Any Fitness Freaks Out There?

[Seabass]

This is a workout I got from one of the Train To Hunt guys. It is what I would call a measuring stick type workout. I haven't done it yet but I'm hoping to do it this weekend. Wearing a 40# pack do 1000 step ups on a 20 in. box. I believe the goal is to complete it in 50 min. or less. It is the equivalent of 1666 vertical feet.

This is something I must add to my arsenal! Thats some thing everyone can do with minimal space and minimal equipment

It's a great workout.

I did it in 52 minutes with a 50 lb back of rock salt on my pack.  It's mind numbing to count to 1000.

Nice work! I am scheduled for this one tomorrow and will post my time.

[JLS]

Good luck.  Seriously, it's difficult to keep an accurate count.  I probably did some extra steps along the way because I'd zone out and completely lose track of where I was at.

I walked on our treadmill (on full incline) with a heavy pack when I was getting in shape for Mt. Adams a couple of years ago.  I think this is a better workout.

[PlateauNDN]

Being in shape to do the style of hunting you plan doing is surely important, but I feel being mentally strong enough to go the extra few miles/days is just as important. I see a lot of people that get mentally tired and call it quits.

   I wasn't in the best shape of my life this fall and because I was the recipient of some good ole Marine Corps training that prepared me for a lot of mental abuse I was able to overcome my tiredness and keep on pushing otherwise I was dead physically packing out my bull.

The walk-in was easy but when you're packing out that's when it got tiresome.  In and out, in and out until I was done and my legs were numb but it was worth it.  I'm getting started earlier this year and so far january is looking very good for me physically. 

Just get out and do it.

[Seabass]

Good luck.  Seriously, it's difficult to keep an accurate count.  I probably did some extra steps along the way because I'd zone out and completely lose track of where I was at.

I walked on our treadmill (on full incline) with a heavy pack when I was getting in shape for Mt. Adams a couple of years ago.  I think this is a better workout.

My plan is to do 250 per side of the box. There is no way I could count to 1,000 otherwise. I'm way too ADD.

[deerslyr]

Good luck.  Seriously, it's difficult to keep an accurate count.  I probably did some extra steps along the way because I'd zone out and completely lose track of where I was at.

I walked on our treadmill (on full incline) with a heavy pack when I was getting in shape for Mt. Adams a couple of years ago.  I think this is a better workout.

My plan is to do 250 per side of the box. There is no way I could count to 1,000 otherwise. I'm way too ADD.

Yah I may have to recruit some one to count for me 
Im going snowboarding tomorrow so I think ill wait until monday to try it out. Ill let you guys know how it goes.

[AKBowman]

Go to the gym on avg of 5 days /wk. Lift two muscle groups/day, one push muscle group one pull. Four excercises, four sets of fiftieen reps per exercise per muscle group. Lifting as heavy as i can to fail at the 15-16 reps, 15 seconds rest between each set.

Sometimes I'll change it up for three weeks and not touch a weight but change to all plyometrics/self body weight lifting type exercices.


Legs

Bi's/Chest/abs

Cardio

Tri's/ Back/abs

Cardio

Shoulders

Cardio

Protein shakes for breakfast every day.

I'm getting pretty ripped and cant wait to hit the trails this summer.

[AKBowman]

Forgot to put "abs" after legs and shoulders.

By doing two muscle groups a day at the gym and minimal rest between sets I have really noticed a difference in my cardio level. Its easy for me to get bulked up and I like the feeling of being strong that comes with it but dont like the lack of agility.

I also forgot to add that I go through a complete body stretcing routine in between ab sets.

I'll try P90X or crossedfit when I stop seeing results...I like to be in control of my workouts and dont really like depending on other people when it comes to working out.

The 1000box step ups sounds like one hell of a full leg work out to me.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Nice JLS!  That is straight go-ahead gumption to pony up and try that TrainToHunt Challenge Workout.  The body part isolation training  programs  IE chest and arms one day, shoulders and legs one day just don't do it for me personally... I've tried it.  I've really enjoyed cross-training and executing total body workouts that mimic the punishment that the mountains around here impose on all of us.  I believe it's performance training versus aesthetic training.  I cannot recall a single time in the backcountry where a pair of big biceps helped me carve the mountain, tackle terrain, or flank an elk herd. 

[wraithen]

I may have to give something like crossfit a go. I've tried the whole back/bi chest/tri's workouts for 9 months at a time with almost zero improvement. My body loves to be at a pretty heavy weight so I should have been ripped after doing it for 9 months and eating extremely healthy (including adjusting my macro nutrients, couldn't do much with the micros) I just need to get this darn shoulder cut up and put together first. Stupid army surgeons.

[Seabass]

I may have to give something like crossfit a go. I've tried the whole back/bi chest/tri's workouts for 9 months at a time with almost zero improvement. My body loves to be at a pretty heavy weight so I should have been ripped after doing it for 9 months and eating extremely healthy (including adjusting my macro nutrients, couldn't do much with the micros) I just need to get this darn shoulder cut up and put together first. Stupid army surgeons.

Wraithen,

             I feel your shoulder pain. I hurt myself pretty good in 2010 and felt like I had been given a temporary death sentence. My trainers helped me a ton and I also found some awesome rehab/prehab stuff that helped me as well.  Take a look at this site that is totally dedicated to rehab stuff. Most of it is directed towards shoulders. It is all free information by a dude that is on the cutting edge of injury rehab and prevention. Www.mobilitywod.com.

[archery288]

Being in shape to do the style of hunting you plan doing is surely important, but I feel being mentally strong enough to go the extra few miles/days is just as important. I see a lot of people that get mentally tired and call it quits.

That's the truth right there!  Being mentally tough is probably as important if not MORE important than being in extreme shape.  If you can't take the pain that goes along with hunting deep, you're not going to make it.

[Seabass]

For all the guys that are wanting to look "ripped", you will most likely achieve this through nutrition quicker than adjusting your workout. I'm not advocating training for aesthetics but we all like to look good. Certainly adjusting both would get you there quicker but you will get more bang for your buck with your nutrition. All muscle looks the same from the outside once uncovered and we all have a six pack. Most people just can't see it because the depressions in our abs have been filled in with fat.

Quickest way to looking ripped without doing something unhealthy is to eat like a cave man. The more refined term is paleo but caveman sounds less lame. Try eating nothing but lean meat, fruit, vegetables, and nuts for 4 weeks and you will be absolutely shocked. I tried it a couple of years ago and lost 23 pounds of pure fat in 6 weeks. I didn't even look overweight when I started. I simply wanted more energy and decided to try eating healthy. The simple rule of thumb (with the exception of nuts and fruit) if you dont have to refrigerate it you can't eat it.

[Seabass]

BTW, I haven't stopped eating that way since and put all that weight back on in the good way.

[AKBowman]

For all the guys that are wanting to look "ripped", you will most likely achieve this through nutrition quicker than adjusting your workout. I'm not advocating training for aesthetics but we all like to look good. Certainly adjusting both would get you there quicker but you will get more bang for your buck with your nutrition. All muscle looks the same from the outside once uncovered and we all have a six pack. Most people just can't see it because the depressions in our abs have been filled in with fat.

Quickest way to looking ripped without doing something unhealthy is to eat like a cave man. The more refined term is paleo but caveman sounds less lame. Try eating nothing but lean meat, fruit, vegetables, and nuts for 4 weeks and you will be absolutely shocked. I tried it a couple of years ago and lost 23 pounds of pure fat in 6 weeks. I didn't even look overweight when I started. I simply wanted more energy and decided to try eating healthy. The simple rule of thumb (with the exception of nuts and fruit) if you dont have to refrigerate it you can't eat it.

Thats the truth right there. I can work out for months and not see (or more importantly not "feel") a big difference. Coupling the weight/cardio/plyometric training with nutrition is right on. I think you are correct the most important and probably the easiest thing to do is eat correctly. I like the "caveman" diet as well.

As far as having "big biceps" not helping in the mtns I agree whole heartedly. A few yrs ago I was lifting weights 5-6 days/wk doing one muscle group per day. Resting longer between 4 sets of 8 reps of 4 exercices per muscle group. Definitely bulked up but muscle is heavy and although the brute strength was nice I was getting pounded into the ground on the mtn by my buddy who was ~40lbs lighter than me and significantly skinnier. He was flexible and in good cardio shape.

I still highly prefer the specifics of targeting muscle groups in isolation type workouts but doing two muscle groups in a workout with very minimal rest between sets and upping he reps to 15 has made a great difference. I cannot wait to couple the in gym workouts with the field work of busting 4 miles back in the Olympic and Cascade ranges this summer. Nothing can replace the training needed to carry a load up and down a 4K foot elevation gain in less than 4 miles of trail other than getting out on the mtn and doing it!

Way to go guys I'm glad this thread came up and its interesting to hear everyone elses routine. I feel like I can take a lot of good ideas and apply them to my workouts now.

[Seabass]

It is a great misconception that bulk equals strength or that in order to get stronger you have to gain weight. That is a 1980's methodology and been proven wrong many moons ago. That is why isolation training is not that effective in gaining overall strength. It will make that muscle group stronger but it is completely non-functional and can actually lead to severe injury.

Think about it this way...when you go to raise your pack are you using 1,2, or even 3 muscle groups in isolation. Outside of the gym I would challenge anyone to come up with any functional facet of life where a single muscle group is used in isolation.

Just in the simple act of putting your pack on (when loaded) you are using most of your body. So why would you train those muscles in isolation. None of the top atheletes in the world use any isolation lifts. Why would we?