Post season workout encouragement thread! 2022 EDITION!!!!!

[Plebe]

I started January with a low card diet and a gym membership. I threw around weights for the first time in ten years for three weeks straight and was feeling great! Theeeen I caught the plague and the only real risks I take in terms of the plague is going to the gym. We keep to ourselves and don’t gather in groups or even hang out with our extended family. I definitely got it from Planet Sickness.

to any of my fellow saddle hunters considering hitting the gym, I would suggest you consider waiting.

Sorry to hear that. Hope your health returns quickly.

 

[Robert loper]

Welp my hunting season is all over, the holidays are over, there’s not a lot of parties going on with friends and my gym is closing and it’s the season of New Years resolutions.

I’m personally battling the “Covid 19 lbs” AND I’m violently fighting off this thing that comes with being a new Dad, the Dad bod. Not to mention all the Christmas candy and beer I’d been pounding down. I’m 32 next month, I have a thin build(About 6’1, 170) but am just wildly out of shape.
Time to dust off the old Insanity DVD’s and do the damage! There literally isn’t a better time to get into shape than now. I have one DVD set that I bought years ago that I didn’t even start. So my goal is to do the regular insanity 60 days and then do this 30 day “Asylum” DVD that I never used. Then alternate the two and maybe add in some running and other stuff too(hopefully hockey when the rinks open back up).
So whatever workout you choose, I want to wish everyone good luck. Let’s encourage each other through these dark winter months and roll into spring scouting healthy and ready to look for that coveted big buck.

Try optavia. Ive lost 30 lbs on it and its great and not a fad diet

 

[Last Pale Light]

Cyclist here. With Covid shutting down the races last year, kind of stopped training. Typically ride 250 to 300 miles a week, but that stopped last summer. Quarantinis with the wife every night did not help the fitness. Trying to get ready to race again this year, if Covid doesn't kill that again. Adding Pat McNamara's Combat Strength Training program to my routine. Lots of sandbag, heavy band and functional power exercises in it. Also doing a lot of Elk Shape's exercises for bowhunters. Hoping there is an elk hunt out west somewhere in my not to distant future. Want to stay in shape for that before I get too old.

 

[thedutchtouch]

my only real exercise so far has been hiking in to try to squeeze a deer out of my first season, which ends on saturday (so i guess i'm not technically post-season yet). if all goes according to plan i'm going to try to hunt tomorrow after work fora hour or two, and then all day saturday. we'll see... then time to start the exercise program for real. i'm planning to do a mix of running outside and calisthenics/body weight exercise at home, no gym for me. nAother "perk" of deer season ending is i'm looking forward to getting back out in my hobie outback to do some fishing, the pedalling has got to count as some form of cross-training!

 

[SaddleUpPartner!]

I started January with a low card diet and a gym membership. I threw around weights for the first time in ten years for three weeks straight and was feeling great! Theeeen I caught the plague and the only real risks I take in terms of the plague is going to the gym. We keep to ourselves and don’t gather in groups or even hang out with our extended family. I definitely got it from Planet Sickness.

to any of my fellow saddle hunters considering hitting the gym, I would suggest you consider waiting.

Yeah my gym opened back up for a short time in the fall. No way I was going back, I have a small child at home. Not risking it and no one can convince me otherwise. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[SaddleUpPartner!]

Cyclist here. With Covid shutting down the races last year, kind of stopped training. Typically ride 250 to 300 miles a week, but that stopped last summer. Quarantinis with the wife every night did not help the fitness. Trying to get ready to race again this year, if Covid doesn't kill that again. Adding Pat McNamara's Combat Strength Training program to my routine. Lots of sandbag, heavy band and functional power exercises in it. Also doing a lot of Elk Shape's exercises for bowhunters. Hoping there is an elk hunt out west somewhere in my not to distant future. Want to stay in shape for that before I get too old.

Wow 300 miles a week is a lot. I broke down and bought a good mountain bike a few years ago, I usually only ride when it warms up. Great low impact exercise. Swimming is also a great low impact cardio exercise. I suck at swimming though so I don’t do it often.

 

[rutjr]

My plan this year is to climb a tree two to three times a week, shoot my bow a lot and hike with a weighted pack.

 

[woodsdog2]

Wow 300 miles a week is a lot. I broke down and bought a good mountain bike a few years ago, I usually only ride when it warms up. Great low impact exercise. Swimming is also a great low impact cardio exercise. I suck at swimming though so I don’t do it often.

I agree if you don't want to pound on your knees so you can pound on them during the rut then bike and swim.... don't run.

 

[useyourbow]

I can honestly say going into the season with 20 more pounds than the season before really ruined my season. Feeling exhausted all the time and skipping hunts because of leg soreness. Actually sold my saddle (bought another) blaming the leg pain on the saddle use and leaning. I learned my lesson. We are only blessed with so many hunting seasons and I will not hinder another one because I am out of shape.

 

[Fnoutlaw247]

I can honestly say going into the season with 20 more pounds than the season before really ruined my season. Feeling exhausted all the time and skipping hunts because of leg soreness. Actually sold my saddle (bought another) blaming the leg pain on the saddle use and leaning. I learned my lesson. We are only blessed with so many hunting seasons and I will not hinder another one because I am out of shape.

I know what you mean. Got Lazy on private land and no longer have access due to property being sold. The extra weight really slows you down. Walk 60 yards and breath like a freight train.

 

[useyourbow]

I know what you mean. Got Lazy on private land and no longer have access due to property being sold. The extra weight really slows you down. Walk 60 yards and breath like a freight train.

Belly gets in the way when hanging sticks too!

 

[sweats]

I put on some weight around the holidays like I do every year. Nothing too crazy, but not still not good. So far it's coming off pretty fast. Been making more meals at home, walking the dog, and a bit of weight lifting and running.

For me, it's really about eating less. It's a lot easier to just not put the calories in than trying to burn them.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[thedutchtouch]

I've also found recently that being out in the cold with not good enough gear has been a way to lose weight, I'm shivering it off . I publicly committed to running a half or full marathon at the end of 2021 recently so unless covid cancels everything again I've really got to get my butt in shape now!

 

[Jimmyfunk60]

January 1 2018 I weighed 315 pounds and started Keto. Former college offensive line man that let himself go lol

By fall deer season 2018 I was down to 235 pounds and felt great.. deer season holiday cheats and life carried me into a lazy keto lifestyle.

I started riding dirt bikes again and racing in off-road races to implement some type of workout Into my life but my bad habits continued and even tho I rode a lot I continued to gradually put the weight back on.

As I sit here on night turn typing this I’m at 275 pounds and today/tonight was day 1 of not messing around and getting back after it. I plan on hitting the gym in the morning before going to bed. I’m going to incorporate cardio and light lifting into my daily routine and 100% strict boring keto for a few months. My first race is in mid March and I need to get in shape fast.

I still have a few more days to hunt and plan to knock a doe down next week tho lol. Good luck fellas keep after it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SaddleUpPartner!]

I've also found recently that being out in the cold with not good enough gear has been a way to lose weight, I'm shivering it off . I publicly committed to running a half or full marathon at the end of 2021 recently so unless covid cancels everything again I've really got to get my butt in shape now!

That’s awesome dude! I’m thinking about doing a half marathon this summer. There’s one they hold right up the road from my house. I used to run cross country and track in HS, the furthest I ever ran was 10 miles. I’ve never ran a half before. I thought it would be a fun thing to do, just to say I did it.

 

[SaddleUpPartner!]

January 1 2018 I weighed 315 pounds and started Keto. Former college offensive line man that let himself go lol

By fall deer season 2018 I was down to 235 pounds and felt great.. deer season holiday cheats and life carried me into a lazy keto lifestyle.

I started riding dirt bikes again and racing in off-road races to implement some type of workout Into my life but my bad habits continued and even tho I rode a lot I continued to gradually put the weight back on.

As I sit here on night turn typing this I’m at 275 pounds and today/tonight was day 1 of not messing around and getting back after it. I plan on hitting the gym in the morning before going to bed. I’m going to incorporate cardio and light lifting into my daily routine and 100% strict boring keto for a few months. My first race is in mid March and I need to get in shape fast.

I still have a few more days to hunt and plan to knock a doe down next week tho lol. Good luck fellas keep after it. View attachment 43696


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The hardest part is getting started man, I totally sympathize with that. I’ve found that making exercise a part of your daily routine is the best way to stay in decent shape. Making it so it’s weird NOT to work out for a day. Also the diet thing is arguably the most important tool in keeping the lbs down. You can do it!

 

[MattMan81]

So I keep staring at my elliptical bike down stairs. Need to remove the winter cloths from it and other stuff that has settled around it. Maybe I will try to do that this weekend.
What's the best way to strengthen my arms for pulling my bow back?
I went back to my single cam bow last season after a few years of crossbow hunting. I had it turned down a little, but a single cam is a lot easier pull than the double. I picked up a 70lb Reign 6 off here and man, it is a lot harder to pull than I remember. I'm also 5 years out of the hard construction scene where I always did lots of heavy lifting and pulling. Plus I'm gonna be the BiG 40 this summer. So I can tell I have lost some muscle mass over the last few years. Should I try some weights or just dial the bow down and work my way back up some?
My brother has those Bowflex adjustable free weights. There pretty neat. But expensive. Any thoughts?

 

[Last Pale Light]

So I keep staring at my elliptical bike down stairs. Need to remove the winter cloths from it and other stuff that has settled around it. Maybe I will try to do that this weekend.
What's the best way to strengthen my arms for pulling my bow back?
I went back to my single cam bow last season after a few years of crossbow hunting. I had it turned down a little, but a single cam is a lot easier pull than the double. I picked up a 70lb Reign 6 off here and man, it is a lot harder to pull than I remember. I'm also 5 years out of the hard construction scene where I always did lots of heavy lifting and pulling. Plus I'm gonna be the BiG 40 this summer. So I can tell I have lost some muscle mass over the last few years. Should I try some weights or just dial the bow down and work my way back up some?
My brother has those Bowflex adjustable free weights. There pretty neat. But expensive. Any thoughts?

Check out "Elk Shape" on YouTube. Dan Staton has a ton of good archery specific work on there. I also highly recommend Pat McNamara's combat strength training program. It's based around function strength training, not simply pumping iron. https://www.combatstrengthtraining.com/
I combine those two with cardio in the form of cycling. I'm just over 2 years from the BIG 5-0, and I'm trying to fend off father time as best I can.

 

[SaddleUpPartner!]

So I keep staring at my elliptical bike down stairs. Need to remove the winter cloths from it and other stuff that has settled around it. Maybe I will try to do that this weekend.
What's the best way to strengthen my arms for pulling my bow back?
I went back to my single cam bow last season after a few years of crossbow hunting. I had it turned down a little, but a single cam is a lot easier pull than the double. I picked up a 70lb Reign 6 off here and man, it is a lot harder to pull than I remember. I'm also 5 years out of the hard construction scene where I always did lots of heavy lifting and pulling. Plus I'm gonna be the BiG 40 this summer. So I can tell I have lost some muscle mass over the last few years. Should I try some weights or just dial the bow down and work my way back up some?
My brother has those Bowflex adjustable free weights. There pretty neat. But expensive. Any thoughts?

I’m no expert but I would try lowering the draw weight until you can get your strength close to what it was.

 

[Wolfie]

I’m in! I have slacked so much this year, last March I ran a 5k which I usually do every year. There’s three I do in March which preceded a St Pats parade which were always fun. Plenty of Guinness to drink afterwards. Now I skipped the running part and just drinking the Guinness. Last few years I’ve ran a lot and mix with going to the gym. I’ve totally abandoned it all. Eating like **** has become an almost daily thing. I’m not dining at the Golden Arches everyday but have not been really concerned with how my belly has exceeded my current pant size. My last hunt will be tomorrow for deer and looking forward to starting my “diet” Monday. Usually stick to south beach kinda eating, no carb to low carb and lay off the sugar. Meal prep and start running again. Taking it slow one day at a time. I ran a half marathon three yrs ago and want to run another hopefully they start doing it again this year. I’ll train for it anyways, would love to run a full before I can’t anymore. We’ll see, thanks for posting this thread. ACCOUNTABILITY!