Depending on the trip I like to ease into a bit of training so the trip feels a little less like torture. Usually about 2 months out I'll do an hour a day. Some weights, squats and a stepper that I like. This year I have noticed some "mental" fatigue about 1/2 way through. Yikes! I can't help but wonder if that's age related. I always thought getting old was something that happened to other people.

Just curious about the differing views on training. I know when I was a bit younger I didn't worry about it. First day or two was a little tough but usually got stronger from that point on. That may be you. Others may run everyday or bike etc.

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One item that you can take outside and that will give you strength and cardio endurance is very hard to find.

 Everyone has a different take on this. Some feel they will get in shape as the trip progress, others want to be in shape at the start.

Ive exercised for along time, so i can't imagine not staying in decent shape all the time.  Tripping doesn't require "bulk", but muscle endurance/flexibility and balance. Having these will go a long way toward having a safe and enjoyable trip

Mental toughness comes from the will to persevere when you want too quit. I find most older people have more mental toughness than many of the current younger people do. You can be as young and strong as you want, but if your weak mentality and prone to whine, you'll never make your goal no matter what it is.

Do to the poor economic conditions in MI, I'm working a physically demanding job, with 20 somethings in a 12 hour day setting. I won't claim to be the best worker, but I'm close to it, even though at 61, I'm old enough to be their granddad ;)
 Life, like paddling is more a marathon than a sprint. The kids start strong, but fade fast and whine incessantly :(
 Focus on the task at hand, paddling/exercise and let the other thoughts go for the time being, Hard to do but you can if you work at it.  I'll take mental toughness/stamina over brute strength any day.

If you look at the Elite military units, SEALS/GREEN BERETS/RANGERS, besides being fit, they focus on the mental toughness part. Most of their drop-outs are from the lack of it.
 
It's true that the best exercise for anything, is doing whatever it is you like on a regular basis. Unfortunately not everyone can paddle everyday, so some of us try to find a reasonable alternative.

My good friend is a personal trainer who is always asked what is the best exercise for someone to do?
He says its the one you can do on a regular basis and not get bored with ;)
I'm a firm believer than something is better than nothing.

Solotripper and I have discussed this before. And we're on the same page. Something you will do is better than a professionally designed program you won't do. So, ask yourself, "what can I start and keep at?" When you get the answer, do that.

I'm 72 and retired. I work out at a local gym, weights, treadmill, cycle, the whole bit. So, I don't get in shape to go. In fact my trips to the outback are sort of a respite.

But here are a couple of suggestions: 1) to get some good core strength, buy a large excercise ball, inflate it to full capacity, sit on it while watching TV; as the ball tries to roll, you'll need to tighten your core muscles; 2) yoga, it's not about what you think it is; been at it about 10 years and it has improved flexibility and balance.

Tim  

I'm 56, and yeah, strength does diminish with age regardless of what I'd like to believe.

For cardio and lower body strength, I run. Running is pretty stressful on the joints though (knees especially), so many people would be better off cycling for quad strength.

For upper body strength, I use free weights (because they're downstairs, and not somewhere I have to drive to). Anything is probably good, as long as all the muscle groups get exercised.

Although I don't have one, I have heard from many people that cross-country ski machines are the best single training device around. Usually not cheap though.

For mental toughness, I've never found canoeing terribly demanding. Long, ugly portages or monster headwinds maybe. Distance running or cycling in miserable weather is about the same as canoeing in miserable weather. Some days you need a lot of mental toughness just to make it through the front page of the newspaper without going berserk.

So do you really have to do anything before embarking on a longer canoe trip? Some people (not me) can stay relatively fit even without formal exercise programs, and would probably be able to complete a decent circuit with full enjoyment and minimum pain. But if you want to get close to your potential, and when paddling really enjoy getting into that optimum heart rate zone and staying there, I would guess most people probably need a couple of months training minimum. (Gotta have dem endorphins).

Time to go for a run.

It is a rare day that I don't get in 1.5 - 2.0 hours of training.  On weekends I'll go closer to 3 hours (I take long bicycle rides and equally long walks/runs with my dog and I cross-country ski when I can).  I am compulsive on the matter of exercise; I simply do not feel well when I miss a workout.  I am quite fortunate to have the circumstances permitting me to workout as much as I do.

During the week, there is an aerobic component included every day (a couple miles of running OR running the full basketball court doing lay-ups or pulling up for jump shots OR Cybex Machines OR elliptical machines, stationary bikes, stair-steppers, etc.).  I like to change-it-up a lot.  Keeps my workouts fresh.  Somedays this component goes a full 1.5 hours, somedays only half an hour.  I can predictably burn 1200-1400 calories in one hour on the Cybex Machine while reading.  

Every other day I include a weight-resistance component to my workout.  It's mostly upper body stuff and gut-buster exercises which take me about 45 minutes to complete.  

The third component I've introduced this past year involves core muscle strength-building & stretching, which I do at least every other day.  This routine came about as a result of phyical therapy I was undergoing for back surgery that I had during Thanksgiving week.  I had completely underappreciated how valuable these muscles are.  These routines are both Pilates-like and Yoga-like.  They take 30 - 40 minutes and I feel like a new man everytime I finish with them.  Not only is it invigorating; sticking with this component since Thanksgiving has clearly helped me with my other, more rigorous exercise activities.

When I can get away, I'll also get out for a half-hour walk at lunch.  Alternatively, there are a bunch of 20 & 30 somethings playing full court basketball at the local Rec Center for a full hour at lunch every other day.  I've started back with those guys (the surgery had slowed me down) maybe once every other week and, so far, I haven't been embarassed.

Sadly, as much as I do work out - and I've been doing so religiously for decades now - I really do NOT control my diet.  I also know I need to get a handle on this.  No matter how hard or how long you work out, your body's metabolism simply does not burn calories as effectively as it did when you were younger.

When canoe-tripping time rolls around, there really isn't much extra that I do to get ready.  Oh, I guess in some years I'll fill up my blue barrel (ie. food pack) with 80 pounds and go walk around the woods for an hour or so.  I really don't mind anymore the weird stares I would sometimes get from folks when I did that.  That one year when I threw the canoe on my back, too, was real memorable!

I might do a little paddling in advance but nothing really gets the hands & shoulders quite conditioned like a steady diet of paddling (which I don't do).  The weight lifting & the other stuff I do probably offsets some of this issue but, in most years, I'm bound to feel a little soreness for the few days of a trip until I get battle-hardened.

I will say this, though: No amount of working-out helps much when you come down with the flu during a canoe trip.  That has only happened to me once but that once was enough!  Could be that the only reason I got through those 10 days or so that year WAS because I had been working out so much (AND because I stayed conservative w/routing options AND I had a sympathetic & helpful paddling party) but, at the time, even I thought I was going to run out of gas & might have to be carried out!

I am serious about year-round fitness and I always have been.  It's more than just trying to hold onto yesteryear; I just feel better for it.   My intention to be canoe-tripping for a minimum of another 15 years - if it comes true - will be a secondary benefit but a very important one for me.  I guess at age 70 I'll re-calibrate & see where I am then.  Having said that, I also know it will take continued good fortune to make such tripping possible (good health, continued employment, no new obligations, etc. & so on).

If your circumstances permit it, I strongly recommend maintaining a year-round exercise program.  I've never met anyone who has done so regret making the move.  Two years ago, one would never have used my wife's name and the word "exercise" in the same sentence.  Eighteen months ago, she acquired the year-round exercise habit and she will never be the same... and never go back.  Stronger, fitter, 40+ pounds lighter, and full of energy.

Ok, I'm off my soap box now.

Jimbo   8-)

I'm just a slug and my traveling companions have to drag me.  ;D  Slugs don't suffer much from mental stress.

dd

M_T -- I have found that if I exercise with someone else, I am much more conscientous about going.  Guilt is a powerful thing if you harness it!

prouboy

Jimbo wrote on Apr 26^th, 2010 at 9:57pm:

I strongly recommend maintaining a year-round exercise program.  I've never met anyone who has done so regret making the move.

In January I developed a relationship with chair squats and an elliptical machine.  It's the worst hour of my day.

PhantomJug wrote on Apr 26^th, 2010 at 10:26pm:

Jimbo wrote on Apr 26th, 2010 at 9:57pm: I strongly recommend maintaining a year-round exercise program.  I've never met anyone who has done so regret making the move.   In January I developed a relationship with chair squats and an elliptical machine.  It's the worst hour of my day.

Ah, but note your operative word: "IS", as in it IS the worst hour of my day (versus it WAS the worst hour of my day).  Apparently the "relationship" lives on.  

There remains hope......

Jimbo   8-)

Ah, Joe, when I was 56 I was a runner too. (A couple of marathons in tahe mix.) But my knees finally voted "no."  

And I'm with Jimbo. I don't exercise to live longer (though I probably will). I exercise to live better.

Tim

Quote:

I'm 56, and yeah, strength does diminish with age regardless of what I'd like to believe.

I would repectfully disagree with this widely held but from what I've read on the subject false belief.

All the studies I've read say that while you do lose muscle strength/flexibility/endurance as you age, it's more because people STOP exercising thinking I'm too old for that stuff ;D

People who keep up with their exercise habits, ESPECIALLY weight training which is for both men and women can keep you just as strong as you were in your younger days with one minor difference.

As we age, our skin sags, You can't beat gravity sans surgery. So you won't look as good in your Speedos, but you can still lift and lug the load IF you keep at it.

Most people used to retire and sit on the couch, growing fat and sickly.
Boomers are the first generation that realize you don't have to give up what you love, at least until you six feet under ;)

I work with a guy who's 50 ( just a kid) ;) He's competing in a natural body building contest and at 6'3" and 220lbs, is as strong as kids half his age. Genetics plays a part as does a good diet.

When your young, you have a naturally higher metabolism. You can eat poorly and work it off if you exercise hard enough. Once you hit 30 or so, you metabolism slows and eating healthy becomes paramount. As important as your exercise program.

If your finding it hard to hit your ideal weight and exercise faithfully, better check your diet ;)  Most people eat way more calories than they need and don't even realize it.  Tourists from other countries come here and the first thing they notice is our portion size :o

I don't exercise because I think it will make me live so many more years. I exercise for the quality of life. Being able to do what you love longer. I guess if you love being a couch potato, this doesn't apply too you ;D

PS,
Kudos to your wife Jimbo! She and You will never regret her losing the weight and getting fitter. There are added benefits to being fit that have nothing too do with paddling ;)

 

Year round staying in shape, mostly running and lifting, and in the summer a fair amount of biking and some hiking in the Appalachians.  I also walk 3.5 miles round trip to work each day.

I'll give another vote for year-round exercising.

I was a runner 20 years ago when I made my first trip to the Q. No problem. Then after a few injuries and a bad bout of plantar fasciitis, and I stopped running. And pretty much everything else. Hence, I got very large, which isn't a very good thing for wilderness canoeing. It's damn hard to trim a canoe with a bow man who's pushing 300 lbs.

To make a short story long, I decided to make a change at the start of 2009. In about 16 months, I'm down 90 pounds and feeling great. And, I ran an 8K race  over the weekend, so I'm back at that, too. And I'm only 50!!

The secret: eat less, exercise more! It's deceptively difficult. And my wife and I switched to a low-carb diet, which now that we're into it, it's pretty east to maintain.

For the last 10 years, I used to dread the last couple of months before a trip, certain I would drop on the first portage. Now I can't wait to get up there this July!

Bottom line for me is a complete agreement with Jimbo--keep working out all year and you should be able to do any trip that comes up--even the last-minute ones!!

Wow, this has been totally inspirational. Just fantastic. Even though I'm on my feet all day I should probably re-evaluate my fitness. Make it year round instead of 2 or 3 months. I guess this is called a mid-life crisis/evaluation.

When I've had mid-life issues in the past I go and tangle with some "denizens of the deep". That always makes me feel better.  ;)

I eat cookies every day.  My morning workout is to lift my coffee mug for an accasional sip in between bites of cookies.  I don't like to get "in a rut", so I do vary the kind of cookie.   The last few years, I've increased my workout to twice a day, adding an evening session with a big glass of milk instead of the coffee.  When I'm feeling really energetic/ gung-ho I'll pass on the evening cookies and do a really serious workout on pie and ice cream.  works for me

other than that, I just stay active year round.  The best workout for canoeing is canoeing, so I try to do as much of that as I can - but it doesn't matter what activity it is, as long as I'm doing something (other than chores, that is).  Drove 160 miles thru a blizzard last Fri to do an overnight trip of about 29 miles with the club - Everyone else was doing the trip as a 3-day, but I only had the weekend, so I got to solo out, which meant I could set a good pace for the exercise - cranked out 14 river miles in 2 hr and 10 - that was a lot more fun than weight lifting - heck, it was even more fun than pie and ice cream!

Me thinks your being a little sarcastic Mad_Mat ;)
I know from your trip reports and posts that your "lifestyle" and job ( I think) entail vigorous physical activity.

You might need the cookies everyday just to mellow down a little. Your active lifestyle is probably more of a "workout" than most peoples planned workouts ;)

I agree with the year round exercise... I started riding mountain bikes last May to get in shape after a bout with Prostate Cancer.  Last August I graduated to a road bike, and since then I have lost between 42-45 pounds, and have increased my stamina greatly.  
The wife and I ride around 125-150 miles a week (20-30 3-4 times a week Sun-Fri evenings) and a good long ride of 50-60 plus on Saturdays.  
I also paddle solo in a Wenonah Wilderness with a solo canoe Paddle (260 cm Bending Branches Sandpiper Twilight double bladed paddle) to where I can paddle 10 miles or more easily.  
Of course other than the occasional eliptical workout, and riding on the trainer in bad weather that is all we do, no weights. Although we do sit-ups and some core stretches.
And most of the time I watch what I eat and eat what is good for me now.  I am looking to loose about another 20 pounds before my trip at the end of June this year!

Bruce

MMMMM :P CaawFeee and CUOkeys! I would dub in Homer if I could.

My vote for the active lifestyle, that is why I ditched the dang TV years ago. Maybe that is why my posterior is beating gravity and not flattening from sitting on it.

My workout is self employment isometrics! ;) And paddling and portaajing for relaxation. Twisted indeed ;D

Ha! I'm reading Marlins post and there's an add below for P-90x. I went through it last year and it really is pretty awesome. About a month in right now and it's kickin my tail, more so than last year which is surprising to me thus my concern about the age thing. As a sorta funny side note last year I got to the Yoga disc and thought, "oh good, a break"........I mean how hard could it be standing in one little area and moving slow right. It's an hour and a half routine and I couldn't even get 1/2 way the first time....covered in sweat, grunting and groaning.....whew!  

Master Angler:

Right you are about yoga. Folks peer in at yoga from the weight room, come in once and we never see them again.

Tim

Ancient_Angler wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 3:20am:

Master Angler: Right you are about yoga. Folks peer in at yoga from the weight room, come in once and we never see them again. Tim

Yeah.  I guess being married to a certified yoga instructor does have its advantages.  I also notice that we eat a lot healthier now than we used to.

dd

I was probably 20 when I took my first trip. I increased my vanity workouts and got religious about them months before that trip. We paddled in for what I now consider to be a very miniscule distance and the next day my paddling muscles were SORE! I've never been sore like that since, even when paddling ~4+ times that distance the first day.

I don't "work out" for trips anymore. A yearly trip or two IS my main exercise regime these days. Stay on the portages and it's not like a trip is all that physically demanding even if you travel every day. Yeah fine, so I huff and puff a bit more on portages than I would if I exercised, I figure that and the occasional smoker's cough gives the critters notice that I'm out and about.

Honestly, I've prepared less and less over the years and the same portages still keep getting shorter and easier. I've lost all desire to get sweaty just for it's own sake. My brain's neurochemicals which I'm sure many of you could name off the top of your heads become elevated the moment I set my butt down in a loaded canoe, wiggling my hips and saying ahhhhhhh.

The only thing I do before a trip is split wood or something like that to work up some calluses on my hands that my normal 12 oz curls don't provide. My hands ultimately become the weakest link and those calluses aren't really going away after a trip anymore like they once did. Some of the main ones are still there from, I don't know, 2003?

I always kid my friends that they are wasting their time and wearing out their joints by exercising. In the end, they may live longer but at least I didn't waste all my quality time wearing my body in an effort to live longer.  ;D

DentonDoc wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 3:37am:

Yeah.  I guess being married to a certified yoga instructor does have its advantages.  I also notice that we eat a lot healthier now than we used to. dd

So let me get this straight DD, you not only have an a/c equiped out building to hold all your gear and your married to a certified yoga instructor. WOW! [smiley=thumbup.gif] Lucky!!!!

Android wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 11:06am:

DentonDoc wrote on Apr 28th, 2010 at 3:37am: Yeah.  I guess being married to a certified yoga instructor does have its advantages.  I also notice that we eat a lot healthier now than we used to. dd So let me get this straight DD, you not only have an a/c equiped out building to hold all your gear and your married to a certified yoga instructor. WOW! [smiley=thumbup.gif] Lucky!!!!

Lucky?  Yes.  VERY!!!!!  

On top of everything else, I'm getting to spend roughly a month out of every year tripping in canoe country (despite my drive time).  And, I'm officially RETIRED in about 2 weeks ... now its REALLY play time!!!!

dd

I never have in the past, but my recent entry to middle-aged has me thinking I should.  Just did a lazy one-nighter and was stiff & sore for a day.  Didn't do anything vigorous except land a 3# splake.

This winter I should begin a yoga, cardio & strength regime.   :'(

Preacher, start now. Today is the best day of the week to begin a fitness/wellness program.

Tim

 Getting into shape and eating healthy is it's own reward.
Before I began exercising and eating right, I wasn't overweight, felt "good" and didn't see the need. I played racquetball 2x a week and wally/volleyball too.

Funny story ;D I had met a gal, she gave me a free pass to the aerobic studio she managed. I wanted to see her, so after my mid-night shift, I showed up for the 9 am class.

It was dubbed the morning Mom's class. Young mom's trying to lose post baby weight, retired or stay at home middle age women. I was 35, the only guy in class.

How hard could it be ;D The first 5 minutes was the warm-up. I was sweating profusely by the end. THEN the instructor said it was time to work, cranked up a Prince tune ( about a 180 beats a minute) and for the next 45 minutes I literally walked in place while the "old" ladies kicked (_*_) ;)
 
I would of left, but the only door out was past the reception desk and the gal I was trying to date. I made it thru, but didn't really do the class.
I found out later that the gal I met and the instructor had a good laugh at my expense and said that they would never see me again!

I went home, showered and did my days chores. When I got up at 10 pm for work, I could hardly walk :'(  I hurt so bad, I didn't think I could make it into work. On breaks I was grabbing the handrail going upstairs to our break room.

Waited a day and showed up for class again, much too everyone's surprise. That started my interest in working out and a healthy lifestyle.
I was so pissed that I couldn't keep up with the "girls" that I vowed to change that. First 3x a week, then 5x, then 7x. Took 6 months to get out of the back row. By then the instructors knew I was serious and started giving me fitness/eating tips. After a year I was in the front row and never looked back.
 I was asked too teach, but I have some hearing loss from my construction days, and have a hard time with keeping on beat, IF I'm leading.

If you've never been in shape, its similar too a long time smoker. Until you quit and see how good you can really feel, you have nothing too compare it with.

My instructor friends always say that " Nothing tastes as good, as being fit feels" ;)

If you can't relate too that, then remember this " When THEY come, they'll EAT the FAT one's first" ;D

PS, Things didn't work out with the gal I met. Seems I was too young for her :-? I thought she was my age, turns out she was in her early 50's ;)
Just my luck, it was the Pre-Cougar days ;D

Ancient_Angler wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 3:20am:

Master Angler: Right you are about yoga. Folks peer in at yoga from the weight room, come in once and we never see them again. Tim

Ancient Angler......
Tony Horton, who is unquestionably a world class fitness expert, claims that he is able to achieve the results he does due in large part to yoga. It's pretty astonishing to see a fellow with that much muscle be that flexible. The guy looks 1/2 his age.

BTW, In spite of my self promoting, "soon to run out of original material" attempt at giving back to this forum in the form of the "fishing tip of the month" I really don't think I will ever reach the title of "Master Angler". I could only hope to be as you,  .......to acquire the title of Ancient Angler. That would be great!

First, a disclaimer. I claimed the title. If you want to see more, go to   (You need to Login or Register.

Second, how I got into the gym rat cycle. Lot's like Solotripper, but a little different, too. My long-time running buddy died of lukemia. We had been talking about what and when we would transition out of running. Both were experiencing, in our 60s, some knee trouble. When Bob died, a former graduate student who was a certified personal trainer, told me if I joined the gym where she worked out, she would get me started. In about 6 months, I started hitting the 9:30 am weight-lifting class. Like Solotripper, the only guy there.

Third, for me, fitness is not about living longer but living better.

Fourth, now I get off the soapbox.

Tim

In previous years, I've tried to take at least 2 paddling trips with loaded canoe in the weekends prior to my trip.  Each outing lasts about 4-5 hours and really seems to get the paddling arms back in rhythm.  I work out on a pretty regular schedule, so it's mainly just fine tuning the stabilizer muscles involved in paddling.  I've also been known to jog around the neighborhood with my pack and aluminum canoe on my shoulders to get ready.  If you do it, be prepared for odd looks and your neighbors shying away from you.

A month ago I started working out at Koko FitClub,   (You need to Login or Register as recovering from ankle surgery for 4 months left me a lot heavier than I wanted to be.  Customized weightlifting and cardio program that isn't too time intensive.  So far, it's working well.  If you happen to be near one of their franchises, I'd recommend trying them out.  Great concept, minimal hassles, and very easy to stick to the program, which is one of the most important parts of any training.  All the other suggestions sound good to, but that's what I do.

S_T I had a co-worker that smoked, knew I was always active and stayed in shape. I was just doing stuff I enjoyed. He experienced a mild heart attack. But it was bad enough to get him to stop smoking and start walking. He dropped some weight and felt great. Funny thing was he was MAD at me for not telling him how much better he would feel if he took care of his health. I had to laugh. You know people had been telling him that his whole life, he just didn't want to hear it.

IMO There's nobody more on a fitness soapbox than an ex-smoker.
At least that was true of this guy. Probably one of the hardest things to kick. Heck I have trouble giving up a bad girl friend. Maybe cigarettes are the 2nd hardest thing to quit.  ;D

wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 9:11pm:

S_ IMO There's nobody more on a fitness soapbox than an ex-smoker. At least that was true of this guy. Probably one of the hardest things to kick. Heck I have trouble giving up a bad girl friend. Maybe cigarettes are the 2nd hardest thing to quit.  ;D

I heard an interview once with Frank Sinatra (interesting guy) which sums up kicking the smoking habit nicely. The interviewer asked him if he had ever tried to kick the habit. His response........ "stopping smoking is easy, I've done it a least 1000 times".

wrote on Apr 28^th, 2010 at 9:11pm:

S_T I had a co-worker that smoked, knew I was always active and stayed in shape. I was just doing stuff I enjoyed. He experienced a mild heart attack. But it was bad enough to get him to stop smoking and start walking. He dropped some weight and felt great. Funny thing was he was MAD at me for not telling him how much better he would feel if he took care of his health. I had to laugh. You know people had been telling him that his whole life, he just didn't want to hear it. IMO There's nobody more on a fitness soapbox than an ex-smoker. At least that was true of this guy. Probably one of the hardest things to kick. Heck I have trouble giving up a bad girl friend. Maybe cigarettes are the 2nd hardest thing to quit.  ;D

Michigan, my home state has always been in the top ten WORST health states in the nation. Until the manufacturing base collapsed , our state had a good per capita income per worker. Money in your pocket and a two income household meant for many people dining out more than most and almost unlimited trips to the fast food outlets.

Now, many of my friends who laughed at me for my exercising/eating habits, have lost their health coverage or seen it severely cut back, with limited doctor visits and higher co-pays.

Now many of them are exercising and being proactive because its a way too avoid higher health care costs. I just smile. While I applaud anyone who makes a healthy lifestyle change, I get a kick out of some of my friends who now want to tell ME about a healthy lifestyle ;D

It's much easier to get in shape the younger you are, and waaay easier to stay in shape once your there, than start over, especially the older you get.  Your body is a wonderful piece of equipment. Smokers who haven't developed emphysema or other diseases will find that after 6 months or so, the lungs will clear themselves out and be the way they were before you started smoking.
 Loss of lung function doesn't happen overnight. It takes years. Just like getting out of shape. Soon you adapt to your diminished capacities. IF you could take a smoker or out of shape person, snap your fingers and give them 24 hours of what they had before, they would never go back to what they are now. Sadly most people take better care of their car than they do themselves :(  

I think that many who don't believe in exercise/healthy lifestyle and enjoy their trips now, would be amazed how much better they would be IF they were experienced from a healthy perspective.

But hey, ultimately everyone has to make the decision on their own.
Just remember YOUR health effects others not just yourself ;)

I agree with what was said earlier, about how keeping in shape isn't about living longer, it's about living better. You don't have to be an endorphin junkie to appreciate being able to DO whatever you want, whenever you want. Pickup game of hockey? Backyard football? Impromptu wrestling match to determine who gets shotgun?

Done. No problem.

Of course, having the stamina to make portages and paddle all day without forcing a layover the next day is a plus, too.

The hard part for a lot of people is finding the time to make fitness a part of their daily life. The answer for me came via bicycle - I'd ride to work or school every now and then, then I'd ride more, then I'd ride for fun, and the next thing I knew, I was logging 2,000+ miles each year, and buying studded tires so I could ride through the winter while my poor pickup just sat in the driveway. I even rigged up a home-built canoe trailer, so I could haul my canoe to the fishing spots without having to drive. I saved a lot of money on fuel costs, and was able to get back into decent shape, and the only thing I had to do was add a little time to my commutes.

Now, my work commute is often in excess of 700 miles, so the bike has become far less practical; and when I'm at work, I can't leave the site to go riding whenever I want. It's like jail, being cooped up in a trailer/lab/office for 30-40 days at a time. So I had to start something different.

I've been amazed at the kind of full-body workout you can get with just a set of dumbbells. I train with high reps + motion for endurance and stamina, as opposed to trying to "bulk up." Using these cheap Wallyworld dumbbells I can work almost every muscle in my body, including the core. Paired with pushups, various lower back / abdominal sets, and a cheap doorway pull-up bar, I can get a great workout without having to make a special trip to a gym, which isn't an option out here anyways. A few hours every day, or every other day depending on laziness, and I'm able to stay in shape while I work without messing up my schedule.

But if you're thinking about getting in shape, my first advice would be to buy a bike. Ride for fun, ride to work, ride to the store. It's a lot easier on the knees than running, and you can make your ride as demanding or as easy as you want. Stop in your local bike shop and ask questions, ride a few different types of bikes, find what you like, and they'll be more than happy to set you up with a bike that will last you many years.

If you want to start a weight regimen, my advice would be to start small. Do pushups and situps at home, just a few here and there, and let your muscles get used to daily demands. Then just keep it up, and start adding reps/sets when you feel ready. Work your way up to using weights - the beauty of dumbbells is you can add or remove weight as you go along.

But the most important thing is: don't stop. You don't have to work out every day, but don't let yourself go without it for too long, or you will find yourself starting over and getting discouraged. The post-workout soreness will go away faster and faster as time goes on, and you'll find yourself having more energy and a better attitude in your daily life.

Just my $0.02

Akula, worth lots more than .02$

Tim

 Once again Akula proves himself wise beyond his years ;)

This is what I've been doing to prepare for my early June trip. I started started in January with the goal to lose 25 LB by June. I'm down 16 so far. I started with walking a few miles 2 or 3 times a week. As the weather improved here in MI I walked more distance and more often. I threw in the occasional dumbell workout (30 minutes or so). Now I am running, up to 4 miles, 3 times a week and walking 6 miles when I don't run. More frequent dumbell works too. I'm planning to kayak on Saturday, then try for a 5 mile run.  I paddle when I can, only a total of about 10 hrs so far this year. Recently I've been carrying my canoe a few times a week on a trail through the woods on my property for about 1/2 mile. Tonight it is mountain biking.

If my work out gets too routine or regimented I get bored. I like to mix it up as much as possible. I've never been a big fan of keep track of times, weight, reps. etc.

Also I've been eating lots of fruit and veggies and drinking less beer  :( ....but I have enjoyed a few sips of Jameson.

jimmar wrote on Apr 29^th, 2010 at 3:48pm:

I started with walking a few miles 2 or 3 times a week. As the weather improved here in MI I walked more distance and more often. <snip> Recently I've been carrying my canoe a few times a week on a trail through the woods on my property for about 1/2 mile. Tonight it is mountain biking.

I typically walk 5 1/2 to 6 miles (sometimes longer) 3-4 times per week, year round.  As often as possible, I pick mountain biking trails in the area because they typically have more elevation changes and are rougher (need more "foot work") than other trails in my area.  Starting about 3 months out, I start carrying a day pack.  Each week I add more weight, but try to stay at the same time as my "non-weighted" time.  (BTW:  Re-using plastic water bottles by refilling them with tap water is an easy way to add weight to your pack in at virtually no cost.  By the time you get to 6-8 of them, you may need to change to something else, but its an easy way to "ramp-up".  I used to add rocks, but you'll occasionally get one with an uncomfortable point stabbing you in the back ... and you can't drink rocks if needed.  Of course, I've thrown in other things too, e.g., ankle weights, etc.).

Another thing I've done with my mountain bike is to "de-tune" it a few months before a trip (take out a little air, add some "drag" to your brake, etc.) Small changes in the efficiency of your ride can make a significant difference in your workout over a 15-20 mile stretch

dd

DD

Has a very good point about balance/foot work and weight. [smiley=thumbup.gif]

1 -- bike -- 25-30 miles at a time, looking for hills. the years I've been able to do that a few times a week was the easiest Quetico trip ever.

2 -- walk -- lots of it. Closer to trip I throw 30 to 50 lbs. in pack. If walking along roads, I step up and down on curbs, small walls and obstacles. And I try to walk in uneven grass to strengthen ankles.

3 -- paddle -- this is going to sound really stupid, but for me it works. I have an in-ground pool. In the months leading up to the fall trip, I stand in the shallow end with a plastic paddle (no, not my good Bending Branches), and I paddle. Hard. Fast. Deep. Until ... I ... can't ... lift ... my ... arms.

Then, thoroughly whipped, I do some "resistance" type stuff (submerge paddle completely, horizontal to ground, and with two-handed grip try to "swing" it through water like a baseball bat).

Again, it looks stupid. But it kicks my asskey, so I don't give a hairy rat's butt what the neighbors think. Besides, I usually paddle in the wee hours of the night, when it's a bit chilly, so on top of solitude I get to mentally prepare myself for paddling while cold.

Oh, and I've been known to put my canoe on my shoulders (the heavy aluminum one, not the Wenonah) and step up on bench and top of picnic table and down again, over and over. Helps quads and back.

Looks stupid. My kids laugh. Who cares.

-- kypaddler

I thought I was and still am in decent shape after a 22-year military career and a few years running around with high school students, but after reading this thread, I've concluded many of you guys are just simply frickin' workout animals.....and a little nuts too!!   ;D   :o   :D  

pine_knot wrote on Apr 30^th, 2010 at 10:21pm:

I thought I was and still am in decent shape after a 22-year military career and a few years running around with high school students, but after reading this thread, I've concluded many of you guys are just simply frickin' workout animals.....and a little nuts too!!   ;D   :o   :D

Pineknot,

Just keepin' up with the Joneses who seem to show up in my paddling parties from year-to-year.

The older I get, the more I insist on paddling with folks who have what it takes to haul my sorry butt out of the wilderness should I ever break one or two of my nearly 56 year-old legs (or if get knocked more silly than I already am by a particularly aggressive pollyhumper).

Jimbo   8-)

P.S.  I don't deny the "nuts" part.

Yep, I am certified for sure! :o ;D ;)

kypaddler,

You've got a good idea there with the paddle in the pool. Not a bad way to go if you can't actually get out on the water, and have a pool at your disposal.

Jimbo also has a good point about being able to haul yourself or a group member out of the park, if the unthinkable were to happen. In that kind of situation, you'd really be thanking yourself or your buddies for staying in fighting trim! If I went down somewhere, most of my friends wouldn't be able to get me very far. I'd probably make better time crawling on my own.

A related story:

A few years ago, my friend Thad and I went hiking out in the ND badlands. Neither of us were in very good shape at the time, and to make a long story short, we ran out of useable water and due to the 85+ degree heat (Easter weekend!) we decided to hike back to the truck after the sun went down. Earlier that day I had strained my quad going down a steep hill, and soon after we started the hike back, I strained the other one crossing a dry stream bed.

We had taken a shortcut on the way out, by basically glissading down a 600-foot bluff face, and there was no way we'd be able to do it going the other way, so we had to try and find the real trail on the way back. Easier said then done in the dark, with no moon, and when the real trail and the maze of bison trails are nearly impossible to tell apart. Each step of the way (around 4 1/2 miles) was excruciating, and we ended up backtracking more than a few times when we followed the wrong trail. I remember a few moments where we were a half-step away from killing each other over disagreements on which was the right trail.

We made it back to the truck a few hours before sunrise, and thankfully, we had several gallons of water stashed away that we were unable to take with us on the way in. It took a few days before I could walk again without pain, and it took almost a year before my friend and I made plans to take another hiking trip together - this time much better prepared. He's still one of the only guys I ever go on trips with, but lately he's been tied down with his IT career, so hence my foray into the world of solo.

It was a humbling experience, and a valuable lesson, but simply being in better shape would have allowed for a much better (and much safer) trip to begin with. A few hours every other day is a small investment in one's overall health, not to mention in pulling off the trip of the year.

Another $0.03

pine_knot is right - these boards are populated by nuts and workout animals. But healthy ones.

So far, it looks like almost everybody includes free weights in their workout and a lot use gym machines too. Almost everyone has some cardio component in their fitness program - lots of cyclists, some runners (and ex-runners), and a few people in aerobics classes.

There are some yoga enthusiasts, a couple of hikers/walkers, and there are recommendations for XC skiing, BBall, pilates, and exercise balls. Lots of people use canoeing or some form of "synthetic canoeing" to stay in shape for canoeing.

But despite the strength-building and aerobic benefits, not one person here seems to swim for exercise. I'm sure we all can swim, and given the water-dependent nature of canoeing, isn't it a bit surprising that swimming isn't a part of anyone's regular workouts?

I used to swim a mile a day, my main form of exercise.  It's harder to find a convenient pool when you're not a student though.  It is great exercise, but kind of boring compared to running.

[quote author=Joe_Schmeaux link=But despite the strength-building and aerobic benefits, not one person here seems to swim for exercise. I'm sure we all can swim, and given the water-dependent nature of canoeing, isn't it a bit surprising that swimming isn't a part of anyone's regular workouts?[/quote]

I'm a bit of a chicken to jump in 45 degree water to work out. Give it another month. But as tippy as my solo canoe seems I may have a chance to enjoy the refreshing cool water for a little pre season work out non intentionally... with a life preserver I might add. And in another month I'll have my first 10 plus days tripping under my belt. That will be a good work out as I'll have several 200 - 300 rod portages.

I plead guilty to the "nut" part. Waylon Jennings used to sing, "I've always been crazy/but it keeps me from going insane."

Yeah, I can swim. But I've never cared for it much, even though I took some lessons about 20 years ago.

Tim

My weight training included moving about 2T of firewood yesterday. I now have an authentic recreation of Dawsons Woodyard on Sturgeon L. ;D

Ooh my achin' back! :P

Old Salt,

Good point. The very best "weight training" or exercise actually gets something accomplished, whether it's cutting and splitting wood, digging another hole for my grandfather, who used to order me around just because he could, or building a deck.

My extended family is having a Steps competition (teams go for extended walks and count steps for the week, loser pays up) as a way to improve the overall health of some of the members. I was giving my little wife some grief, because she's lagging and my team is getting its arse kicked, and I told her: "Your Portuguese ancestors would be ashamed."

And she replied: "If it were scouting the grapes, tending the goats on the hill or even hiking along with a basket on the head, the Manuels and Joakims of my family would be proud of me. They wouldn't have understood walking with no destination."

Kypaddler

I guess I'm the exception, I eat alot of cheesburgers, bacon and candy ;D

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wally wrote on May 9^th, 2010 at 2:50pm:

I guess I'm the exception, I eat alot of cheesburgers, bacon and candy ;D   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

I bet you wear VELCRO strap shoes too ;D

First paddle 2010 yesterday, 24.5 miles on Lake Minnetonka in the 17 year old Bell Creekrunner. Many big houses, boats, wakes, and heads and only 4 loons. The day made the Bacon Blue Burger and the large barley pop taste super good at the end of the relaxing workout. I have really grown to enjoy the shock cord on the wet boots too.

Wally the bibs are the bomb! ;D [smiley=thumbup.gif]

solotripper wrote on May 10^th, 2010 at 2:53pm:

wally wrote on May 9th, 2010 at 2:50pm: I guess I'm the exception, I eat alot of cheesburgers, bacon and candy ;D   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register I bet you wear VELCRO strap shoes too ;D

Nay! Slippons. ;D

My late Father had serious health problems his declining years. He couldn't bend down to tie his shoe laces, so he got the Velcro senior specials. I/We got a big laugh out of that.

One day on a visit, Dad said that he had finally hit rock bottom on the old age scale?
 
I asked what did it? He showed me his 3rd hand "grabber" tool that he NOW needed to close his Velcro shoe's :'(

I know when it comes to exercise/diet, it's all about the quality of life, not living longer at any expense.  When I can't tie my own shoes, wear pants with zippers or wipe my arse myself, I hope the Good Lord or a compassionate friend puts me down for the count :'(