I'm 32. I hate going to gym. It's crowded and the nearest one is 30 minuted drive from my house. I try to go for the more of the "train like you fight" type approach. I incorporate workouts into other activities. When I shoot my bow, I do 20 pushups and 50 crunches in between each 5 arrow session. I try to shoot 50 arrows total, so that gives me 200 pushups and 500 crunches. I do lunges back and forth to the target while retrieving arrows, usually wearing my pack with 40-50lbs in it. For cardio, I will shoot 5 arrows and then jog to the top of my driveway and then sprint back (my driveway is 250 yds long), then try to make accurate shots while breathing heavy. I will do this 8-10 times. I do long distance runs 2-3 days a week (2-4 miles). I also go hiking 2-3 times a month. I locate areas on public hunting land and national forest near my house and plan a route that includes very few trails and maximum elevation gain. I try to avoid trail walking because that does not simulate actual hunting conditions. I wear my pack, dress in the clothing that I would hunt in and take off. I can also work on my navigation skills while doing this. Most of the hikes are short (2-3 miles), but I've got plans to do a long weekend on the AT in a month. Probably cover 30 miles. Once the weather warms up, I will get in the pool and start doing some pool exercises. Running is great cardio, but wears on the joints, throwing some pool workouts in saves my knees and back but still gets my cardio. I acquired a nice road bike from my father-in-law. It had been gathering dust in his garage so I took it. Did a 15 mile ride last week. Planning on a 20 miler in two weeks that has some pretty steep inclines. Couple of the docs that I work with are doing a 125 mile ride in June so I may join them. By varying my workouts and incorporating them into other things, it feels less like working out and makes it more enjoyable to me.
I started trying to get into "elk hunting shape" in January 2016. Since then I have went from 190lbs down to 167lbs. I have given up sodas, I eat healthier, I sleep better. I was on blood pressure medicine, I was taking 20mg of Lisinopril every day and my BP was still high. Now, I take 5 mgs every other day and may BP stays within normal range. My wife does not hunt but she participates in some of activities that I do and eats the same diet that I do. She has lost 15 lbs in the last 6 months and is very happy.
