Practical Fitness
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nomadicbohunk
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I'll chime in on this. I do think genetics have a lot to do with it.
My wife is IN shape. We're apart right now and I just talked to her on the phone. She just ran a marathon today for fun. Like there's a marathon today in the town we live, so she just was like, "I've never ran one, I should." So she did her own route that was more uphill. haha. She regularly rides her bike 100 miles. One time she was on a trip and I told her about a restaurant she should go to. She was bored so she walked. 23 miles each way. She's insane.
She's also pretty overweight. Like if you saw her you'd think she was a typical fat lazy American. She doesn't go to a gym....she likes walking, hiking, and biking. She's great on hunts as she loves camping and likes carrying heavy loads in a backpack. lol. I really don't understand why she is overweight as she eats literally 1/3 of what I do and is 20x more active.
On a side note, if you are a runner or whatever. Her feet bother her sometimes. I cajoled her into just buying new shoes every couple hundred miles and it's made a huge difference. Expensive, but yeah. I just took a literal contractor bag of new looking altras into goodwill before I left.
Since I'm talking about her, someone will laugh at this: When she was 19, her and a friend just up and took off from Boston and biked across the country in a big circle. They ended up only spending about $200 each on candy bars and such. The stories are hilarious. Everyone was all about helping these two young women when they were out in the middle of nowhere and feeding them. My favorite is from somewhere in southern Louisiana. They knocked on a door to ask if they could camp. A woman opened the door, they asked and she was like, "No, no, Honey. No. This won't work." So she washed all their clothes right then and made them shower. She gave them robes to wear. She made her husband take them out in his air boat (in robes) to go catch catfish, and made a literal feast of catfish, okra, gumbo, the whole 9 yards. She also made them call their parents to check in and let them know they were OK. She also had them sleep in her guest bedroom. Half the people they asked to camp fed them, so they spent like no money. This would have been a bit over 20 years ago, so this kind of thing is more popular now and I don't think you'd get the same reception. If you want to get in practical shape, bike across the country. haha.
Talking about practical fitness reminds me. My dad had elbow surgery when he was 60 due to shooting a bow. He's super picky with doctors and went to an orthopedic surgeon who basically only deals with professional athletes. With the surgery he had done, you couldn't mess it up by overuse, but needed to use it. He had a bunch of time off work after it.
The surgeon and physical therapists were totally dumbfounded how he rehabbed so quickly. The surgeon was like, I deal with football players throwing millions into rehab who are in their 20s and they don't recover as fast as you with this same surgery. How did you do it?
My dad's surgery was in late May. He basically picked berries every day to make jelly and went catfishing the rest of the time. There was probably some busch light drinking involved too. I think there's something to be said about being active in general and not just sitting at a desk or at the computer and then going balls to the wall at the gym.
My wife is IN shape. We're apart right now and I just talked to her on the phone. She just ran a marathon today for fun. Like there's a marathon today in the town we live, so she just was like, "I've never ran one, I should." So she did her own route that was more uphill. haha. She regularly rides her bike 100 miles. One time she was on a trip and I told her about a restaurant she should go to. She was bored so she walked. 23 miles each way. She's insane.
She's also pretty overweight. Like if you saw her you'd think she was a typical fat lazy American. She doesn't go to a gym....she likes walking, hiking, and biking. She's great on hunts as she loves camping and likes carrying heavy loads in a backpack. lol. I really don't understand why she is overweight as she eats literally 1/3 of what I do and is 20x more active.
On a side note, if you are a runner or whatever. Her feet bother her sometimes. I cajoled her into just buying new shoes every couple hundred miles and it's made a huge difference. Expensive, but yeah. I just took a literal contractor bag of new looking altras into goodwill before I left.
Since I'm talking about her, someone will laugh at this: When she was 19, her and a friend just up and took off from Boston and biked across the country in a big circle. They ended up only spending about $200 each on candy bars and such. The stories are hilarious. Everyone was all about helping these two young women when they were out in the middle of nowhere and feeding them. My favorite is from somewhere in southern Louisiana. They knocked on a door to ask if they could camp. A woman opened the door, they asked and she was like, "No, no, Honey. No. This won't work." So she washed all their clothes right then and made them shower. She gave them robes to wear. She made her husband take them out in his air boat (in robes) to go catch catfish, and made a literal feast of catfish, okra, gumbo, the whole 9 yards. She also made them call their parents to check in and let them know they were OK. She also had them sleep in her guest bedroom. Half the people they asked to camp fed them, so they spent like no money. This would have been a bit over 20 years ago, so this kind of thing is more popular now and I don't think you'd get the same reception. If you want to get in practical shape, bike across the country. haha.
Talking about practical fitness reminds me. My dad had elbow surgery when he was 60 due to shooting a bow. He's super picky with doctors and went to an orthopedic surgeon who basically only deals with professional athletes. With the surgery he had done, you couldn't mess it up by overuse, but needed to use it. He had a bunch of time off work after it.
The surgeon and physical therapists were totally dumbfounded how he rehabbed so quickly. The surgeon was like, I deal with football players throwing millions into rehab who are in their 20s and they don't recover as fast as you with this same surgery. How did you do it?
My dad's surgery was in late May. He basically picked berries every day to make jelly and went catfishing the rest of the time. There was probably some busch light drinking involved too. I think there's something to be said about being active in general and not just sitting at a desk or at the computer and then going balls to the wall at the gym.
npaden
Well-known member
One older guy I met (who was probably about the age I am at now) didn't work out at all. But he didn't have any power operated anything. Old school reel push mower, hedge trimmer, scythe for weeds, etc. No power tools, hand saw, hand drill, etc. He walked a lot and was outside a lot.
I didn't keep track of him to know for sure he stayed in shape as he aged, but I think people like that, ranchers, farmers, etc. can stay pretty fit without going to the gym and working out.
I didn't keep track of him to know for sure he stayed in shape as he aged, but I think people like that, ranchers, farmers, etc. can stay pretty fit without going to the gym and working out.
jryoung
Well-known member
An interesting nugget if you look at people from blue zones is that they tend to live in hilly areas, and they're active on those hillsides. Modest resistance training is great for bone and muscle health. That dovetails very well with what we do as hunters, lots of hiking, modest resistance.....maybe not with an elk quarter though.
Something we talk extensively with our patients when it comes to aging is that there are three key components that lead to dis-ease (disease). Loss of glycemic control, lack of oxygen and hormonal decline.
Hormones: between 35 and 45 your hormones start to decline once your hormones decline you lose elasticity even in your intestinal tract you're absorption of nutrients goes down we advocate supporting hormones or taking hormones.
Glycemic control: next thing that happens along with loss of hormones is glycemic control, meaning anything you put in your mouth turns to fat a little bit easier. Scientifically we understand that this is actually a survival mechanism those of us who have been hunting for a few years know it's a little bit harder than it was when we're in our twenties or thirties.
Lack of oxygen: While your hormones are declining and everything you put in your mouth turns to fat we lose oxygenation to tissue. That's why we test VO2 max to see what is your respiratory exchange ratio how are you taking an oxygen how are you off gassing CO2. I'd imagine if you were to test some of those people that live in the blue zones walking up and down hills staying in shark mode all day long they'd have a stellar RER around .7 (fat burning).
Something we talk extensively with our patients when it comes to aging is that there are three key components that lead to dis-ease (disease). Loss of glycemic control, lack of oxygen and hormonal decline.
Hormones: between 35 and 45 your hormones start to decline once your hormones decline you lose elasticity even in your intestinal tract you're absorption of nutrients goes down we advocate supporting hormones or taking hormones.
Glycemic control: next thing that happens along with loss of hormones is glycemic control, meaning anything you put in your mouth turns to fat a little bit easier. Scientifically we understand that this is actually a survival mechanism those of us who have been hunting for a few years know it's a little bit harder than it was when we're in our twenties or thirties.
Lack of oxygen: While your hormones are declining and everything you put in your mouth turns to fat we lose oxygenation to tissue. That's why we test VO2 max to see what is your respiratory exchange ratio how are you taking an oxygen how are you off gassing CO2. I'd imagine if you were to test some of those people that live in the blue zones walking up and down hills staying in shark mode all day long they'd have a stellar RER around .7 (fat burning).
That is interesting, I never really connected the two but makes sense.
BirdManMike
Well-known member
Yeah, the blue zone people are really good indicators or all it takes to be healthy. They eat well, they walk a lot, and a lot of that walking is on inclines. They aren't strength training, they aren't running marathons, and they aren't really counting calories or protein or whatever - just a lot of movement while eating balanced, varied diets.
Thats not to say anything in your list should be avoided. Its a good list, especially for the sedentary, garbage-eating American. If I had to critique one thing, it would be the time goals on the running. I'll be 44 soon, and they may be achievable but running at that pace becomes increasingly difficult on my body. Running itself isnt difficult -- I ran 5, 13 milers this past week at ~10/mile, but increasing speed, especially to 8 min/mile or better, becomes TOUGH as I age.
Thats not to say anything in your list should be avoided. Its a good list, especially for the sedentary, garbage-eating American. If I had to critique one thing, it would be the time goals on the running. I'll be 44 soon, and they may be achievable but running at that pace becomes increasingly difficult on my body. Running itself isnt difficult -- I ran 5, 13 milers this past week at ~10/mile, but increasing speed, especially to 8 min/mile or better, becomes TOUGH as I age.
rjthehunter
Well-known member
Running isn't good for you!
BirdManMike
Well-known member
Wrong.
Forkyfinder
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jryoung
Well-known member
FIFY
Most people suck at running. They stop running when they’re 12, decide to get in shape as an adult, proceed to beat the shit out of theirselves, and get injured.
The truth is most people are overtraining. I love working out and it’s a constant struggle. Most middle age people could lift weights 2 days per week @ 45 minutes. Walk 10k steps per day. Go for an easy 5k run 1 maybe 2 times and along with a 80% clean diet and good sleep keep theirselves in good health.
The truth is most people are overtraining. I love working out and it’s a constant struggle. Most middle age people could lift weights 2 days per week @ 45 minutes. Walk 10k steps per day. Go for an easy 5k run 1 maybe 2 times and along with a 80% clean diet and good sleep keep theirselves in good health.
I know a guy from Loma Linda- he’s a Seventh Day Adventist as many there are, and he has a very interesting diet. Pescatarian would be how I would describe it, but lots of raw uncooked veggies and nuts. He is a unique dude, has an almost Zen quality to him. Healthy as a horse aside from the strange things he would pick up on his world travels on his surgeon mission trips.
I used to work with him a fair bit, but he moved down to Haiti to focus on his mission work full time. I bet he lives to be 100. Hope so anyway.
There is some validity to this so not discounting you, but what part do you feel is unhealthy?
One common one is wearing out ones joints- that particular point is not well-supported by data.
Agreed. I know people that have run into their 80’s and some that have stopped in their 30’s because of joint issues.
What are your sources saying @rjthehunter “running isn’t good for you.”
El Jason
Well-known member
I’m not going to get into any debates about what is good for you and what isn’t.
From a layman’s perspective, and with the guidance of my SIL who’s a strength and conditioning coach:
Lifting is good for you, particularly compound movements.
Cross training is a good thing.
Singular focus (ie only running) is not a good thing.
Functional movement, such as rucking is great to build strength and conditioning.
From your list, if it floats your boat, run with it.
Don’t neglect a clean diet and good sleep habits. I also wouldn’t fixate on 10 pull-ups. That’s a lot.
I do weights three days a week. 30 minutes a session. It’s KB focused, heavy swings , goblet squats, RDLs, reverse lunges, and functional movements. I run 1-2 days a week, and then hike as time allows. Don’t forget recovery.
From a layman’s perspective, and with the guidance of my SIL who’s a strength and conditioning coach:
Lifting is good for you, particularly compound movements.
Cross training is a good thing.
Singular focus (ie only running) is not a good thing.
Functional movement, such as rucking is great to build strength and conditioning.
From your list, if it floats your boat, run with it.
Don’t neglect a clean diet and good sleep habits. I also wouldn’t fixate on 10 pull-ups. That’s a lot.
I do weights three days a week. 30 minutes a session. It’s KB focused, heavy swings , goblet squats, RDLs, reverse lunges, and functional movements. I run 1-2 days a week, and then hike as time allows. Don’t forget recovery.
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rjthehunter
Well-known member
I should say excessive running is bad for you. Its a high impact activity. It's hard on knees, hips, ankles, and feet. It has high injury rates when compared to something like rucking. Runners are typically susceptible to overuse injuries.
One of the kids at my HS had a dad that ran everywhere. Dude could run 60 miles to a game of some sort to watch his kid play. He'd run there, watch the game, then run home. If you saw him somewhere, he looked like he was almost immobile. He moved so slowly and it looked like every move hurt. But as soon as he started running, his body knew what to do.
When I'm prepping to hunt in the mountains, I typically ruck with 60-80lbs, do box step ups and mountain bike. That works a lot of the leg muscles that don't get worked as hard as they do when scurrying up a mountain. I don't do any strength training. I'm still young and keep that up throughout my day to day life.
One of the kids at my HS had a dad that ran everywhere. Dude could run 60 miles to a game of some sort to watch his kid play. He'd run there, watch the game, then run home. If you saw him somewhere, he looked like he was almost immobile. He moved so slowly and it looked like every move hurt. But as soon as he started running, his body knew what to do.
When I'm prepping to hunt in the mountains, I typically ruck with 60-80lbs, do box step ups and mountain bike. That works a lot of the leg muscles that don't get worked as hard as they do when scurrying up a mountain. I don't do any strength training. I'm still young and keep that up throughout my day to day life.
*** I say this as a former daily runner who has run a marathon. Running three to five miles a day is the easiest way I know to stay in good cardio shape and to keep weight off.
@rjthehunter is right to a certain extent to long distance running being bad for you. After a certain time, it starts causing issues to the body - especially to the heart. I’ve read several articles, it seems to be around the 1 hour mark, possibly 45 minutes with continual training at that level.
I have a bet with my sons that a certain influencer who runs a marathon everyday will drop from a heart attack eventually.
www.heart.org
@rjthehunter is right to a certain extent to long distance running being bad for you. After a certain time, it starts causing issues to the body - especially to the heart. I’ve read several articles, it seems to be around the 1 hour mark, possibly 45 minutes with continual training at that level.
I have a bet with my sons that a certain influencer who runs a marathon everyday will drop from a heart attack eventually.
Is long-distance running good for the heart?
Running is good exercise for heart health, but there's a debate about whether consistent long-distance running can do more harm than good.
El Jason
Well-known member
But isn’t this true for XC ski athletes too? It’s not just running.
Cardiovascular Damage Resulting from Chronic Excessive Endurance Exercise - PMC
A daily routine of physical activity is highly beneficial in the prevention and treatment of many prevalent chronic diseases, especially of the cardiovascular (CV) system. However, chronic, excessive sustained endurance exercise may cause adverse ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
I’m fairly certain chukar hunting several days a week falls in this risk category, but I’m okay with that.
BirdManMike
Well-known member
The trick is to never leave zone 2. Boof some GU while your at it. And dont heel strike so you dont explode your knees. Your 5K Marathon cant hurt you if you follow these simple steps. Oh, and be sure to ask your wife's boyfriend how long you should be out of the house on your runs.
I recently discovered Running Circle Jerk and I apologize for all that.
But, really, I think the main thing to keep in mind is that you dont need to set a PR every time you go for a run.
I recently discovered Running Circle Jerk and I apologize for all that.
But, really, I think the main thing to keep in mind is that you dont need to set a PR every time you go for a run.
also, trying to be a runner while living on a crap diet, poor sleep, and probably not at an optimal weight is likely to cause you problems.
those blue zone folks also seem to have another thing in common: fairly tight knit community and social structure. i bet those folks live pretty stress free lives in comparison to your average american and gotta imagine they snooze pretty hard when the sun goes down.
but that blue zone crap has also come with a lot statistical criticism. so, it's not gospel on how to live.
those blue zone folks also seem to have another thing in common: fairly tight knit community and social structure. i bet those folks live pretty stress free lives in comparison to your average american and gotta imagine they snooze pretty hard when the sun goes down.
but that blue zone crap has also come with a lot statistical criticism. so, it's not gospel on how to live.
