Survival is for the fit!

[slingshot]

Physical fitness is a major keystone of survival. I lift weights, practice dynamic tension, do isometrics, isotonics, DVR's, and run. I tried sprint 8's for the first time today, and did a bit of a tear in my thigh. I did a ballistic injury to my right elbow 6 weeks ago while doing power cleans, but it is about well. I also love to bend steel, like bolts and spikes, but haven't been able to do much with my elbow lately, maybe Sunday I'll do some bending, and work out with a horseshoe. I'm 52 years old, and in better shape than most men 20 years my junior. It's pretty easy to keep in shape once you get there!

[maddawg918]

I am 42 slingshot and I am the strongest I've ever been.

I am benching right at 300 lbs now.

Normally, when I work the bench, I start out with 160lbs, do 10 reps.

Bump it to 180, do 10 reps.

Bump it to 200, do 10 reps.

Bump it to 220, get all I can, usually 6 to 8 reps.

Drop it back to 180, do all I can, usually right at 10reps.

Drop it back to 160, do all I can, usually about 10 reps or so.

Drop it back to 140, do all I can, really starting to tire, lucky to get 6 or 8.

Then usually do some close in bench followed by dumbell presses with the bench inclined.

[DirtPirate]

Well...we're all a bunch of fat-arses...although I am in better shape than other men even 2/3 my size...because I am active...but in no way would I say I am "fit".

I have been working towards it sporadically...not so much in case the SHTF...but so I can be around to see my grandkids grow up...Lord willing.

I have come to the conclusion that it must become a priority for me...but it is HARD to start...and even HARDER to stick with it.

My work and commute schedule makes it almost impossible to do much of anything outside of work. eat dinner...and sleep 6 hours....do it all over again... :ticked:

But I have been incorporating more physical activities into my workday...a job that already requires me to stand, walk and climb quite a bit already...and I have seen improvements in my fitness...but my weight has not improved at all.
It has become painfully obvious to me that the only way that I am going to see significant improvement in fitness and weight loss is to work a LOT of cardio and weight training into my daily regimen. I have to be careful though...there are simply some things that I cannot do at this point...because of my weight...my body just won't bend that far...of flex that way etc...

Thoughts?
Suggestions?

[maddawg918]

Well DirtPirate, I ain't gonna run no marathons myself.

And I'm carrying too much weight too.

I need to get a cardio routine going but it's hard because I have asthma, had it since I was very young.

[slingshot]

Hey DirtPirate we are all struggling in our quest for fitness, but every day brings us one step closer to our physical ideal. One secret to getting back in shape is to start in a small way & gradually add as you acquire more stamina and strength. If you attempt too much at the start then it will be a severe drain on your time and energy, and you will most likely view your new activity in a negative vein, and soon abandon it. There are two exercises that will build you up to a high level of fitness which are walking and pushups. I'd try for 5 pushups a day, maybe adding 1 extra every few days as you feel like it, and walking at least a 1/2 mile at a normal pace. This will strengthen your ligaments and tendons and prepare them for more intense exercise - don't overdo it staring out - just enjoy it! In about a month most guys are doing a couple of sets of pushups for about 50, and walking a couple of brisk miles a day, they now are feeling bad to the bone and ready to rumble. Energy is like a bank account, you can't draw out more than you've put in. :hippy:

[ptannjr]

I am in the fat ass category. i have lost almost 10lbs since jan

[Archer]

I'm 42 and have been studying a new martial art over the last year. Just recently I've noticed that my arms and back have firmed up and that I can work in the garden all day with the shovel/pickaxe w/o being sore as hell the next day. Nice little benefit to working out.

But I noticed I still need to work on endurance. Since summer time is here is sounds like time for a 15-20 mile day hikes.

[DirtPirate]

I'm 42 and have been studying a new martial art over the last year. Just recently I've noticed that my arms and back have firmed up and that I can work in the garden all day with the shovel/pickaxe w/o being sore as hell the next day. Nice little benefit to working out.

But I noticed I still need to work on endurance. Since summer time is here is sounds like time for a 15-20 mile day hikes.

What's the martial art form?

15-20??? OK...I'd be dead...especially here...in summer.... :sick:

[Archer]

What's the martial art form?



I'm studying jujitsu. Amazing how throwing full grown men over yourself can help build up muscles. More so than the other arts I've studied.

[Warp]

I need to gain weight...

[slingshot]

Time proven weight gainer - 20 rep squats with as much weight as you use in 10 rep squats, just one set breathing as much as you need to between reps, don't take the bar off your shoulders untill your'e through. You will be sucking wind and mentally challenged by rep #20 if you are doing this correctly. This will be your only exercise for the week, you can do this on alternating days up to 3 days per week - if you are young, if your over 30, once a week will probably suffice, try to add 5lbs per exercise period. Drink copious quantities of milk, and eat like a horse. Be prepared to buy all new clothes in a few weeks, cause you could well gain 20lbs in a month!

[Superman]

Dirt Pirate...just get yourself a used D-30 axle and start bench pressing. You'll be fit in no time.

Some used 44" tires to roll around your yard for cardio. Try incorporating your 'hobby' and a fitness routine together. I bet you have at least some time during the week working on the heeps.

I myself am in a pickle now. I have enough weight equipment at home to work out daily and properly. We also have road and mountian bikes, scuba gear, roller blades, etc. We use them all...but for the last couple months we've been building a new house, trying to sell the old one, planning the wedding, and the moving process has begun. So I cannot get to any of the 'stuff' I need to keep myself going.

I'm 6'3" and 230#...36" waist...BUT I'm getting flabby. So I've tried to really watch my eating...especially when I'm sitting on my arse all day at work (hate it). Just gonna have to get back to it once we move...the new house has a room just for the weights (and I see an elliptical in our future).

They don't call it survival of the fittest for nothing.

[Gunfixr]

I need to get into some sort of excercise program, but I'm at the same point. I need more hours in a day to squeeze them in. I just got off 8 weeks off work from knee surgery and I gained some weight. And at 40, it'll be hard to get rid of. But my left knee is shot. The doc is trying to put off replacement surgery because of my age. He doesn't want me to run out of knees before I die, which at the current durability of the artificial knees is about 85. Nice to know how long I'm going to live. I need it now. I think at 85, my knee wearing out will probably not be high on the list of worries.

[jimmy_stikx]

My problem is that I have a runners build. I'm 19, 5'11" and 135-140, I can do must any exercise with my legs, just need to stretch. Upper body, not much. I'm not one for weight training either. My biggest thing is I just need to dedicate more time to push-up, sit-up (all varieties), pull-ups and dips. And obviously eat more.

[dawg]

My problem is I am a 47 yo biker who has logged over 300K miles on hardtail choppers. My body is beat to hell. Last year I had my left hip replaced, 2 carpal tunnel operations, operation on my left elbow and this fall I'm having my left knee replace. I need some sort of excercise but it pains me to even push the lawn mower over my little 1/4 acre yard in town. Living on painkillers is NO fun.

[Superman]

Dawg start easy and slow. You're far from too old for your body to not be able to recoop some of your mobility and decrease your pain.

Start with stretching. Lay in your bed or the floor so you're not having the strain of standing. Just pull your knees toward your chest. Do them together and do each one separate. I am guessing you had physical therapy at least somewhat after your hip replacement so they should have shown you at least a few stretches.

Just doing this little bit each day can and almost always does help significantly. Once you feel a little better start with some low weight weight bearing exercises. It may take a while but as a massage therapist (I have worked in a PT center before) I have seen people older and worse off than you make very good strides and feel quite a bit better.

[yugoshooter]

Well since I have Hepatitis c from blood transfusion in 1988 :ticked: I am fatigued a lot but still try to stay active. I am about to go through treatment that might work, I will have flu like symptoms for a year. If it don't work I will need a liver and they are impossible to get if your not rich. So I figure it this way if it don't work I will probably die in 5 years so if SHTF and they come to grab guns I have nothing to lose so they will have one hell of a fight on their hands! :machinegun: :freedom:

[mitunnelrat]

Yugo, if thats the treatment I think it is... be prepared for abrupt mood swings. My stepdad was diagnosed with Hep C about 5 years ago and he was in the same position. It worked in his case, and he has been healthy since his treatments ended. Best of luck.

[yugoshooter]

Yugo, if thats the treatment I think it is... be prepared for abrupt mood swings. My stepdad was diagnosed with Hep C about 5 years ago and he was in the same position. It worked in his case, and he has been healthy since his treatments ended. Best of luck.All I know is that it will be pills every day and shots in the abdomen once a week! Mood swings, thats all I need. Oh well If I can survive being shot in the gut with a 357 mag hollow point at 5 feet away I will survive this! :) :P

[mitunnelrat]

That sounds like the regimen my stepdad was on. Let me ask him to find out for sure and I'll get you a "patient's" perspective if you'd like.

[yugoshooter]

That sounds like the regimen my stepdad was on. Let me ask him to find out for sure and I'll get you a "patient's" perspective if you'd like. Thanks man I need all the support I can get. :)

[Bonecrusher]

I was right where I wanted to be about 5 years ago. 6'3" and 235 lbs. Working out about 1-1.5 hours a day, 4x a week. Then I tore a muscle in my bicep ( being stupid and curling too much weight ) which sidelined me for a while. After the time off, it was hard to get back into a routine. I found the "burn" that I learned to love, now was discouraging me. I kept going and started to get back into it, then I effed my back up and quit lifting again for over three years, trying to put off the surgery that was recommended. Well, finally had to have the dual stage spinal fusion back in February and of course it didn't work out too good. It's been 5 months and im in pain everyday and am having hip problems now. So, now I sit stiff as a corpse with 4 rods and 6 screws in my back :bang: Im trying to walk as much as possible and hopefully can get back some flexability back. I need to lose 20 lbs to get back down to 235, which im comfortable with. Main thing is to start slow, as to not discourage you. Once you start to see results, it'll give you that little push to start adding to your regimen. I feel the main and most important factor when lifting, is nutrition. Get on a proven diet, and you'll be amazed how fast you'll tone / bulk up. :lol:

Yugo - best of luck to you on a quick and full recovery.

[Tex]

So reading through this, I'm seeing that a bunch of y'all are into the "austere / odd object" lifting and throwing some pretty serious weight around which is great.

For the folks looking for a place to start getting in shape (or back in shape), check out http://www.CrossFit.com. Gymnastics, olympic weightlifting, sprints, and anything else you can think of. The focus is on functional movements, either with your bodyweight or picking up heavy things. About 80% of the workouts can be done with nothing more than a barbell and a pullup bar. This is the fitness program of countless specops/specwar units, fire departments, police officers, etc. Anybody who is looking for a complete, functional fitness program should take a look here first.

To make it even better, it's a completely free resource and never boring. The "Workout of the Day" is listed right in the middle of the main page and is completely scalable for various fitness levels. I'm in the best shape of my life right now and expect to be in better shape when I'm 47 than I am now at 27 because of the stuff I've picked up here.