Physical Fitness & Survival

[Brian Curnel]

How many people who are overweight have a hard time performing the demanding skills of survival or primitive technology even camping for that matter? The Christmas I ate like a champion, I must of gained 5 pounds but when I went back out into the bush... what a difference! I was winded and was having troubles all round. So has anyone else ever seen this happen or experience it, or is it just unique to me? Thus the importance of eating right!

 

[CLEM]

Well we all have a perfect weight for our bodies when our bodies work at their best,i have started boxing again and have been going to the gym for about two months now to get myself fit,i know that i was much much better in every aspect when i weighed 12 stone ten pounds than i do now at 15 stone 10 pounds.I miss that really fit feeling.Training twice a week but soon to step it up to three times a week,hope to get down to fourteen stone or lighter! we shall see!

 

[RovingArcher]

My perfect operating weight is between 175# and 180#, sorry, don't know how that translates into stone weight. Anyways, even with lots of walking and hiking, I'm at 214# right now and my stomach has gone soft. I'm workin on it, but it's taking a lot more effort than it used to. I suppose because of lower metabolic rate and more computer time.

 

[Brian Curnel]

LOL Archer I know what ya mean.. that computer is hell on that diet!!
Bri

 

[pierre girard]

For many years I worked construction and commercial fishing. I ate like a horse, and at age 33 I weighed 160# - five pounds less than I did when I graduated from high school. The last 20 years I've worked at a mostly sedentary job. Weight is a problem - especially around the holidays. An hour's workout each day just doesn't do it like eight to 12 hours a day of hard physical labour.

PG

 

[Abbe Osram]

LOL, I move very slowly or take a snow maschine. I had trouble getting my snowshoes on and off, lost a little my breath with all the cloth and the fat stomach but now I learned to switch the snowshoes on and off without bending down.

LOL still I hope to fight off some weight, christmas pushed me up too at the moment I bring a nice 95 Kg on the scale. Started with some skiing around the place here to get in better shape. I want to be down to 85kg next year this time around. Would be cool to start a list and see if we manage our goals.

cheers
Abbe

 

[CLEM]

The thing to remember is to pace yourself when starting out on a new training routine,especially if you have not trained for a long time,try not to expect to much of yourself to fast.However you will surprise yourself how quickly you progress and become fitter!

 

[Ahjno]

Don't flame at me now ...

I can eat what I want, and hardly gain any weight ... Must be a high metabolism Even had a short duration my weight was too low (due to sickness) - But that's sorted now.

So can't actually anwer the thread.
Though, in retrospect, even people with a low weight encounter difficulties.
I found I had some difficulties with carrying a heavy bergen, got it cold - sooner than others, etc. Though, now I'm thinking about it - it all just aswell could have been caused due to my illness.

Sorry for being a bit off topic but this gives a bit of counter weight ... pun intended ... to all attention that goes to people who are overweight.

 

[jamesdevine]

I have a pretty similar story to Pierre. I worked construction(building as it's Known here) I worked out four maybe five times a week and i was hiking and camping nearly every weekend.

Then I started working behind the desk(nearly ten years now) and it's all gone pear shaped literaly. I am slowly making an effort to get back in shape but it's hard to find the time. It will have to be done do.

It can take the edge of a trip if you are tired and sore from what was once normal exercise. I am off to Sweden next year and I want to be fit for that so a stone or two will have to go.

James

 

[RovingArcher]

For many years I worked construction and commercial fishing. I ate like a horse, and at age 33 I weighed 160# - five pounds less than I did when I graduated from high school. The last 20 years I've worked at a mostly sedentary job. Weight is a problem - especially around the holidays. An hour's workout each day just doesn't do it like eight to 12 hours a day of hard physical labour.

PG

It was much the same for me. I worked as an Ironworker (rebar) for 20 some odd years and at the age of 38, when I left that profession due to injury, I weighed in at 175# of pure muscle. Since then, my weight has edged up, even with staying active, until a few years ago when I started working out of the house on the computer. All down hill from there.

 

[Swampy Matt]

I gotta come in here to support Ahjno. Don't flame me either - I'm just trying to show the other side of the coin

I'm 5'7" and 135lb, so around a stone under my ideal weight. I also have a high metabolism, so gaining weight is difficult.

With practically no subcutaneous fat layer, winter REALLY takes its toll. Sitting in hides and sleeping out without a fire means I have to wear more layers than is either comfortable or, ideally, practical.

This extra bulk of clothing means that simple tasks (using an axe, taking off or putting on a rucksack) become quite difficult.

More layers are also less breathable than 2-3 layers, so once I do warm up the perspiration doesn't escape.

I see one of my mates (5'10", 250lbs) sitting outside at this time of year wearing a t-shirt and long sleeve flannel shirt, whilst I'm looking somewhat like the Michellin Man, and I'm thinking, "damn, I wish I was bigger!!"

Matt

 

[Brian Curnel]

Matt, don't wish that on yourself, being bigger has its toll. Like getting winded easier, on hot days there is no relief you can't take enough clothes off!! Sure in the winter you stay a bit more comfy but because of fat layers like a seal. I'd trade with ya anyday. Being a bit larger also puts more of a burden on your joints and circulatory system, so I do see your point but it has more pros than cons in my opinion.

 

[wolf]

i keep myself pretty fit,training at home with weights,and more aerobic exercise at work along with heavy lifting.i hate to struggle when out in the bush.if you are fitter then if you did find yourself in a survival situition,you could cope better mentally,and physically..but i know in some cases it cannot be done,but one can still keep ones mind tuned in...

 

[Andy]

I'm 5'7" and 135lb, so around a stone under my ideal weight.
Matt

no your not

ideal weight is between 20 and 25 on the body mass index (with under 18 being underweight ). this is your weight in Kg divided by you height in meters squared
5'7 is 1.68m so and 135lbs is about 61Kg
61/2.8 is about 21.9 so about ideal

I'm 1.7m and 60kg (or about 5'8" and 132lb/9stones 4lbs) for some reason I'm like a central heating system

 

[redflex]

Hey his ideal weight may be what he wants to be not what is his idea body mass

 

[weekend_warrior]

I think I put on more than you weigh over christmas!

Better for for a very long walk - like round the equator, twice...

 

[Alchemist]

Brian, I did Sports Science at Uni, have just finished 5 yrs in the Army and used to take my sports v.serious.
That feeling you had straight after xmas is nothing to worry about unless you got dizzy, wheezy and that sort of stuff. Now is the time of year to stock up on reserves like our furry friends. Just remember to burn it off in the summer!
As for a perfect bushcraft physique- a bit of extra energy tucked under the belt is essential for most soldiers. Generally, the skinny lads in the Falklands War went down quite quickly on the long marches.
There is no perfect physique outdoors as far as I am aware. Big and small both have their advantages.
If you are worried about your fitness then my advice is join a sport club. The most important thing is that it is something you enjoy and maintain. 40% of gym members quit in the first year. I reckon another 40% are wasting their money. If you like the outdoors, I doubt you will be in the other 20%.
Dont listen to all the garbage you hear some of these fitness profesionals spouting. Bums and tums?- dont forget your bingo wings while your at it Dorris. Body sculpting is my favourite- What a pile of sjhfvjh.

Sorry, I am getting carried away. You probably knew that all anyway but if anyone needs some good advice then I could do some research and maybe put out some information on the subject- only a thought.

 

[Swampy Matt]

no your not

ideal weight is between 20 and 25 on the body mass index (with under 18 being underweight ). this is your weight in Kg divided by you height in meters squared
5'7 is 1.68m so and 135lbs is about 61Kg
61/2.8 is about 21.9 so about ideal

I'm 1.7m and 60kg (or about 5'8" and 132lb/9stones 4lbs) for some reason I'm like a central heating system

There's a few problems with this assesment:

1 - It takes no account of how the weight is distributed, using only height as an indicator of build. As a former competetive swimmer I have disproportionately large shoulders (and arms) for my height. Thus my skeletal frame is capable of easily and healthily supporting more weight than I'm currently carrying.

2 -

practically no subcutaneous fat layer

I have never been able to "pinch an inch" of flesh - therefore no natural insulation, so I get cold easier.

3 -

My perfect operating weight is between 175# and 180#

This is probably far more important than any scientific formula. Everyone has a "Perfect Operating Weight". This is (in my understanding) the weight at which you can perform all tasks you need to, as efficiently as possible. When I left school around 10 years ago I weighed 11stone/154lb - I felt far healthier and could perform a lot of tasks with greater ease than I can now.

I get your point about BMI, but I found that its better to use your own judgement about your own body than try to apply any generic equasion.


On a different note:
No matter what size or shape anyone is, the human body is a truly amazing and genuinely beautiful thing - all the more so because of its great variety of form and hue. No one, no matter how over or under weight they are should forget this - Don't hate the fact that christmas added a few pounds, or illness shed them, but celebrate what an incredible creation you possess

Matt

 

[havingagiraffe]

LOL, I had trouble getting my snowshoes on and off, lost a little my breath with all the cloth and the fat stomach but now I learned to switch the snowshoes on and off without bending down.

cheers
Abbe

 

[PurpleHeath]

i have a friend who i have known for about a year and a half. since then he has put on a least a stone in weight. when i first met him he was not skinny he had some fat on him but not anything to be worried about. i think that he should try and lose a few lbs, but how do you tell one of your best mates you think they fat? i don't want him to conutine to get bigger becuase then it will be even harder to lose it. any ideas?