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| One of Us |
And I'll have you know, even though my heart condition doesn't allow me to exercise much, I AM in shape. Round is a shape... | |||
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IdahoSharp, I go to the gym 4 mornings a week and I see mostly fat people sweating, but then again I go at 4:30 AM I guess the young lean f**K machines are still in bed.  | |||
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...or the one that summarizes this whole thread EEESH! Mangwana | |||
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I think this is a large part of the problem, especially as we age. With 10 to 12 hour days plus 3 hour commuting there is little time for planned and effective exercise. Add knee, back, etc. problems from old sports injuries and the pounds add up. But hey, I'm in shape - round is a shape. Mike's point about having limitations due to physical condition is spot on. And we all will have to face it sooner or later. "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult." | |||
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This turned into a good discusion, with practically everyone agreeing that a hunter, regardless of where they hunt, and that everyone, whether they hunt or not should try to stay in as good physical shape as they possibly can. My real gripe however remains with the concept that too many folks are caught up in outward physical appearances. While I am probably wrong, to me, it seems like some folks are looking for the hunting worlds equivelent to the " Marlboro Man". I may be picking up on something that is not really there, but it seems that there is an underlying current of dis-taste or embarassment that not all hunter are cookie cutter copies of some stylized/perfect hair/teeth/fat to muscle ratio super Bwana. Hunting is an activity for everyone, and as such, should be portrayed that way. It is the concept that our modern world is getting more and more guilty of, that a hunter or a fisherman or a cowboy etrc.etc. etc. hould look a certain way, when in real life things are jut not that way. Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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I dunno, from a positive side, a fat man probably will face a charge better, knowing he can't run!!!! DRSS(We Band of Bubba's Div.) N.R.A (Life) T.S.R.A (Life) D.S.C. | |||
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True, but more people could overcome if they put in the work. Just like in the Matrix the problem is choice. In my short time on this earth I have met a great number of people who were told by Doctors that they would never _________ again? My wife's grandmother was crushed by a towmotor and told she would never walk. Just try and stop her now. One of my old lifting partners blew out a shoulder and was told he'd never lift again. Even with severe complications during his recovery and subsequent surgery (they had to go back in and redo it) he was a gym regular and as strong as many youngsters half his age. I was hit by a car on the job and badly injured. After fighting with Worker's Comp for more than a year I finally had surgery to "refurbish" my hip. Now, just 20 months later, I can run a 10K in under 65 minutes, Squat 365 and Deadlift 425. It was damn hard work to get here and I'm not finished yet. For too many people it is too easy to just give up and believe that they cannot improve. I am not saying that out of shape people HAVE to get in shape. We all have the luxury of personal choice. I am not suggesting going out on Safari in search of Fattyboombalatties either. ____________________________________________ "If a man can't trust himself to carry a loaded rifle out of camp without risk of shooting somebody, then he has no business ever handling a rifle at all and should take up golf or tennis instead." John Taylor Ruger Alaskan 416 Ruger African 223 | |||
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Funny you should say that. On the Dangerous Game episode the hunter with the prosthetic leg actually told Jeff Rann that he could walk and keep up just fine, but that he could not get out of a tight situation using his legs to run. He went on to say that if the going got tough they were going to have to simply stand their ground. Mike | |||
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There is no substitute for heart. I tell people all the time that in hiring folks I will take attitude over aptitude any time. With the right attitude, virtually any problem can be overcome, or at least improved significantly, and you can over come a lack of experience. But overcoming a poor attitude is another thing altogether. Mike | |||
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How many of you all know why Jeff Rann shoots left-handed? Fritz Rabe Askari Adventures & Fritz Rabe Bow-hunting | |||
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Two thoughts. First, the better shape you are in the more liokely your PH is to be able to get you to the shot at a good or better animal. Second, when hunting DG and the situation goes bad, you dont have to run any faster then the slowest guy. | |||
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I don't know why Jeff shoots left handed. Why does he? ...I say that hunters go into Paradise when they die, and live in this world more joyfully than any other men. -Edward, duke of York ". . . when a man has shot an elephant his life is full." ~John Alfred Jordan "The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." Cicero - 55 BC "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand Cogito ergo venor- KPete “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.” ― Adam Smith - “Wealth of Nations” | |||
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I have never been thin,, high shol/ college footbal weight 210 lbs, 6 ft. Today getting close to 57,, I am not any taller and at 225-230 depending on holidays, or work days. I can speak from experience,,, hunting can be very physically challenging in Africa, and being in your best shape is very important. In 2006 I had a difficult time keeping up with my hunting partner and tracker etc,, not from being out of shape but due to an old knee injury giving me fits with swelling, pain, and inability to walk for very long at a time with a very bad limp. 2007,, 5 cartlide repairs and an ACL<MCL<OCL repair, 6 months of rehab... I can now walk again, but I can not run,, the knee just won't due it so my exercise now is basically riding the bike. subsequent hunts since that time I have been able to keep up and enjoy the hunt more and not feel like I was missing something or limited in the hunt. I tell my Ph of my physical ability before time and do not sugar coat it. It is so much more enjoyable if you can perform physically! Period! My biggest weight controller is not the exercise,, it is stopping the fork headed to my mouth. I too am on meds that make it hard to loose weight. I have been on meds since I was young for a irregular heart beat, arryhtmia,, my pulse rate stays under 70,, almost under time,, you need it up over 110 to get any real cardio benefit,, I just ride that damn bike longer,,,, I want to get back to 215 before next hunting season,,,, I better loose my favorite fork,,, you can make more money, you can not make more time | |||
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Some guys like movies about gladiators.....and some don't...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEWqhLiq_IU SCI Life Member DSC Life Member | |||
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George, Every now and then I read one of your posts and find the hilarity simply overwhelming.    This was one of them  NRA Lifer; DSC Lifer; SCI member; DRSS; AR member since November 9 2003 Don't Save the best for last, the smile for later or the "Thanks" for tomorow | |||
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Maybe that explains what happened with Schwarzenegger in California?  Mike | |||
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Do you also drive better when you're drunk? Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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As some of you know, I was blown up in Iraq a year and a half ago, and thought dead. (Hmm, zombie time?) Have gone hunting as I can. This year, despite continuous pain, hunted mule deer on the Air Force Academy, which has some very steep hills. You must have one of the AFA wildlife people or a DOW person accompany you. The Area Manager for the DOW accompanied me and my hunting partner. He realized I was limited and slowed down. We had a great hunt together and I got a large 5x5. Could I have done better fully fit? I don't think so. Could I have felt better. Absolutely! Next year will do better. Oh, and I credit Corrie (DOW) with the trophy and one of the best hunts I've had in years. Max .395 Family Member DRSS, po' boy member Political correctness is nothing but liberal enforced censorship | |||
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Max, thanks for your sacrifice, congratulations on your hunting success and best wishes for your continued recovery. All the best, Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I think Mike's point has crossed all of our minds during the planning stage of a hunt. I lost 20 lbs. in 18 days in Tanzania and was not in shape. My hunt would have been easier had I been in shape. However, my PH was, to my thinking, overweight and had a pretty good paunch. That being said, he walked my butt into the ground every day and could walk faster, farther, and longer than any man I know in spite of his being about 3-4 inches shorter than I. I think he took a perverse pleasure in walking 5-6 hours a day in 110 degree heat pushing me to the limit. This time I hired a personal trainer and will be in shape. Given that I have until August 13th to get there. I think it will go much smoother walking in Dande North with Buzz's group being in shape. Just my 2 cents worth. Dutch | |||
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57 years old, 5' - 10", 180 lbs., 32 inch waist, 15% body fat Not on any prescription drugs. None. Activities;jogging, hiking, mountain biking, weight training. I don't own a TV. I ride a bicycle to work. Sorry no pic of my wife since I don't currently have one. Elephant Hunter, Double Rifle Shooter Society, NRA Lifetime Member, Ten Safaris, in RSA, Namibia, Zimbabwe | |||
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Aaron: See if you can get into a Nazi concentration camp; I have never seen a picture of a fat man in a concentration camp. Oh, I am 5/7 and 151 lbs as of last night, which is about 4 lbs heavier than I like to be. I run 4 miles every other day and watch very carefully what I eat. Ms AZW is 5/4 and 117 lbs. She does triathalons for fun. | |||
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Let me guess...you are now a disabled firefighter, right? | |||
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Wow, The Matrix! Yep, it's just like that!  All that other running and lifting stuff doesn't mean jack, Dude! Everyone knows the measure of a man is "What do you bench"?  | |||
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Todd, You aren't even close to the guy we are referring to on TAA. You look almost emaciated. Hell, Wendell is fatter than you and he can walk all day. And he can shoot. | |||
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Yup, officially disabled since 2006. The cardiologist figures that stress and genetics did me in. My mother died of an anurism at age 56 and my father of a massive heart attack at age 64. So I figured I'd better stay in fairly decent shape if I wanted to live longer than my folks. I guess surviving three heart attacks that being in fairly decent shape did help somewhat. That and recognizing the signs of a heart attack... | |||
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How did I guess? I have a hard time understanding why we taxpayers have to foot the bill for something that has nothing to do with service as a firefighter. A pretty famous outdoor writer pal of mine who is an MD said the number of police officers and firefighters on disability is stunning. | |||
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I wasn't sure if anybody would get that reference. Bench Press 315, Power Clean 205 and 2 Hands Press 185. Not as strong as I was pre-accident. I can't sprint as fast and my vertical jump isn't as high as it used to be. I'm not dead yet so I have time to try and get back to where I was. prof242 - Thank you for your service. I know first hand how difficult LOD injuries can be. Stay safe. ____________________________________________ "If a man can't trust himself to carry a loaded rifle out of camp without risk of shooting somebody, then he has no business ever handling a rifle at all and should take up golf or tennis instead." John Taylor Ruger Alaskan 416 Ruger African 223 | |||
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Well, the way my doctor figured it. Had I been in the same shape, but in any other profession other than firefighting, I'd have gone a lot longer before having the heart attack. Firefighting isn't just sitting at the station watching TV and washing trucks. You have to go from a dead sleep to 90 miles an hour in 30 seconds answering a call. That adds stress to your system. Often times you're lifting, moving, pushing heavy weights, and you cannot always lift with your legs and in proper form when you're wrestling a drunk out of an overturned pickup truck on a steep, snow-covered slope. I didn't have the luxury of assessing something before deciding to do it. We were needed, we went! Nothing more, nothing less. I'm sure the number of officers and firefighters on disability is stunning. But then again, look (REALLY LOOK) at the work that these two occupations really do. So heart attacks from stress, along with back injuries are part of the job. And those two are probably the leading causes of disability among police officers and firefighters. | |||
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Gosh how will I ever hunt Africa as I am 40 pounds overweight, have a prosthetic leg for over 30 years. Mechanical knee, bad back lots of other medical problems. Maybe I can find a PH who whould understand and take me out anyway. BigB | |||
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A very good friend of mine just died of massive stroke in his basilar artery, he was 35 and in perfect health. Coroner has no idea where the clot started although we think it had something to do with the MMA he did, long story. Fit as a fiddle on Tuesday and dead on Friday. I don't pretend that trying to keep in shape will prevent me from dropping dead one day, but it will make each day until I do more pleasurable because it's just no fun being a fat ass, and I know from experience as a guy who struggles with it daily. My main motivation for being healthy is my daughter, if my hunting is made better by that, then I'll take it! Also, keep in mind, when you are really big and have health issues, it can keep you from getting the best diagnosis and subsequent care. The wife is an MRI tech and sees daily people who will not fit in the 1.5 Tesla or 3 Tesla magnet and have to be referred to a .5 TEsla open magnet for their MRI. While they are happy they fit, the images from a .5T magnet are nothing like those from a 1.5T or 3T. Better images=better treatment provided all other things are equal. | |||
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Hizzie - Not sure of your age but regardless, all pretty good stats!! I too have squatted 365 plus, and bench pressed 315 plus - hundreds & hundreds of times. The fact that you do all of that, and run 10K's in under 65 minutes is truly awesome. Anyone who really knows about muscular development, knows that developing strength/muscle to the degree which you have, plus running those distances is a rare combination. Running, just as intense weight lifting is a highly an-aerobic activity. Prolonged an-aerobic activity is extremely detrimental to muscular development, and the fact that you are blessed with genetics to do both, is truly rare. Good for you man!!! | |||
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Todd your picture looks fine but your attitude is poor. You want to run with big dogs but you do not seem to have the means. Instead of seeing the people on this sitee as inspirational and doing something about it, you are resentful. It shows in your writings. The same with the way you look, you are chubby but if happy so what, stop trying to convince yourself or get off your butt and do someething about it. Going through life with chips on your shoulder is no way to live. Good luck I hope you figure it out. | |||
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I asked a friend once when we were working out why he lifted weights all the time and didn't do more cardiovascular exercises. He told me that his goal was to be a really strong fat guy. Like Vasily Alexyev (lately departed from the living). I can respect that. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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You might understand if you ever walked a beat or drug a hose into a burning building. The shift work and hours were bad but the things that I saw and can never unsee have changed me on the inside. I cannot say it was for the better. The last I looked at the statistics a Police Officer was killed in the Line of Duty every 54hrs. A Police Officer commits suicide every 20hrs. The rates of divorce and alcohol/drug abuse are ghastly as well. Aaron - Thank you for the compliments. I am still a young man at 35. I would not consider myself gifted genetically, just very hard working. My condition at the time of my accident actually was a major factor in why I was not injured far worse. ____________________________________________ "If a man can't trust himself to carry a loaded rifle out of camp without risk of shooting somebody, then he has no business ever handling a rifle at all and should take up golf or tennis instead." John Taylor Ruger Alaskan 416 Ruger African 223 | |||
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Hizzie - There's no doubt that one's physical shape can help alot with any potential issues/problems. At 35 I was still hitting the weights hard, but when I had my back injury at 37, that was a real problem. Fact is, and you mention it too. Regardless, nothing substitutes hard work! Now its time for me to get back on that band-wagon. Thanks for the additional inspiration. | |||
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Arron, That is what this is all about.. http://crossfit.com/ I started this about 3 years ago and am 40 lbs lighter, worlds stronger and exponentially more fit. I am running a +/- 6 minute mile (for the first one) just did a 5k in 25:20 and am also dead lifting in the high 300's back squatting just at 300 lbs ETC ETC.. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. I can't think of a better workout program for a hunter or any type of outdoors activity. It sure as heck works well for lots and lots of our special forces soldiers. I am in my mid 40's and am in better shape now than when I was in my 20's and I was a competitive rugby player back then. | |||
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So, just exactly how many on here believe that hunting license sales and safari bookings hould be based solely on how fast a person can run a marathon or how much they can bench press.  Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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I remember what level of exercise I was able to do 10 yrs ago and I can only do about a quarter or less of that today.I can only dream of those days.I know it`s not the desire to be fit that`s lacking,if anything it is stronger today than ever. | |||
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I have noticed the "out of shape" hunters on TV and in the field. To say "out of shape" is not saying that they are fat. I think that if one is going on a hunt, being Africa, sheep, elk . . , they should be in the best shape that they can. One is cheating himself/herself to not be in the best shape possible. I did a 2/1 elk hunt w/a friend that thought by ride a bike around his neighborhood a few times a week before we left was ok. He slowed us down soo much. In no way is if fat--just purely out of shape. He is 5-11 and weight around 185 lbs at the time. Years later he went on a Dall Sheep hunt at about 210. He told the guide on his first stalk that he would give him a $$$$$ tip to get him a stot at the smaller sheep so that he could get off the mountain. This is just like Aaron has said--hunters not preparing for a hunt of a lifetime are cheating themselves. I work too hard for my money to cheat myself on a hunt. I am guilty of not being prepared for a mountain lion hunt and it kicked my tail. I will not let that happen again. A friend and I are bound for Africa in summer 2012. I have been telling him to start walking/running for this trip. Last week he started to "run". He said in less than a 1/4 mile he could not run any more. It really opened his eyes on needing to be prepared for his first trip to Africa. I leave soon for the Dark Cont. I have been on a regular workout schedule for a year. I feel that if I need to walk 20 miles a day that I will be able to---need to run after a wounded buff for 2 miles, I will be able---run 6 miles for help, I will be able. This is a choice that I make for myself. I will not miss an opportunity on a animal because I "ran out of wind." One can be "fat" and be in hunting shape. I am glad that Mike started this thread. I believe if one is in good physical shape, his/her hunt will be much more enjoyable and successful. My 2 cents worth.  Skip Nantz | |||
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