Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Time to hit the gym

I'm 71 and if I lay off more than a week or two of hiking/hill climbing or stairmaster it's back to square one. And because I'm serious about my workouts, I am still able to hunt. The old saw about use it or lose it couldn't be more true for me.

Yup. I'm talking a day off, not a week or two, and with activities like hiking, it's not such a big deal.

I'm 59. I workout 3 to 4 times a week. Every other day. I do 30 minutes on the stair climber, 200 crunches & 20 minutes on the rowing machine. In the summer, I'll hike mtn trails & cut about 5 cords of firewood. Come September it a little grouse hunting then elk hunting. Then, I veg out watching football & the holidays-- 10 lb gain. I hit the gym when I submit my application in the mail. Now, its off to the gym.

44 here and I am able to workout over my lunch. I do it everyday but do different activities so I can recover. I ran a marathon in 2011 before elk hunting and I had more pep up the mountain than when I was 22.

I thnk the key is to commit to doing it as part of you regular schedule. I almost always look forward to my workouts but even when I don't I'm happy I completed them when I leave the gym. If you are new get help from a trainer. If your motivation is gone sign up for a class as you'll build relationships that will help hold you accountable. Pretty soon you'll feel so good you won't want to stop.

I envy your total. We did Mt. Elbert, mainly because we were in the area and Elbert being the 2nd highest in the continental 48. Can't wait to get back. A couple of good books on the 14ers, "Halfway to Heaven", and "Colorado 14er Disasters".

At 61, if I don't workout here in the winter, I really flab out. I try to get in an hour per day minimum, combining elliptical, walker and bike. I don't intentionally take days off from the routine, it just happens sometimes. Spring, Summer and Fall, I am moving enough to keep in shape (mowing, rowing, swimming, walking, etc.), BUT it is harder and harder with age.

I'd like to clarify what I said above about needing a day off. I was referring to resistance training or weightlifting where you push yourself. This doesn't apply to aerobic workouts like elipticals, treadmills, etc. unless your doing some HIIT workouts.

I started running 5k competitions a couple times a year after I started elk hunting.

I did this, not because I'm competitive, or particularly good at it, but because having a competition in March keeps me focused in February.

I still end up making a "summer push" to get into elk hunting condition, but its nice to have some interim goals to stay focused on not being a fat-arse.

I even ran a 1/2 marathon once for the same reason (would have never done so, were it not for elk hunting).

more recently, I've taken up doing sprint triathalons. Still not competitive, but it works for me.

I am 68 and required knee surgery (both) in December. Up until that I worked out daily since leaving the service in 69. I am doing a tremendous amount of therapy each day, and my doctor says I am progressing faster than most men 1/2 my age. I help manage wild land fires in the summer, on the fire line, I am committed to being ready for that, and hunting season. Already have an elk tag in Wyoming.

Well I was walking 3 miles a day every day started back in Sept- by Dec, I was feeling pretty good about it, then I broke my ankle, and well I am now back to square one. My doctor told me that its going to ache for some time to come and that what ever I do, go easy with it. Oh well, spring will be here in a week. Its 13 weeks since I broke it- I going to start walking again in another week or so. I have to check with my Doctor when I go in for a check up on tuesday. My Moose and Elk hunting is in my past now. But exercise is good for you just the same, I find I sleep a whole lot better if I do. Since I am more or less a flat lander, going way up in the High Country hunting is pretty much out for me. I may get a bike and do some of the local daily running around on that. Can't hurt!

54, but I who's counting?