Do you get in shape for camping?

[CajunCamper]

Okay I realize we all have our own reasons for camping, but I'm curious how many of you prepare your bodies for camping or more so for the activities that go along with camping such as hiking, biking and kayaking.

If the active camping lifestyle isn't your gig, that's okay to each his or her own, but here's what I found in my personal experiences.

Over the years I have packed on a few unwanted pounds and it has effected every aspect of my life. I noticed on camping trips I tended to stay behind when others were out hiking or enjoying the outdoors. I found that I wasn't getting as much out of my camping experience because it was difficult for me. Well I will be 47 on October 14th and I have decided to take my life back. I have started watching what I eat and walking, riding a bike and doing weight training. I don't expect to have the body of a 21 year old, but I am determined that I will be fit enough to take advantage of all the outdoors has to offer. I don't want to miss that once in a lifetime view because I don't think I can make the hike. I want to own that vista. Does anyone else feel this way or am I the only one.

Happy Healthy Camping

CajunCamper

[JimS]

Yes, I do try to keep myself in shape for the fishing, kayaking and hiking, in that order!

[AustinBoston]

I keep myself in shape for eating...and the shape is round.

Bring on the Dutch ovens, and make sure they are full!

Austin

[JAL&JKL]

We at least start bicycling before we camp. We love to ride while camping. DH likes to fish; I read & enjoy nature's beautiful scenery. The really strenous activities are beyond us.

DH is 61
DW is 57

[6Quigs]

Boy,
I can't wait to hear how the FISH SQUAD reply to this thread :sombraro:

[GeneF]

I don't expect to have the body of a 21 year old, but I am determined that I will be fit enough to take advantage of all the outdoors has to offer. I don't want to miss that once in a lifetime view because I don't think I can make the hike. I want to own that vista. Does anyone else feel this way or am I the only one.

Happy Healthy Camping

CajunCamper

Sounds like you are making some wise choices and you will be doing a lot of camping and hiking, etc in the future.

It gets very frustrating as you get older and the body won't do what the mind wants to do.

Up until a few months ago, I use to walk 2 to 4 miles a day with a couple of neighbor ladies.  I recently developed some leg and back problems which makes these walks impossible for now.  Hopefully, I will be able to improve on this in the near future.

It is funny but I really miss the walks.  They were so much a part of my daily routine that I felt guilty if I didn't go for some reason.  It was like an addiction.

I also have given up fishing the streams but will do some in a kayak.  Yup, upper body is good enough for the puddle jumping kayak trips that we take.

So, Cajun, do the work, make it a habit, and you will enjoy more vistas.

[flyfisherman]

Usually my fishing trips within the state and that proximity are for 5 days. I figure a day getting there and setting up camp, three solid days of fishing and camp activities, and then a day for breaking camp and driving back to the "ranch" (yeah, right!). Should say here that it's taking longer and longer to clean-up, pack-up, close-up, hook-up and by the time it's time to drive home I'm worn out! So that five days is beginning to look more like one day travel and set-up camp, three days fishing, one day cleaning and packing up, arising real early the next morning and hitting the road fresh. But you get the idea.
There have been long distance trips that have been out to the White River in Arkansas and others to northern Michigan and these are two and three week trips where I'll spend at least one night (usually two) on the road at close off the highway C/G's.

The point is ... I lose weight ... the outings always whip me into shape and I'll lose ten/fifteen pounds (from around the middle). And the great thing is I'll eat like a horse on these trips. To be sure, popup camping is work ... but it's the kind of work that goes well with me!  And it's the camping trip that gets me into shape. I have in my closet fat clothes and skinny clothes. The fat waist size is 38 and some times 40! the skinny waist size is 36 and I love it when these are "loose"!

Even the Alaska trip I just made via flying the airlines to and from trimmed me down. Of course, that packing back into some of those streams and remote lakes had a lot to do with it.


Fly


p.s. Think it's time to pull the little Starcraft up to the western North Carolina mountains and get in the last of trout season on some select streams. Would y'all not agree?

[jsmorse13]

I do enough physical labor at work so the only exercise that I get while camping is 12 ounce curls.

[GrizzlyTaco]

Boy,
I can't wait to hear how the FISH SQUAD reply to this thread :sombraro:

Me TOO!!! They probably start lifting 12 packs a week before they go on a trip, and practice falling down :J  :J  :J  :J  :J  :J

[TheViking]

Boy,
I can't wait to hear how the FISH SQUAD reply to this thread :sombraro:

 
I didn't even figure we had to reply. Some things are just known.

[austinado16]

Cajun, I like your comment about taking back your life. No truer words have been spoken my friend!  Good for you, just take the exercise part slow, or at least stay with low impact for a while so you don't get an injury that winds up putting a halt to the entire affair.  Once you've got the weight down, then you get more aggressive....if that makes sense.

We've been on a 4 day a week schedule for a few months.  Started because my wife had this dream of hiking into the Grand Canyon, camping at the bottom, and hiking out.  We started slow, just regular walking, maybe 3-4 miles.  This was a real drag for me because I used to be a long distance runner in high school and college.  But I really screwed up my knees about 7 years ago training for a relay and have not been able to run more than a couple miles since.

So, with the unknown of how the knees would be, we walked....and then once each weekend, we'd hike up one of the local peaks which are about a 1,000' elevation change in under 2mi one way.  Once we could do that, we started doing it faster.  Then we stepped up to carrying the packs we were going to backpack with, and then started adding weight until we were carrying about 80%-90% of our real load.

Surprisingly, my knees kept getting better and better.  We loved the trip into the Grand Canyon and what huge reward for my wife (and me) for all the hard work!  That was back in the first of August.  To give you an idea of how we progressed, I carried a 50lb pack....4-1/2hrs to get to the 7.3mi to the bottom, 9-1/2hrs to go the 9.5mi out.

Now I'm able to run 4 miles fairly fast (by myself), and Kim and I go out together running the same distance, but with some walking breaks for her.

We also downhill ski in the winter and starting in January will go up for a one-dayer, every other weekend until there's no snow left.

So get yourself some goals and some rewards, make it fun, and look for permanent change over the long haul rather than some immediate and substantial weight loss that never lasts.

Now drop and give me 20.

[harleywolf]

I

[austinado16]

Rick I can highly recommend getting one of the "Baby Jogger" brand running strollers.  You can find them used for a great price, and get the one with the 20" wheels.  They don't weigh anything, fold completely flat (wheels quick release) and you guys will be "free" to start doing stuff again.

We used to give Kate a cassette player with a kid story in it, and headphones and off we'd go.  Something you can do as a family and pass down those "outdoor" exercise values early on.

By the way, I'm 44 and like you, still playing 20-something.

Now go do 'em!

[flyfisherman]

You young'uns just wait till ya pass 70; and then your afternoon energy level will be like you've into a brick wall. Then maybe there'll be a little sense in ya and you'll take-up fly fishing!




Fly  (who has quit preaching for the day)

[TheViking]

You young'uns just wait till ya pass 70; and then your afternoon energy level will be like you've into a brick wall. Then maybe there'll be a little sense in ya and you'll take-up fly fishing!
 
 
 
 
Fly (who has quit preaching for the day)

 
 
 
Fly Fishing! That takes way more energy than I want to use. One Cast, watch the bobber, drink beer. If I have to sit there and keep casting out a fly, that takes away my beer lifting energy. Plus I can sit down. Energy Management is a skill.