I did not want to hi-jack Jinks's thread on fitness which I do encourage for anyone, not just men over 60, and glad he is starting back. Point I wanted to move into was archery and fitness in general. I know this most likely has volumes stored somewhere in the wall of knowledge, but late season hunting has reminded me of how little I have done the past year to maintain that fresh condition. That and the fact that I just watched a couple indoor archery rounds and was overly surprised to see such "robust" competitors. I realize we all age and to a high percentage do not have the need or desire to maintain, "prime" condition. I also do not encourage the bodybuilder physic. So, old or young how many of you still have a solid routine and what keeps you motivated. I have found my greatest motivation comes from past injuries. They tend to stiffen up when not properly maintained.

-Bones

I'm an ultra marathon guy, I recommend a 35lb kettlebell for general fitness to any adult male.

And HOW old are you???

It just happens that I had tried a few push-ups a day it so before Jinks posted, and I was mortified that I was really feeling it after a dozen. ONLY A DOZEN!!!!

Today I cranked out 25 in a back room at the office. Felt a little better about that, but I’m one of many who really NEEDS to get back at it. I’m just about to turn 55 and I look better than most, but I sure don’t feel it.....

GF, I'm 35 and good and well know that I am not in the shape I was just 10 years ago. That kind of regiment would leave more soar for a week currently.

-Bones

My fitness routine has, for many years, revolved around golfing while walking and carrying my clubs. Since I retired I have the time to golf but lack the money. My current motivation to improve is a very fit potential girlfriend half my age. And a desire to shoot a bighorn.

DDave

I believe in maintaining my mental as well as my physical fitness. It has helped me immensely for my hunting, shooting and personal life.

I believe the key is a common sense approach to functional strength so we can perform our everyday activities. Many injuries I see with archers are shoulder related, what mostly is referred to as the rotator cuff. If most people would learn to do the same rehab exercises that you would do if you injured your shoulders and rotator cuff, you could possibly ward off an injury. Also we need to strengthen the core muscles,plus some cardio. As I get older I want to stay in the best shape I can so I can still shoot my bow hunt and fish and enjoy life. I work out three times a week most of my rotator cuff and shoulder work out I do at home. When you work out please use common sense a lot of people over do it and get injured. I have been a personal trainer off and on for over forty years and I’ve seen a lot of injured people come into the gym and with some preventive maintenance and knowledge and common sense,some of the injuries could have been avoided. Always remember if you don’t use it you loose it. You all stay safe and shoot straight.

I've been slacking lately, and have a 'free' gym at work, so I need to get back in now that winter's here. I still feel great, but gained back most of the weight I lost last year. I'm 5'11" and 190#, but could run better at 170#. My wife is gym dedicated, I'd rather get my workouts outside hiking and biking, doing chores. And, I like to eat... Hunting season keeps me in shape, but when its over and the holidays arrive, mmm, not good.

I have a stretching routine I do every morning along with push ups. I walk 5 miles six days a week. I also do the stretching routine in the evening an I shoot my bow every day. I am 73.

A trainer will help greatly with general fitness, but unfortunately for many, they are just unpractical and too expensive.

Was lucky enough to have a trainer with a group of three others for four years at a university I worked at in my mid sixties for a small fee each semester. He was an archer. When I told him I might shoot a 3-D or something similar may come up, he would end my afternoons with several band exercises.

However, I think just shooting is an exercise itself. So much so, I'm counting on it by using both my 25 and 30lb bows 5 to 6 weeks after hernia surgery next week. But I'll also use some inexpensive stretch bands, as the trainer taught me, at that time too.

Babbling Bob- I am so thankful I own a 25# bow, I had ventral hernia surgery last months and at my surgeons discretion, arrows were being flung a few weeks after surgery! Those light bows will help your release too.

As to my "archery fitness", the best thing I think you can do is this; https://www.doyouyoga.com/the-26-poses-of-bikram-yoga- 64644/. There are many varieties of yoga, and I've done some but bikram is my favorite, if there is a "hot yoga" studio nearby, take advantage of that and your shooting will reflect it.

My "archery fitness" encompasses the birkam routine a few times per week. Additionally, I'll run 2 miles 3x per week, not jogging, running until I want to puke. If its not muddy or icy, 4-6 30 second hill sprints get thrown in the mix too. 4x per week I'll do a circuit workout in my garage that takes about 45- 60 min..that includes a medicine ball work, jumping rope, 3 min rounds with heavy bag (some rounds speed, at-least 1 round of nothing but "power punches"), inverted sit ups, bicycle crunches..the like, while wearing 3lb ankle weights. Prior to my hernia repair, I'd do 3 sets of 20 burpees in said circuit. 8:12 intermittent fasting+ low carb diet including a lot of eggs, fish, seed/nuts and "rabbit food" helps too. During the past summer, every hike I went on I'd wear a pack with a 60 pound sand bag. At the direction of my dr, I'm back to about 50% of that activity...no "core blasting" for a while!

The hernia was caused by pushing a cart at work, up a ramp, not by the strain I put on myself on my own time... It wasn't that heavy, but I made a bad motion at a weird angle, so the lesson is, do what you can when you can because a simple, stupid thing can take it away quick!

I cycle in off season 2-3 times a day for 30 mins (build up to 100 mile ride) Walk 2 miles every morning I don't ride Lift weights 2 or 3 times a week

I need to start incorporating stretching I also shoot my bows almost daily all year

I am 56 and in pretty good shape - better than i was in my 40s

I also do KETO which has helped immensely

I sought out archery fitness as well and came to realize that general fitness IS archer fitness. The main thing I had to gather was motivation. Hunting was the only thing that motivated my discipline, then as soon as the hunt was over, the poundage would return until April or May, and back into shape I would go.

It took a thorough physical to wake me up and change that - now my fitness is all year, not seasonal any more.

Follow all the sensible advice - stretching, core, mobility, versatility and variety, reasonable amount of cardio, and be active many times per day. Outdoor natural exercise (like weighted pack hiking) as much as possible, don't be a gym rat.

I heard a great piece of advice (mostly for office puds like me): "remember - even if you exercise 45 minutes every day, if you spend the rest of the day sitting, you're still a couch potato."

As far as specific exercise for archery, the best for me is . . . archery.

GF, 55 is not near old...my daughter will be 54 in May. She's still a young lady in my eyes.

If you have been active all of your life, you likely don't need much to get in shape...whatever "in shape" means to you when it comes to hunting. I trained for, and rode in a trans-America bicycle ride when I was 42 (1988), so I know a bit about aerobic fitness and muscle needs to get there. I won't advise anyone to do it like I did though, we all have our levels we can cope with and adhere to. If you are in crappy physical shape, get professional help near you to get your started on the right level.

I work out daily, I am 69 soon to be 70....once hunting season starts, that is my exercise,,,, I walk many miles and hump a lot of territory, up and down.... however use a light weight system at the house,,, but the season keeps me going.

after that, its back in the pool daily and my other exercises

84 and do cardio and weight training on a regular basis. I also walk almost daily and shoot my bow alot. At my age if you don't stay in fairly good shape you lose muscle mass very rapidly which makes you an "old person" within a short time. Joel

George - I think a lifetime of being exceptionally fit has provided me with quite a buffer against the last 15 years of being a desk jockey… When I was Dry Bones’ Age, my resting heart rate was about 40 due to all the biking that I was doing at that point, and the weights I would work in the gym invariably triggered spontaneous explanations of injuries from the next guy to use the equipment… LOL

Now, I’m just doing the best I can to keep up with my two teenage boys!

I've worked out and ran most of my life. Now, at 70-years of age, I go to the gym five days a week and work out hard: push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull- ups, various weight lifting, run or walk fast on a inclined treadmill for 20-25 minutes, repeat a few more of the same until I'm done. I walk a lot. I'm a wildlife photographer so I'm out and about all of the time. Once a year I climb high into the mountains to photograph Dall sheep. I have bird dogs and follow them for a great many miles throughout a 9-month long upland season here in Alaska. Today is the last day of the late season archery moose season, so I'll be spending a lot of time on snowshoes in pursuit of ptarmigan with my bird dogs right up until the April 30 season ending in 2020. I can afford a snow plow, but I use a shovel. Stay busy. Keep moving. It hurts like hell, but you just have to work through it. Diet and exercise. Did I mention diet and exercise? Happy Thanksgiving !

I’m 55 YO, my #1 motivation is an annual archery elk hunt along with some fairy rugged state forest hunting here in PA.

I do a rigorous 45 minute work out on an elyptical machine daily, rarely miss a day. Also throw in some long weighted back pack hikes. I used to jog allot but that started tearing up my knees, so that’s out.

I don’t eat fast food. I eat allot of oatmeal, salad, veggies and wild game meat.

Push ups are great and make you stronger. I can't do any for a year. You don't need high weight to keep in shape. Remember we are trying to stay healthy,and shoot a bow. Not move a defensive lineman off the line. Lol

I'm 2 weeks shy of 40 and in the best shape of my life. An elk hunt this fall was my motivation to drop 90 lbs in a less than 4 months. I feel much younger and better all around now. I try to do a lot of hiking or walking when I can. I have some weights that I use off and on. I can tell it's helping my shooting. I can get to full draw easier and hold it longer. I've went up several lbs on the bows that I got this year.

I'm 61.25 and this thread has been good for me.

I like me some fast food on occasion. No different in eating a burger and fries at Wendys than doing it at home. But to each his own.

It's important to focus more on what you DO eat rather than what you don't. Enough healthy fats, colorful salads, dark veggies, berries, tree nuts. Makes avoiding the bad carbs and sugars easier.

Fear refined sugars.

I am 74.25 and try and maintain a level of fitness that works for me. I do notice when I have a week or two layoff it takes me a few outings to be comfortably with my 55# bows. I could just drop in weight and give up but I want to feel like I am accomplishing something.

Oh, yes - and eat lots of free ranging Venison!!

the decline push up to me is one of the best archery exercises you can do.If done properly it works all your muscles that you use when pulling your bow.I alternate wide and close grip and do 2 sets 10 reps I know that doesn't sound like alot,but when done the way I do them your straining on the tenth rep at least i am.Now put your feet up on a chair and get into the push up position slowly lower down to the floor and without touching the floor hold for a count of 2 now raise back up that's one rep do as many as you can.I rest 2 or 3 minutes between sets.

I'm glad Dry Bones posted this thread as yet another sounding board for us to vent our aches, pains and diaabilities and?...support, motivate and inspire each other by sharing hard won solutions.

I never felt so old as I did just a couple years ago when I sold my motorcycle because I was coming up on my 60th Birthday where I allowed the number to get the best of me as I fell into a mild state of depression and then sank even deeper into depression (because it was the first time in my life I had been without a motorcycle in the garage in decades and riding is something I love to do) and about a year later?...it hit me that the old cliche of...

"You don't quite riding because you got old...you got old because YOU QUIT RIDING!"

is very true and also why a Kawasaki ZX-14R Ninja resides in my garage today...I just have to ride slower...pay closer attention and show-off less! LOL!

and here we are...a bunch of touh old bowhunting types....or are we?...I mean....could we hold a candle next to this record setting 104 tear old female hunter?....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/104-old-woman-harvests-first-041921728.html

let's try. ;)

Thanks for all the responses, it is a good motivation for me to stay in shape and keep on pushing. At 35 I hope to have a lot of living left to do, but catch myself falling into the lull of life and get a little lazy. Hearing some of your stories and regiments is inspiring. I have a few long term injuries in my neck, back, and right shoulder (all non archery related and out of the dumbness of youth). When I stop trying to stay fit, the neck is a good reminder to get after it. Push-ups, pull-ups, jumping rope, and some mild dumbell action gives a good workout.

-Bones

I have worked with dumbells for decades. I was in retail management.

Bowguy I completely agree with it being a mentallity. We did get rid of the tube when my son was about 2. The BS on the screen was not decent for a child, nor was it for anyone else, and I don't believe it has gotten any better. The seasons change and so does what we can get into. George. Ha ha ha.. ha ha ha. :D Retail Management I'm certain has it's "dumbells"

-Bones

be 60 next birthday. Up until this last year I ran 3 miles a day( more walk now as knees are giving me a bit of grief when I run)

Do about an hour of resistance training almost everyday although that doesnt apply to hunting seasons

Besides that....I try to always keep active by canoeing , hiking, etc.

And walking....I walk over drive any time I can.

In short....I just try my best to keep moving as much as I can thru the day

A recommended read, Younger Next Year. A easy read that could be just the motivation we need.

I'm trying to get my arms bigger for my new tattoo with my wife's name on em. Her name is Meredith. Right now I only have room for Mer

Bigger arms...only have room for Mer...now that was funny!!

Jack, that’s a good one!

Jack, maybe you should do it down the arm not around. :-D Mornings I don't have to be anywhere to early I do get to shoot more and tend to have a better chance to do some workout before the day gets started. Where I live in Texas we do not have very much "real winter", but I still find it more difficult to stay after a regiment when it's colder. 34 here just sets into my joints..

-Bones

I work out at the gym 4-5 days a week. My routine is Tuesday and Friday I go to spin class (hour ). Monday’s I lift. Wednesday I work on my core, crunch’s and planks. Thursday Yoga an hour of Sun Salutation poses. Usually during the week I take my 2 Britts on a walk prior to leaving for the gym. About 1 mile for me and 10 for them. They get an hour out walking every evening as well. I work construction although it’s mostly supervisory but I do put my bags on 3-4 X a week. I feel great. I stay fit for the same reason I wear a harness, not for me but for those who depend on me. I also agree with Mudcat, that book is a great read. It will lay out a good fitness curriculum for you. We also burn wood for heat both in the house and barn. You know they say, “ Wood warms you twice, once when you get it in and once when you burn it”. We canoe, kayak, mountain bike and cross country ski on the weekends. I’m over 60 and although not in the best shape of my life, I feel great. Good Luck to all of you. Remember a body in motion wants to stay in motion and a body at rest drinks too much beer.

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