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Started elk hunting when I was 25 and I was in good shape - Decent shape by bowsite standards. I could jog three miles with my badlands pack - in 27 min. in the MS july heat.

I am now in the worst shape I've ever been in. 31 years old 5'8 175 lbs. all Gut. I don't drink alcohol, but I have a vice for red meat and good food. I'm in the meat business and I specialize high grade Kobe beef sales so im always entertaining with good food. I cook 4-5 times a week - and eat like a freaking garbage can.

I need a change - I need a life style change - I need a 3 day work out that I can start on. something I can do. I don't have access to a gym other than a local $50/ month basic gym - which is not my style. What work outs can you guys recommend that I start on?

I can pretty much handle the diet part.

Please share what motivates you and what has worked to keep you active.

Went from nothing to a half marathon in less than 6 months last year.

Motivation has to come from within though. My main inspiration is being around longer for my 6 year old (I'll be 41 this year). My secondary inspiration relates to hating feeling tired/low energy split with a desire to run with the elk.

I'm not that strong but have signed up with Midwest for a tough mudder here in a month or so and full marathon the 1st weekend in June.

It can be done if you REALLY want it.

Bill

I also like the free my fitness pal app. It helps a lot with the diet.

Buy the nicest bike you can afford and keep working on longer rides and steeper hills. Before you know it you will be in the best shape of you're life. Riding 40 to 60 miles at a time now with some steep climbs here and there and I can pretty much do whatever I want out in the hills.

Then send me a PM and we'll set up a time to talk on the phone.

Kyle

As for how to get in shape - I recommend doing ALL of the things the guys above listed. I think doing a variety of things is way more interesting than just running or just biking. I, personally, like Tabata, HIIT or Crossfit style workouts - there are plenty of examples of all of these on youtube. These kind of workouts can often be done with minimal or no equipment and in short time frames (20 minutes of a good high-intensity workout is a GREAT workout).

I also like to mix in mountain biking, trail running and the absolute BEST torture - RUNNING HILLS.

Good luck.

This is a basic full-body workout that won't take too much time. You'll need cardio too, but this will get your metabolism jump-started and build strength.

will go for a jog tonight.

Eating habits are about to change.

Last year I did pretty good in Idaho - but the outside of my knee's were killing me.

I'm drawn for NM Unit 9 this year and I'm not having any excuses.

My hatred of getting out of shape and then having to get back into shape is what keeps me doing it day in and day out. If I miss a week I damn near start having panic attacks.

What motivates me is my deep burning obsession with bowhunting elk. At 61yrs old, I know that in order to keep doing what I love, for as long as I possibly can, I need to keep in shape. It's all about mindset. YOU have to want it! Whether it's stamina, strength, or both, set your goals and don't let anything stand in your way. You say you need a lifestyle change? You're the only one that can change your lifestyle. Excuses are easy, determination is harder. As Josie Wales famously said, "you gotta get mean, mad dog mean".

My son has 3 young boys, so his time is rather limited. He did a program called Insanity, and now does Insanity 2. His workouts are killers, but it's done at home and doesn't take lots of time. He's 5'7", 185lbs, 8% body fat, and strong as an ox. It works. The hardest step is the first one.

Steven Ward

Also - google Nutri-Bullet - stuff it full of a variety of fruits in the morning and drink your breakfast.

And it's not about starving yourself, it's about eating several small meals per day consisting of high quality protein and carbs along with lots of veggies.

Like said....it's a lifestyle.

I know it aint fun - but few things burn calories faster or gets you in shape.

Start slow, work up, set goals etc. After my ACL surgery a few years back I was reduced to "running" 100 yards and that took months. YOU CAN DO IT - get dedicated to it

It took you years to get this way, don't expect it to change overnight. Learn to eat clean and control portions. Learn to look forward to your workouts.

My driving inspiration and motivation is that I want to be bowhunting elk in the high country when I'm 80. That would leave me with 37 more elk seasons to go.

Ease into it slow and let your body adjust. Nothing derails good intentions faster than an injury one week into your program. Build in rest days, and don't go all super intensive right off the bat. Build in some strength training of some sort, even if it's just body weight exercises like squats, pushups, pullups, walking lunges, etc.

Daily workouts and great, healthy recipes.

I haven't worked out since Sunday but I was on a string of 5 in a row before that....I'm gonna regret that little break a later this morning as I'm kind of coasting along right just under my peak fitness levels.

I can still get in 3 days this week if I don't slack off...which I won't. I have a watch from Garmin that keeps track of everything...it's pretty cool for what I do. I know to the second how long it takes me to do everything....today, yesterday.....5 years ago.

I will also say that it took me years to get to where I am now.....I can blow away anything I could do 10 years ago and at that time I had been working out religiously for 5 years.

I would also add that no matter how good a shape you are in....if you don't live in and hike the mountains with a pack on during the year your gonna feel it in the mountains during elk season.

Frankly, at 31 it will not be as hard as it seems.

You could easily walk yourself into elk shape between now and September.

Throw in a little running and you would be that much better off.

Throw some weight or crossfit type workout and you would be on the road to righteousness.

Without proper nutrition you will not achieve your desired results.

I do not know your history but if you were not athletic or never really do anything to develop your cardiovascular system then you will need to concentrate on developing a training base.

I see lots of people promoting PX90 but I am not really a fan of it for someone who does not have a firm foundation. Likewise, this could be said about crossfit.

I think you really need lifestyle overhaul and start doing activities that support your other activities. Running alone is overrated if not combined with some form of strength training.

Include some backpacking interspersed with some hills will help with the daily hump up the mountains.

Eat your meat, to many carbs or to many of the wrong carbs is the road ruin. Eating should be thought of as fuel for your activities. I find that the more mentally resilient you are reduces the reliance on food and other vices in dealing with day to day stress.

I know some will disagree but I like to look beneath the layers to determine why working out is not important, why would I sabotage my health overeating, and why am I not motivated to take care of myself?

There is to much information out there for us to continue on a course that will degrade our performance over time.

Look at the long term instead of fighting the yearly struggle of reinventing yourself annually.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Don't try and whip yourself into shape in a day.

Soapbox- We have become an instant gratification society. If you want to change yourself, adjust your mindset for long term. Like JLS stated, it isn't just about this fall. It is about the rest of your life. I generally am not a fan of anything that will "change my life in XX days". Fitness or diet plans which follow this are rarely successful long term.

Not knowing your background. Start simple. Do SOMETHING for 20 minutes 3 times a week. What ever exercise that elevates your HR, holds it, and makes your sweat. Establish the habit first, then work from there.

Look at your diet. Look at food as fuel, not just something to make your taste buds happy. (Although the right choices can do both!). A good start is to cut out stuff that is white, and foods that come from a bag or a box.

I like Rocky D's comment (Probably because it strikes close to home). This is about a long term reinvention of yourself, not a patch. olebuck Rev 2.0!

Follow my embedded link. Look at we were before video games and crappy processed foods. Not a fattie in the bunch.

FWIW,I like doing the Beachbody videos. I'm currently doing a self made combo of P90x3 and Insanity 3-4 days per week. It has done a good job of adding strength while not going bulk so far. As elk season nears, I'll likely switch to more Insanity to up the cardio some.

Longest video I do is 45 minutes and I get them in before work. I've done one video already while here at P&Y and will get another one in tomorrow morning.

As Nike says, Just do it!

I did 100 yard wind sprints (swimming) today at lunch for a full 30 minutes with 7-10 seconds rest in between 100's.....I thought I was going puke for sure.....and man that was good, I feel great now.

That is a really good workout...unless you ended up with 2.

I am going to be backpacking out deer for my 80 year old pop come Oct. Now that I am at 50, I have to keep fit most of the year.

First, you need to build a base!

See the link. Then PM me after you've seen the seminar.

A few easy tips. Don't drink your calories. Pop is terrible for you. (I love Mountain Dew, have 1 a day) Beer or any alcohol is bad as well. Sucks..... but true.Drink water....

Eat more veggies. Its amazing how many green beens you can eat and have very few calories! Heck a big can is like 80 calories....

Lift weights. TRUST ME you are NOT going to gain so much muscle you are going to actually gain weight. Simply cutting to many calories from a diet is hell on your body. And you will actually lose muscle before fat. We just did an 8 week program at work to see who could lose the highest percentage of body weight. Its laughable to see the guys that went from 220 to 180 in 8 weeks. NO shoulders, No arms, But guess what he still had, Belly fat.

Run. And run outside. Treadmills a) suck and b) are easy to quit. if you run a mile outside...you have to get home. That means another mile. If you run a mile on the treadmill....you can quit.

Don't quit. Simply put. YOU WILL hurt the 2nd day. Get off your ass and get moving. You will feel better. Guess what. Day 3 won't be any easier. Get off your ass.

Set a goal. I was 186 when I started our weight loss challenge at work.(lightest most in shape guy on the challenge) I set a goal of 170. I went to the gym 6 days a week. ate right and worked hard. By 7 weeks and 6 days I was at 169.

Buy a scale. A scale will show your results. So do tight jeans the fits loose after all the work. Veins in your arms pooping out after your work out and your woman not getting enough of you.

As far as motivation. Thats all you. Nothing can motivate you but you. You simply have to want it more than you want a candy bar. Or an icecream cone.

Figure out how many calories you take in on a normal basis and cut out 500 a day. Don't go crazy. You have to eat. I've seen guys that ate 3000 or better drop to 1200. In 3 days they are so tired they can't work. Or become sick. Its not a race.

Last bit of advice....CHEAT. I lost 60 pounds when I was 21 on the beer and pizza diet. Worked my ass off all week. Saturday and sunday I ate all the pizza and drank all the beer I wanted. Took 6 months but I lost 60 pounds. 17 years later I'm now the same weight.

This last 17 I lost I ate a candy bar here and there. I drank a pop a day. But I also would lift for an hour 5/6 days a week and run atleast 6 of those days.

There are no easy ways. Just like anything else in life, hard work will pay off.

I'm not a fan of the P90x program any more because I work so hard to put that muscle weight on and loose it a month into hunting season.

I will say that the past few years I've mentally matured to the point where I feel guilty if I don't do something. I'll be vegetating on the couch watching Talladega Nights and two minutes later something subconsciously clicks and I'm running to the top of the neighborhood. The hill is my "Katy Couric". I don't even remember putting on my running shoes. It just happens.

Has anybody else lost the desire to drink beer after becoming relatively fit? I did. It's weird especially since I was born and raised in Wisconsin.

Two things in my life I am truly grateful for are mountaineering, followed by elk hunting. They have been my motivation for a lifetime of good fitness habits.

No.

I have the same "problem". Though I don't know if its mental maturity. But at some point you are correct. Your body will crave the high from exercise.

Eat less.

- Not me but moderation (functional abstinence) is aided in knowing sumo wrestlers consume beer with their meals. Tip of the day: If it shows up on a sumo wrestler's training table, it should be off yours.

"If it shows up on a sumo wrestler's training table, it should be off yours."

Unless you want to have a 50" waistline and serious man boobs! ;^)

Probably one of the best things you can do to help your diet is simply cut out the refined sugars you eat. We try to keep our daily sugar intake to about 25 g per day. This isn't much. There are lots of hidden sugars.

We try to eat as many whole/unprocessed foods as we can. Fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, dried fruits w/o sugar, greek yogurt, oats, lean meats, whole grain breads, brown rice, quinoa, etc.

That is easy. I am 75 and if I still want to solo or even just elk hunt, I better work out, be active, watch one's diet, and legs and lungs, on a daily basis.

It is a lot easier if you are in 80% shape year around, and then you only have to step up 20% three month prior to elk season.

I figure, I have 5 -6 more years of "quality" elk hunting and I am going to make the best of those years as I can. Motivated? You bet.

And then all of the other advise you have received prior to this.

But all of the advise will go down the drain, if you are not motivated to make the change be it elk hunting or just LIFE.

My best, Paul

Make fitness a lifestyle choice! I did that when I was 29. That was 37 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

As far as workouts go, bodybuilding.com has many different workouts for all levels of training and a lot of them can be done in your own home, you just need to find one that fits your liking and overall fitness goal. Good luck!

I'm living proof of that. I DO! eat like a horse.

If you have access to the mts, get in them and walk,as often as you can lots of uphill, downhill.

i can't get into the jogging down the road routine, too boring.

Also you do not need a gym. Pushups and situps, been doing them before bed since i was 16, i'm now 50

last night i did 75 pushups, brushed my teeth then did 25 more, then walked into the bedroom and did another 25 then 50 situps.

hiking in the mts is enjoyable and exercising every night before bed only takes a couple minutes.

I'll take my steak medium rare. thank you.

I don't eat much fish bait....

I know, this is nothing new to you. You know this is fact. You are just what so many of us are...a pig. You cannot quit eating at a normal portion.

You do not need a trainer. You need a keeper. If you can't admit this and get treatment, there is no hope. Not one word anyone has posted is going to help you unless you can quit eating. Cut back 1,500 calories a day for 30 days.....but wait, you can't do that, can you? There is not one single piece of advice on this thread that will help you because you won't follow it.

Consult a nutritonist. Make sure what you do is healthy. Any diet plan will work. But you cannot stick with it, can you? No, like so many of us, you are a pig. Until you can admit that and work to cure it, go on. Pig out. There is always tomorrow.

Or is there?

Another benefit for FitBit is can set milestones for steps taken each day, etc.

You can track water and calorie intake though I do not.

You can sync your FitBit to the PC and see your history of steps, sleep, blood pressure, etc. If you are a data geek, your will be pleased.

I bought the FitBit to monitor my sleep patterns which it does. I find myself being more active and eating less due to the FitBit.

One downside is you have to charge the FitBit after about 3 days. Could do this overnight though I want to track my sleep patterns so I tend to charge the FitBit each morning as get ready for work and have only run into "batter low" message a couple of times in the past several months.

If you empty your freezer, you'll have a reason to justify your 2015 hunt!

Best of Luck, Jeff

Twice I've encouraged him to view the Sheep Share seminar Pat put up as a Feature last summer. Pat recorded Dr. Sorg's and my presentation and as we finished, said, "Guys, that was incredible."

I also offered to personally coach him once he'd watched the seminar. I don't charge for personal coaching here, as many of you know. So he's got nothing to lose.

Yet I've not heard from him.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

I cut my portions - lost 4 lbs this week.

ran 3.5 miles once this week. took 31 min. was to busy to get anymore exercise in other than working on a roof.

Bowriter - your almost right, I'm not a pig - I'm a Freaking slaughter hog, I'm talking about I can do some damage at the table. and I can eat as many oreo's as you put in front of me. But I am doing better - my worst enemy is down time - I have to stay busy. got a quite a few projects lined up to keep my busy.

starting at my Gym 3 days a week when I return from Vegas

I leave for Vegas in an hour and have 4 really nice dinner meetings - and two cocktail parties. plan to eat right - and exercise while i'm there. I'm on the road.

thanks for the help guys.