare me for an early ice plunge, which I pray never happens (and didn't this year), but it made my mind iron sharp... fishing outside, when I wanted, was a breeze almost the entire season, and my family noticed a generally more calm and collected me.