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.

 

[Rippy]

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.

SG, I had the same thing happen back in 2021 when riding my motorcycle. 8 broken ribs, collar bone, punctured lung and massive bruises. My left side had to be put back together with titanium pieces. Driver ran a stop sign and had no insurance. Couldn't use my left arm for 8 weeks while the collar bone was healing, so I lost a lot of strength and range of motion. I went back to work for about a year but retired early due to physical pain. After about 6 months I decided to head to the local YMCA and try to recover some strength and range of motion in my left side. Being 65 at the time I wasn't expecting much in the way of gaining strength. Boy was I wrong. After a few trips I noticed strength gain so I watched some YouTube vids to learn more. I realized I wasn't getting near enough protein so I started adding whey protein and collagen peptides to my diet. Two years later at age 67 I set a new bench press personal best that was 50 lbs more than my previous best of 25 years earlier.

I debated posting this because it might seem like I'm bragging. I have been watching BF overcome his physical challenges for awhile and can relate. I still have chronic back pain, although exercise has helped in that area too. My point for those of us that are getting older is, don't succumb to that little voice that says I'm too old now. Don't accept limitations faster than you absolutely have too. I believe that if you are still alive, with diet and exercise you can make gains. You won't know unless you try. Dave

 

[Black_Fly]

I’m working harder than you guys when paddling. SW Ohio has the most polluted watersheds in the continent, so more resistance to the hull, of course, harder to paddle.

 

[memaquay]

Many Doc's are coming to realize that resistance trains for older folks (most of us) is actually more important than Cardio. I hit the weights three times a week. Unlike Rippy, I can't bench what I could when I was 40, but I'm doing ok. Don't forget "leg day" lol, probably the most important.