Fit to survive

T

Tobacco_Spit

Joined
Oct 20, 2006
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215
Now I must say I'm good in the strength dept (workout in a gym with weights), but my endurance sucks. How many of us got at least a few skills to survive out in the woods alittle while, but lack the fitness? Is fitness important for surviving in the woods? I think so...

TS
 
Heck yes. Endurance and good general health are mandatory in the woods. I'm fairly strong but my endurance and my bum knee really slow me down too.
 
I think there needs to be a balance between endurance and strength, and yes, I would say that spending time outdoors from a "survival" perspective, fitness is important. Of course, there's always other conditions such as age, previous injuries or health conditions that my impact one's level of fitness, but even if you can't run 2 miles in under 15 minutes or do "X" many pushups or sit-ups or lift "X" many pounds, everybody should be exercising to the best of their ability. Fitness just adds to your abilities to perform and enjoy the outdoors, helps to avoid injuries and in extreme cases, provides an advantage when in a "survival" situation.

Physical and Mental conditioning are both important....they're intrinsically tied; knowledge is only effective when put into practice.

ROCK6
 
It is specifically because of my interest in hiking and backpacking that I stay in shape. I live at sea level and backpack up to 14,000'+, so I have to do something or I would never be able to enjoy myself in the mountains.

In a true survival situation, I think endurance is more important than strength. Some of the things you have to do to get by would require a sustained effort and a lot of patience.
 
" a chain is only as strong as it's wewakest link" a healthy, and prepared mind and body are IMHO the 2 most important tools in a survival situation...I also think that strength and endurance exist on a relative continum in that both are important...you might have to move some heavy stuff or you might have to hike out over a long didtance w/out rest, so cross training in my opinion and being fit in general is just as important as having a good knife.
 
When I was running around hunting/fishing in the far north last fall/winter my legs ached initially. It took about 2 weeks for my body to acclimate. I also found that my ankles often ached because the felt lined rubber boots that I was wearing had poor ankle support, thus my ankles would turn on the slippery, often very large, rocks. It was wooded, rocky,hilly terrain. I was constantly going up or down mossy water soaked hills/boulders and through tangled bush. As I said, it took about two weeks of aching legs until I snapped into it, then my endurance was much better. As an aside, clothing selection can be a significant contributer to physical demands.
 
A great all around exercise from strength and endurance is a boxers workout. You get some jogging, strength, agility, etc.
 
I used to be very into the powerlifting and bodybuilding scene (and ran a very successful strength training/coaching business). At 6' 1" I weighed 260. Then at age 40 we had our first child and my priorities changed to "I'd better train to live longer, not lift heavier". I still lift, but also run and took off 60lbs. I was shocked the next summer packing in the Rockies how much easier and more enjoyable it was. I was strong but it wasn't balanceed by overall fitness, or maybe better yet, my fitness wasn't oriented specifically enough to wilderness survival and even enjoyment.

Now my training is split evenly between cardio and strength training, and even the strength training is designed more toward functionality -- body weight exercises predominate and almost everything is compound movement.
 
as far as endurance goes, i am now able to run almost twice as far as i could this time last year. i realize that running and walking use a few different muscles, but most of them are very similar. i also regularly ride my bike, but have yet to find a good excuse to ride long distances (mostly lacking a good trail to ride/destination). i also do pushups and crunches every night. i pack light and fast in the woods, a little slower off the trail.

i love being in good shape. it allows me to do more, enjoy more, and not worry as much about catching my breath or falling behind in a group. nothing but good can come from being fit
 
Elliptical fitness machine. Easy on the knees. Good for the heart. Up da mountain. Down da mountain. Up da mountain. Down da mountain. Up da mountain. Down da mountain...:eek:
 
XMP said:
I used to be very into the powerlifting and bodybuilding scene (and ran a very successful strength training/coaching business). At 6' 1" I weighed 260. Then at age 40 we had our first child and my priorities changed to "I'd better train to live longer, not lift heavier". I still lift, but also run and took off 60lbs. I was shocked the next summer packing in the Rockies how much easier and more enjoyable it was. I was strong but it wasn't balanceed by overall fitness, or maybe better yet, my fitness wasn't oriented specifically enough to wilderness survival and even enjoyment.

Now my training is split evenly between cardio and strength training, and even the strength training is designed more toward functionality -- body weight exercises predominate and almost everything is compound movement.
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I agree. I was similar at 6'2' and 275lbs. I'm inching my way to about 240lbs and will evaluate from there. I refuse to go above 265lbs in bench, and appropriately similar in other lifts. I feel better.
 
WonderMonkey said:
I agree. I was similar at 6'2' and 275lbs. I'm inching my way to about 240lbs and will evaluate from there. I refuse to go above 265lbs in bench, and appropriately similar in other lifts. I feel better.
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My joints and back are thanking me for the changes in routine too!
 
if anyone is interested I posted my worklut for this month on this forum in a thread called (new workout wore me out) it;s s circuit of bodyweight excercise done in rapid succession w/no rest. the whole circuit is meant to be done as many times as one can in 30 min w/out rest. and always be evaluated by your physician before beginnning any excercise routine.
 
XMP said:
I used to be very into the powerlifting and bodybuilding scene (and ran a very successful strength training/coaching business). At 6' 1" I weighed 260. Then at age 40 we had our first child and my priorities changed to "I'd better train to live longer, not lift heavier". I still lift, but also run and took off 60lbs. I was shocked the next summer packing in the Rockies how much easier and more enjoyable it was. I was strong but it wasn't balanceed by overall fitness, or maybe better yet, my fitness wasn't oriented specifically enough to wilderness survival and even enjoyment.

Now my training is split evenly between cardio and strength training, and even the strength training is designed more toward functionality -- body weight exercises predominate and almost everything is compound movement.
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat - Train heavy as hell and weigh 260, felt better at 225 though.
 
I do about 5 hours of cardio a week. I'll do elliptical trainers, treadmills, bike, or just run outside. I found by mixing it up I get better results, for me.
In fact my youngest daughter showed me a new one yesterday, while kite flying, she let go of her kite, looked at me sniffling and then watched me do a 200 yard dash chasing the spool of string, good for the heart and it must of been funny for the family because they where all laughing.
I also do weight training and enjoy that more put cardio is definitely where it's at for the go far and hard crowd, in my opinion.

Helle
 
I used to do lots of heavy weight lifting when younger, but go with a much more balanced approach now. I'm more likely to use bodyweight type exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, etc.) for building strength/endurance with a little weight training thrown in. I also do hiking, building up gradually in terms of the amount of weight I carry in a pack and the distance. Used to always go "balls-to-the-wall" with weight training and would sometimes injure myself and require a long recovery time. With age, Ive finally learned my lesson. - - - My motivation for working out is the elk bowhunting season ! Youre in steep, tough mountain country miles from the nearest roads. If successful you get to pack out hundreds of pounds of elk meat on your back over several trips. Balanced strength & endurance help a lot. - - -
 
XMP said:
I used to be very into the powerlifting and bodybuilding scene (and ran a very successful strength training/coaching business). At 6' 1" I weighed 260. Then at age 40 we had our first child and my priorities changed to "I'd better train to live longer, not lift heavier". I still lift, but also run and took off 60lbs. I was shocked the next summer packing in the Rockies how much easier and more enjoyable it was. I was strong but it wasn't balanceed by overall fitness, or maybe better yet, my fitness wasn't oriented specifically enough to wilderness survival and even enjoyment.

Now my training is split evenly between cardio and strength training, and even the strength training is designed more toward functionality -- body weight exercises predominate and almost everything is compound movement.
Click to expand...

I was a bodybuilder. Not comp, I never really had the use for the drugs. but at 5'9" my heaviest was 245lbs @ ~8% bf. I have recently this year decided to take it all down. Lose some mass and some fat. Right now I'm around 12% bf and 200. I've added a 1mile jog in the mornings and I have stopped going over 400lbs on squats. I keep all my reps in the 12-15 range. I do feel much better. My overall goal is 190@10% maintainable. I'm only 27 but I was getting the point where i had more issues than someone in their 60's. Plus.... my shirts fit again. lol. I can wear a large and not look like I'm impresonating a bouncer. I got the wife working out now and she now does squats better than 99% of the people at my gym. We both enjoy our hikes more now that we're in lighter more functional shape.
 
Pointshoot777 said:
I used to do lots of heavy weight lifting when younger, but go with a much more balanced approach now. I'm more likely to use bodyweight type exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, etc.) for building strength/endurance with a little weight training thrown in. I also do hiking, building up gradually in terms of the amount of weight I carry in a pack and the distance. Used to always go "balls-to-the-wall" with weight training and would sometimes injure myself and require a long recovery time. With age, Ive finally learned my lesson. - - - My motivation for working out is the elk bowhunting season ! Youre in steep, tough mountain country miles from the nearest roads. If successful you get to pack out hundreds of pounds of elk meat on your back over several trips. Balanced strength & endurance help a lot. - - -
Click to expand...

Pullups IMHO are one of if not the BEST exercise a person can do.
 
Here's a little 'motivator' story for guys thinking of changing their workout routines - - - A few years ago my brother was asked to join a team in a tug-of-war contest that was part of an annual small town festival in the summer. The competition was made up of these huge body builder guys from Seattle. My brothers team from the small town was made up of himself (a carpenter/contractor) and the rest of the guys were loggers. Now the loggers were all of average height or a little shorter, but they were all solidly built from working hard in the woods all day. - - - The crowd all thought the body builders would easily win when they got a look at these huge guys at the start of the contest. - At the sounding of the starting whistle, the loggers wedged their legs into the ground while the body builders pulled like crazy. It didn't take long for the body builders to tire because they just didn't have that much longer term endurance. Once the opposition was exhausted, the loggers (and my brother), began a co-ordinated series of pulls. They easily dragged the big body builders into the pond that separated the two teams and won the contest to the crowds amazement. - - -
 
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