Physical Canoeing Resolutions

[Black_Fly]

I find fitness resolutions are best made this time of year, before the decadent and sedentary moons arrive. Keeping in shape is much easier than getting in shape. I’m no where near my peak condition, but im better than I was.

Next paddling season is going to be a big one, but only if I work to stay strong, build endurance. Cardio is the hardest thing to do with regularly. Just going up and down the stairs at the cabin was a workout, I know because I always got worn out and sore the first few days there. Snowshoeing was possible in NW WI and a great stamina builder. Hopefully, the snow gods will be kind and I can get somewhere north.

Well good luck to others long in the tooth who visit this site. Stay active, take your meds, disconnect from the noise, wear out the map folds this winter.

We’re heading out for a paddle today. Mid-30s this morning and low 70s later. Perfect!

 

[Steve in Idaho]

That's my plan. I try to keep active through winter - with skis if possible, and with the drysuit until ice. Biggest issue is avoiding injury related interruptions.

 

[stripperguy]

I don't believe in any of those yearly resolutions, however, I do stay fit and active, with some exceptions, all year, every year.
I have always said most people spend the first half of their lives ignoring their health, and the second half reminded of it.
As BF says upthread, it's much easier to maintain fitness than gain it.
For cardio fitness, I ride a rode bike an average of 80 miles per week, generally from March through October, somewhere around 2,400 miles per season.
Cycling is low stress on most soft tissue joints, but you don't carry your body weight like running or jogging, so some weight bearing stuff is needed.
I also work with free weights year round, to maintain muscle mass.
Stretching too is important, strength, stamina, flexibility, you really need all three.

I'm a few months shy of 70 now, and still bicycle ride and mountain bike, sail a dinghy, (extremely dynamic) hike, paddle (of course), XC ski, alpine ski and back country ski. For those not familiar, back country skiing involves skiing UP a mountain, then skiing down. I prefer no trails and no previous tracks. When the back country isn't safe, I'll ski lift served, but again, I prefer powder, bumps and trees.
I still ride a motorcycle regularly.
I also perform plenty of maintenance on my rental properties, repair all of my own vehicles and rebuild insurance wrecked cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and trailers.

All of the above require a fair amount of strength and flexibility, so I'll loosely define some of that as exercise.
For nearly all of my adult life, I have been a welterweight, with a brief excursion 20 lbs heavier when I had added considerable muscle mass. While I can still make the welterweight limit, I certainly don't look like the same 147 lbs of my youth.
I have never smoked...it's really an exremely slow form of suicide.
I do not consume alcohol due to my family history.

All of that lifestyle has really paid benefits, health wise. I take no drugs whatsoever, prescription or otherwise, blood pressure is well controlled, and cholesterol nearly ideal.
With all that said, I've been relatively inactive since early July, when I was hit by an inattentive pick up truck driver while I was on my usual 22 mile bicycle ride.
That accident broke my #1 and #2 ribs, broke my C7 vertabrae and separated my left shoulder, and left me with massive soft tissue damage and head to toe contusions.
The driver was ticketed for failing to stop at a stop sign.

Recovery has been fairly rapid, due in part to my level of fitness, so say the various specialists and surgeons.
I have continued my stretching regimen, and some weight training, but bike riding is still too disruptive, and upper body strength conditioning will have to wait a while.
I've been building my son's new house, but leave the heavy stuff to him and my S-I-L.
I do plan to ski this winter, and continue to hike through the fall and into stick season.

Bottom line: Eat right, get active and stay active.