Who's Been Training- And How?

[labman]

4:30am Weights, treadmill walk/run on inclines 5 days a week mon.-fri.
6:00pm Road bike or Mountain Bike 20 miles at least 3 days a week Mon., Wed., Fri.

I also pay attention to food intake!!

 

[BigSurArcher]

Great job everyone!

My routine really isn't that complicated, and I don't worry about over-training. I don't count sets or pay attention to gains in the weight room because for me that's not what's important. I don't plan out my week, saying I'll do this exercise this day or I'll work this muscle group that day. It's pretty random which I think is beneficial, considering how P90X is about confusing the body and a lot of people have great success on that program. I only ride my bike 1-2 times per week, but I hit the spin room in the school gym fairly often. Using my heart rate monitor and the spin bike I can get a lot more done strength and cardio wise than being out on the road. On the spin bike I will keep my HR over 180 for 45 minutes while doing intervals up to 220 BPM a number of times in that time frame. This is where most of my fat burning occurs. I applied to be a spin instructor next semester at the school, which I'm pretty sure I'll get. That will be sweet! Not to mention... lots of hot chicks at my school...

In the weight room I refuse to be like all the static, huge upper-bodied, chicken legged guys that hang around in there. Most of my weight exercises involve the entire body which gets the HR up. If you Youtube Lance Armstrong's weight training program, you will see where I got a lot of my lifts from. They aren't made for packing on large amounts muscle, but they add small amounts of muscle at a time while really helping out balance and core strength. And they make me sweat! I like to throw in heavy squats 2-3 times per week when I'm feeling extra strong.

The other day I let one of my professors talk me into taking her PiYo (Pilates-Yoga) class. I went because she's hot... but didn't expect much. I was wrong! It was awesome, as I got a great core workout mixed with some serious stretching and balance work. What this did was teach me the importance of stretching which I never did properly before. I really think flexibility is hugely underestimated. I will now be incorporating a number of the stretching and balance positions I learned in that class to my weekly routine.

As far as supplements go, I take a lot of protein (3 27 gram shakes/day), a big spoonful of Creatine/day, and Muscle Pharm Assault before each workout. Since taking the MP, I have been able to repeat the same workouts 3 days in a row sometimes without feeling over-exerted.

Like a lot of you guys (and Jen) have said, nutrition has probably been the biggest factor in getting in really good shape. I don't know how many calories I eat each day, but it can't be many... even though I feel like I'm always eating. My favorite post-workout dinner right now is steamed veggies with pasta and a little Yoshidas marinade with a chicken breast or steak from something I killed. I'm trying to limit most of my carbs to post-workout when they will be used for recovery. During the day just a ton of water and healthy snacks almost hourly.

 

[Rock 2.0]

Get up early, hike hard with a 40 lb pack, workout at night consisting of lifting with an emphasis on core and legs. Lots and lots of water.

 

[velvetfvr]

Going to start, don't lift but do a lot of cardio and a bunch of pushups. I lift at school but not at home. Gonna hike with all my gear for a couple times to get used to it and run a little with my pack. Then I will shoot from weird angles and sit in weird angles so I don't get busted.

 

[Matthoek21]

I train CrossFit 4-5 times per week. Not sure if this is an option for a lot of you but these are awesome total body workouts. We incorporate endurance and strength workouts. Anything from burpees, front squats, deadlifts, rope climbs, sled pulls, lots of pull ups and push ups. Every workout is timed and your pushed by the clock as well as other class members. I hurt all the time but am in the best shape of my life. Never really been over weight but have definitely bulked up and feel like I can tackle any hunt even though I didn't get drawn this year. Was really physically and mentally prepared to get after it this year. Oh well maybe next year...if I don't come out and just hunt an over the counter elk unit. Look up the CrossFit workout "Murph". Time yourself and see how you do. Don't try typing in response when your done or even the next day...you may still be shaking and sore. Good luck to all with tags. Guess I will be in shape to climb in a deer stand and hunt eastern whitetails. We all know how good a shape you need to be in to do that. Lol. Go ahead and begin making fun of us flatlanders. But if anyone wants to "run my but in the ground" on one of their high country hunts let me know I would love to see if I can hang.

 

[flatlander51]

the insanity video is just that!! and will have you in mountain shape for sure! one hour a day and you can do it in your living room. and its the hardest workout i have ever done.

 

[mthuntress]

Lift,run,hike with pack,scout,run with weighted vest,repeat.

 

[bern0134]

I'm just about to wrap up the 1st month of the Insanity workout. Its been one hell of a workout. I'm looking forward to starting the 2nd month. Once I finish that then I'll either try the next Insanity program (Asylum) and add weight lifting once again. If I was working at my old job I wouldn't have to worry since it mostly consisted of daily hikes at about 8500 feet.

 

[homegrown]

I lift weights and do cardio (treadmill set on incline) three times a week, Hike on the weekends and as has been stated clean eating. My workouts focus on a lot of heavy leg exercises like squats, deadlifts, and cleans. I run on the treadmill the same day as a lowerbody weights day but, never the day after. I am also a roofer at the moment , so I get lots of exercise at work, some days it's hard to go to the gym and give it everything after I've been on a hot, steep roof all day, but what better training for the mountains is there? Good luck everyone, keep at it.

 

[Muleys 24/7]

I do the 12oz curl and every now and then the 24ozDon't lift weights because thoughs things are heavy

Now, I work in the construction feild so I get a work out everyday at work, I would hit the gym but after a long day on the job site there's no time or energy left, when season rolls around, I havn't had any trouble hikeing up mountains and dragging deer out. I probley could eat a little more heathy, but untill I really start packing on the pounds, I'll worry about it then.

 

[gator7275]

I'm 37 and this is my first yr going to colorado elk hunting , Ihave been training since feb started with 30 mins of cardion on a eliptical set to a cross training hil workout for 30 mins 5 days a week and working out on my bowflex 5 days a week 1 muscle group a day . In april i moved and took 3 weeks of since i have joined a gym and back to my 5 day routine except lifting with free weights and hitting my legs harder with squats leg presses and lots of calve exercises . I have 2 packages of high fiber oatmeal evey morning at 5 am go to the gym till 7 and then have a protien shake with starwberries blue , black and rasberry barries for antioxidents and vitamin c then at 9:30 a 2 egg and whole grain muffin snack a healthy lunc and dinner and a protien bar and some trail mix thrown in for snacks i try to have dinner no later than 6:30 pm . I also take a vitamin pack and flex joint pack made by universla nutrition its called animal pack and flex pack they also have awesome weight lifting supplements for stacking on lean muscle and burning fat . I thinking in august I will be hitting the high school bleacjers with a 50 lb werighted pack in the evenings .

 

[nmbugler]

Ive been hitting the legs, abs and running/biking. I live at 6000 feet and hiked at 8500 last week and was a little gassed. My deer hunt this year is at least 12000, so im gonna try and find a pool to get the lungs a better workout

 

[Huntinguy0120]

I'm noticing a trend on here about positive progress.. And I think everyone is dedicated enough to start seeing personal growth in their own independent way.. I have read a lot on strength conditioning for preseason so I'd like to share a few more ideas I haven't yet seen..

They say that eating 5 small meals a day will help boost metabolism.. We all read this and say sure, let me take time away from my full time job to accommodate a rediculous eating schedule.. But I alter this.. I'm 26 so expendable income is used not on buying organic, but buying bullets to harvest "organic" here's what works for me:
Breakfast 6:30am: 1/2 cup oatmeal & 3 eggs (piece of wheat toast, if I'm still hungry)
Snack (between 9:30 & 10:30) protein shake or a poor mans protein shake.. Aka glass of milk
Lunch(11:30-12:30) who cares.. Just keep it smart and portioned (5 chips with a sandwich, not the whole damn bag)

I usually try to fight off the afternoon snack.. If you can't grab a (1) piece of jerky or preferrably a handful of Almonds/cashews (again watch the salt)
Dinner: my wife loves her pasta, I try to take a 1/2 portion.. Throw in some protein (aka elk steak, organically harvested of course) and a crap load of veggies.. Multiply your current intake by 3..

Now for fluids: take your current weight, divide it by two, and drink that many ounces of water per day.. I'm 195 pounds so i drink 98 ounces of water..
Let's be honest, a glass of wine or a frosty brew won't hurt ya and may motivate you to keep up the good work.. Just try to get all your fluids down by 7pm or you will get some midnight cardio running back and forth to the bathroom.

For cardio, rapid change in heart rate is the key.. Start you workout (tho is an extra few minutes to your workout) 2 min walk, 1 min elevated incline run (or flailing motion if your anything like me) repeat for 3 cycles starting out, when you can get to 30 minutes, the rest of your hunting party will hate you..

Lastly, go sockless!!! But only 6-7 weeks before season.. If you don't; you, your shoes, your wife and the whole gym will hate you.. Start with once per week, then twice, the next week 3 times etc etc (I learned this from Cameron Haynes) this will help your feet get into shape too, less blisters=more miles covered= less competition= better stories, more meat in the freezer and bigger racks on the wall!!

Good luck, boys and girl!!!

 

[quicknick]

Dabbling in the paleo diet, doing crossfit training 3 to 4 times a week and trying to run or hike another day. If you want to be sore in places that you didn't even know existed do crossfit.

 

[ChadH]

This one is near and dear to me. At nearly 50, I am a life long athelete whose job has led to a lot of stress and being fairly sedintary. So I gained a bunch of weight. I am currently traing to do a Solo Back Pack Elk hunt not this fall but next. I've been doing 45 min of cardio 6 days a week. Alternating "high burn" "slow burn" days. Slow Burn days I lift for 30 minutes, hig burn days I lift for 20/25 minutes and rotate muscle groups through out the week. I usually take Sunday off, but frequently throw on a pack and do a short hike. So far I have lost 25 pounds. I feel great and honestly find I miss days I don't get a full work out in, so they have become very few.

My goals are about another 15 pounds weight loss before I start working on a little more bulk. Lots of guys shoot for bulk and just lean out, I think that works ok for most younger guys. Lots of guys at my age have a harder time loosing wiehgt and leaning out at the same time, so I am taking a slower approach. It seems to be working for me.

 

[Matthoek21]

Dabbling in the paleo diet, doing crossfit training 3 to 4 times a week and trying to run or hike another day. If you want to be sore in places that you didn't even know existed do crossfit.

Amen brother.

 

[In God We Trust]

I run 4-5 miles 4 days a week and lift weights 5 days a week. I have also started running the stairs at Red Rocks again. I stay in pretty good shape all year and then start hitting it hard around April. Man I can't wait for hunting season!

 

[Wyoflightmedic]

Was training for 50k trail run, but now using P90X2, and adding hill climbs to workout.

 

[nvbrushhunter]

For me, I've been doing traintohunt.com workouts for almost a year now and as far as diet I do the predator meal plan from the same guys. Considering a year ago I couldn't hardly walk a mile and now I run 10-15 miles a week and I'm down 50lbs and put on a ton of muscle, I'd say it has worked.

I do the workouts 4-5 days a week plus numerous mountain trail runs a week, plus I have done 4 5K trail races this year already. The workouts are based on crossfit workouts but they are tailored to a hunter. The program is run by Dan Staton and Kenton Clairmont out of Spokane Washington. If you have ever watched Bowhunter Magazine TV or read Elk Hunter Magazine, you are probably familiar with Dan as he does the fitness segments for both.

 

[Whisky]

the insanity video is just that!! and will have you in mountain shape for sure! one hour a day and you can do it in your living room. and its the hardest workout i have ever done.

I am doing a little Insanity now. You're right, it's fricken "Insane". I think I only almost puked 3 times during the first workout. I'm not in any sort of shape though, unless "round" counts....

I have dabbled in P90X last year, and now Insanity. I like Insanity much more. I think the cardio is more intense and it also has more stretching in it (which I need), makes the legs burn more, and no pull ups (I can't do em). I lost 5 lbs in the first week. I started mixing it up now though, and doing hill programs on the treadmill some days, Insanity others...Soon I will be throwing on the pack and spotting scope and get to scouting for whitetails in some hills not to far away. I am jealous of you people that have mountains in your backyard to hike in.