Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Food and other good techniques while hunting, etc.

I think I've discovered something important, so I thought I'd share with all here.
I love to hunt. I'm retired, so I prowl my local mtns. all year long.
I didn't use to think much about what I ate. Now, I do. It really helps.
I read a book last year named Bodyfueling by Robyn Landis. It changed my eating habits and allowed me to do what I've never been able to do.
It emphasis a diet high in complex carbohydrates. And eating not only three meals a day, but snacking in between meals.
I find I can literally hike all day and not get really exhausted. Short breaks and regular eating of the right foods keeps me going and clear headed to a degree I've never experienced.
She stresses a low fat diet and limiting one's protein intake. We really burn little fat and must consume glucose to do so. We also need to have enough oxygen to use fat. Excess fat is simply stored on the body. Excess protein, anymore than 80 grams per day, is converted to fat and likewise stored.
First, I try to cut down my pace and breath deeply if I find I'm breathing so hard I can't whistle a tune. Even to the point of taking two deep breaths per step if it gets really steep. This will tend allow one to burn fat as well as glucose for energy. We can only store something like 1200-1400 calories of glucose in the form of glycogen, but unlimited fat. We need to allow it's use when possible.
I eat a diet of Power bars and Fat Free Health Valley Granola Bars when day hiking. I usually take 2 PB's and at least five G-Bars. A good trick for packing Power Bars is warming them before consumption. They are very hard to chew when cold.
When snowshoeing, I find if I carry the feed tube for my hydration bladder in my pack and not outside the pack, the water in the feed tube, if any, doesn't freeze. I've also found that packing warm water helps alot. No reduction of my core temperature when I drink warm water on a really cold day. I put extra clothing around the hydration bladder to keep the water warm. Works well.
I've also found that following the outlines of a high complex carbohydrate diet allows my physical condition to easily stay high. That's because I need never break down my own muscle tissue when I need glucose for fuel.
How does one do that ? First follow the rule of four. I eat nothing with more than 4 grams of fat per serving. This reduces my fat consumption to less than 20% of my total caloric intake a day. But, there is more. I must not eat more than 80 grams of protien a day or it the same as eating extra fat. One needs to eat complete proteins as well. Either a combination of grains and beans or a source from animals, like milk, cheese, fish or meat.
One needs to avoid snacks high in sugar as well. If you don't, you will experience an insulin spike. That means your pancreas produces too much insulin to counter the surge of blood sugar. That will remove some of the glucose the food provides and, worse, it will lock up your stores glycogen until your insulin levels fall to normal levels. Something that takes hours. The G-Bars I mentioned are only a third sugar. Less would be better. But, for me, they work fine. The important thing is they provide more slowly digest complex carbohydrates for sustained glucose levels. That's what keeps us going. I've also used Whole Wheat Bagels and am going to use Whole Wheat, Low Fat Tortillos as well. Better yet.
This only works if I eat. That's every two to five hours. When I feel hungry I eat. When I feel tried, I stop for a short break and eat. I never limit my consumtion of complex carbohydrates. It is almost impossible to get fat eating them. It really works. E

I thnk I just heard Dr. Atkins rolling over...

E,



I would like to see you start a regimen of a little more protein in your diet. Whenever the body is exercising or under strenuous activity, it is breaking down muscle fiber, tendons etc. This includes hiking and other aerobic activities. Protein=repair. So at nighttime after you've consumed your carbs you should drink one packet of EAS Myoplex shake for protein. In four weeks or less you will surpass Bruce Jenner's track records and become a major contender for the upcoming world games. Try it, you'll like it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



Dr MtnHtr

Good Going E!

The diet you describe was used by Dave Scott to win 7 Ironman triathalons in the 1980s. The protein requirements of adults is actually very low as compared to the amount of meat Americans eat.

The very high carbo intake that you describe is best for VERY active adults, like yourself. Sedentary folks should reduce the carbs and total calories in order to do well.

I find that eating food as God made it (whole wheat, brown rice, whole oats, beans, lentils, etc) really helps also. The whole grains and legumes contain a MESS of B vitamins that aid in exercise.

Be careful in limiting your fat intake. Some folks have gone overboard and gotten ill because they got too little fat! (sounds odd, don't it?).

As with as with most things in life, too much of a good thing ain't always good.

Best of luck,

BMT

Maybe that low protein diet works. I would have to read up on it. So many of these diets fail due to the falacy that everyone is the same. What works for one does not work for another.

I like meat a lot. I live to eat among other fun things. We go out to fine resturants almost every night. As of late we have upgraded our "diet" to eating at the local hotels as their standards a high and they seem to be warmer! You have heard of the "Entertainment Books" with the half price deals right? Well we have two of them!

Monday we ate at the Marriott. I always get prime rib as rare as they have it. I would drink blood if it were sold.

That's what I like to eat.

Off to the grocery store now. We are having a roast chicken tonight. Cooked just right with a tent like a turkey is done they are fine food. The wife makes up gravy just right and we have all the fixin's on the table.

As Wm. F. Buckley said: "Eating is the only sensual pleasure one can enjoy three times a day for a lifetime"

Be well.

I enjoy a good fatty Montana ribeye at every opportunity. I pay no attention whatsoever to my diet other than I eat as much good food as I feel the need to. I drink water when I'm hot and/or thirsty and I don't care what temp it is. I breathe in after I breathe out. I don't know a carb from a protien and I will out hike and out pack anyone willing to take up the challenge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

When hunting, I don't change my diet significantly from when I'm not. Yrs ago I attended a seminar with an instructor from the Air Force Academy on survival. I make sure I eat alot of carbs, and protien. Stay away from the booze. The few times I tried those Power Bars, I almost gagged. My mule won't even eat them. I like cobblers baked up in a dutch oven with frsh swet cream poured over it, elk steaks simmered over coals, and a good pot of pinto beans , ham hocks and green chili.
I might have to really look at my diet though. I just punched out my 5th kidney stone Monday morning.

Here here Ranger! Give me a big fat steak and some trail mix and meet me at the top <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Flinch

Ohhhhhh.......
then why were you looking for tofu & bean sprouts everywhere when you were in Alabama?????????? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
badger

James was on a diet and ashamed to go into the local stores for fear of being recognized. Since I would only be there a week, I didn't care if they thought I was a sissey. I don't know how James eats that rabbit food <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Did I tell you about the hog I wrestled with under my tree stand? It was the dangdest thing, he didn't have any nuts and his tail was broken in 15 places. I bet he weighed 800 lbs too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Flinch

80 grams per day, as long as it's complete protein, is more than enough. I'm sure I eat more than that anyway. E

No, it is almost impossible to get fat on complex carbohydrates. The body will store the extra as glycogen, and consumes 25% of the caloric value of any it converts to fat.
The big point is the volume involved. At 2000 calories a day, which is the average adult intake, would take 20 medium sized baked potatoes, but only 24 pieces of bacon. Do you know anyone who can eat 6 or 7 baked potatoes at a sitting ? I can't and don't know anyone who can. But I can easily eat 8 pieces of bacon at a meal.
You need very little fat. And the body can make it's own. It can convert either protein or carbohydrates to fat. People have never straved on a low fat diet as long as they have lots of carbohydrates. Lean protein, yes. When the body converts protein to glucose, the process is very messy and produces lots of bad by products. If the process goes on too long, the person can die from the toxic buildup of these nitrogen based by products. E

Eremicus
There is a lot to be said about a proper diet and exercise for good health.
I don't no squat about all the glucose and carb stuff that you mention.
I do know that a bladder of water don't last long when climbing those hills all day, thats why I take 2.
And don't forget the unsalted sunflower seeds for a little munchin while you are cruising along those hill sides.
As far as snacks I can take some home made deer jerky and do just fine for the day.
And don't forget the camera!

Chocolate/peanut bars and bananas for a snack during a hunt does it for me. Water is not an issue where I live. It is measured in meters during a year and is always at hand and plentiful and pure.

Im very familar with the need for plenty of water when conditions are hot and dry. One of my hydration bladders holds about 3.5 liters/quarts of water. If I consume near 3 qts., I've found I need electrolyte as well. When I reach the point where the water just doesn't quench my thrist, or just bloats my stomach, I know I'm running out of electrolytes, or salts.
That deer jerky, I suspect, does it for you. Lately I've been using special tabs that are designed for this. Or plain old Gator-Aide.
I never hit the trail w/o certain things. Along with a space blanket and tear open hand warmers, my first aide kit always has several packets of these electrolytes tabs in it. E

I lost about 40 pounds on one of these so-called "fad" diets.



Eat less and exercise more! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



Seriously, have tried several diets. Lost 35 pounds on a strict Atkins diet - gained it all back. Lost 40 pounds on SlimFast - hungry ALL the time - gained it all back.



About two years ago we got one of those weight loss kits - big box of books about eating, exercise doohickeys, lots of money for stuff you can buy at the dollar store. Anyway - the best thing in it was a chart called "Michi's ladder" that listed foods in five tiers - the best, good for you, neutral, you'll pay for these, and avoid. Obviously, fruits and veggies were best, chocolate cake and such were in the avoid category.



Basically, it's what your grandmother knew all along. A diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, potatos, unbleached flour, low fat meats like chicken and fish, nuts - basically a balanced diet. I eat small meals five times a day and never exercise on an empty stomach.



And exercise - I walk 30-40 minutes a day, religiously. Used to run but my back and knees won't stand that any more. Military exercises with my body weight - pushups, pullups, ab crunches, and a few low set/high rep exercises with 20 pound dumbbells for the arms and shoulders. A "secret" I've found is to keep the routine short and sweet. I've lifted weights off and on for 30 years but after a few months of hitting the heay weights I would dread the 1 hour or more workouts. Now it takes me 20 minutes. Before it gets tiresome I'm done, so working out 5-6 days a week is no problem.



At age 49, I went from a high of 230 pounds and overflowing size 38 pants down to 173 and could fit back into size 32 in a few months but I was gaunt. Bounced back to 185 and am wearing size 33 jeans - one size over the 32's I wore all during my twenties. I feel good and the weight has not varied more than 2-3 pounds for the last two years.



That's it - eat less, eat right and exercise.



Oh, yeah, and because life is short - go ahead and have some chocolate cake now and then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm dead set against dieting to loose weight. When you diet to loose weight, you basically eat less than you consume in total calories. What happens is while you do loose weight, most of it isn't fat. You loose far more weight in lost muscle tissue than in fat.
I've got a friend who has used the Adtkin's Diet three times. She looses 10 lbs. in a month at times. Great ? No. Over 5 lbs. of that is muscle tissue, consumed to keep your blood sugar level up. When you stop dieting, you gain it all back because you consumed that which consumes 98% of the calories you burn. It's impossible to loose more than 2 lbs. of fat per month.
You gain it back and actually have a higher percentage of body fat than ever. A couple of well documented studies have confirmed all this. No diet works in the long term to keep fat off your body. It just sets you up to have a higher percentage of body fat than ever.
The funny thing is by eating as I described, you will slowly loose body fat. There was just such a study done. The subjects were told not to limit their consumption, but just to limit their fat intake. The Rule of Four I mention (no more than 4 grams of fat per serving) was followed. Those that complied, and some didn't as usual, lost an average of 1/2 a pound a week or about 2 lbs. per month. The testers were surprised. They just wanted to see what would happen if this rule was really followed. The surprising thing was these people all ate plenty and when ever they wanted to. They ate no end of bread, rolls, pasta, Angle Food Cake, fig newtons, grham crackers, rice and potatoes.
Any exercise is much better than none. It need not be the gut busting type. Short workouts, done consistantly, work well. I, too, have given up running. I find that hiking up and down my local area, or using my Nordic Trac Machine works better than running. I do an upper body one day and walk another or use the machine. I don't have to do it every day either.
I find this eating philosophy amazing. My body fat content is at an all time low, but my weight isn't. But, best of all, I can perform in the field like I've never been able to do.
I did my first peak, Mt. Ralston, in the dead of winter here recently. I was on the trail almost 11 hours. I took few breaks and only one was 15 mins or more. I ate as above. At the end of the day I was striding right along, tired but not exhausted. Not bad for a guy almost up to his 60th birthday. E

But was it FOCUSED right? Just kidding. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />