Author Topic: Survival fitness... (Read 1720 times)

Victor3 · « **on:** March 01, 2009, 01:54:37 AM »

I was talking to a guy at work the other day about various scenarios where survival might be in jeopardy in our urban environment, and what he (a 'serious' survivalist) might do.

This gentleman has a huge diesel 4x4 pickup truck he drives to work every day, packed with all kinds of useful goodies. On top of that, he carries (to his work station) a 40# backpack filled with enough knives and firestarting stuff to ignite our concrete building and hack his way out of it if need be, as well as snares to catch small animals if he has time I guess.

I had to laugh about his "survival stuff"; I couldn't take it no more. The guy is 6' and weighs at least 375#. He's 50 years old, diabetic, with a heart condition and high blood pressure. He can barely make it to the roach coach at lunchtime.

I says - "Do you have a defibrillator in your backpack? Is butter useful to start fires?

He didn't have much of a sense of humor about it. I pointed to his gut and said - " Buddy, that's the biggest threat to your survival right there."

A-ALLOY · « **Reply #1 on:** March 01, 2009, 07:00:13 AM »

Take it easy on the fudds. At least you know where a big truck full of goodies is located

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2009, 07:29:30 AM »

Funny you should post this, I am out of shape and about 45lbs over wieght, I have been working on that, When I had my accident 6 months ago I was closer to 80lbs over wieght, At 48 I have no delusions of ever being a lean mean fighting machine ever again. I am gonna drop some more wieght, I am walking more(and out in the woods not just on a track or in the mall) and learning how to do things to live in the brush. By no means am I the supreme survivalist but I think I'll be alright.

My accident was a 25 ft + fall out of a tree 1 mile or more from my house. I broke my back and pelvis, severlly brusing my right leg and causeing internal bleeding. I picked myself up and walked out of there to help. Remember I was 80+ over tonnage and poor shape.
I guess my point is your health matters and is important, but I believe your state of mind is more important. If I'd not had a strong will and a positve state of mind, I could have died up there before anyone reallized I was missing.

Be healthy fellers but have a clear head and learn to adapt, You'll be fine.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2009, 01:16:40 PM »

Badnews Bob, glad you're on the mend. This last hunting season brought home the fact I'm about worthless trying to do much physical labor anymore. A couple of deer had to be drug 3/4 of a mile or more. I was about ready to go back and get the fry pan and a fork and just eat em there. First thing I gotta do is quit these damn cigs and start doing what you are doing. DP

teamnelson · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2009, 02:33:02 PM »

We teach that survival fitness is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Will to live, reason to live will push you past your physical limits, but only so far:)

I like isometrics - no equipment - and a jump rope. Works great at a firebase in Iraq, requires no space and you can take it anywhere.

Weight lifters don't do as well in survival mode. Metabolisms need supplements, they're less flexible, less fat which is important, and may not have the cardio capacity. Looking huge is counterproductive.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:02:06 PM »

a few months befor hunting season
i start carrying a 10lb dumb bell on my run
to simulate carrying my rifle

guess i should do that year round.......and you too

my diabetic tester runs on the same batteries as my illuminated scopes....got plenty

Victor3 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2009, 09:51:50 PM »

My point with this guy is to hopefully help him see the futility of his knowledge and gear, considering his soon-coming demise due to health conditions (which by his own admission and his doctors' council would be under control if he dropped some pounds).

I care about the man; we've worked together for years. I joke with him, but also tell him he needs to get serious about his weight if he wants to be around much longer.

I also remind him that I know exactly where his truck's hide-a-key is and that I run a lot faster than he can...

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2009, 04:13:43 AM »

Its good you show concern for your friends, The life he saves may be yours. I have a couple of friends who are hounding me about my wieght, I know they are right and it dosn't bother me none. I hope you buddy relieses the same and listens.

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2009, 05:03:47 AM »

This is a great thread. My experience has been that way more people are into the talking aspect of hunting, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, or survival than they are the actual act of living up to it.

Taking care of yourself is the best way to prolong your survival, no matter what.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2009, 10:57:39 AM »

Just add some more weight to his pack when he is not looking. The more weight he carries the more calories he will burn in lugging it around. Also move his parking spot as far away from the building as possible.

A few years ago I went from 180 to 240 pounds. I started in at the gym and was out walking the mutt every morning and night.
At one point I hit a stop point. then I realized when I would walk at first I was carring around and extra 25 pounds so I filled up a back pack with old phone books and water bottles and would add the pack to my morning walks.
Later when getting ready for an elk hunt. I took a ruber maid tub and dumped in it everything i would wear on the hunt, from under wear to outer wear as well as all the other crap you carry like a knife, binocs, ammo and the like.
I added that much weight to a day pack and bought a step areobics stick, 9 pounds and would take my walk every morning getting ready for the hunt and would add 2 pounds a week to the pack. On my first pig hunt i was a little out of shape and after running up a hill with my rifle I was willing to sell the M70 super grade at the top. So I found the step sticks at a local sporting goods shop and was able to simulate a rifle without having the neigbors or the police freak out. I would also take the pellet rifle and shoot two rounds a day when I got home with the pack still on.
And before you all say it. By looking at the picture I need to get back to training for a hunt.

pab1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2009, 05:43:15 AM »

Quote from: Victor3 on March 01, 2009, 09:51:50 PM

My point with this guy is to hopefully help him see the futility of his knowledge and gear, considering his soon-coming demise due to health conditions (which by his own admission and his doctors' council would be under control if he dropped some pounds).

I would try to get him to go with you on some weekend survival excercises. You can both work on your survival skills and have a goal of hiking from "point A" to "point B". That might open his eyes about his lack of conditioning and encourage him to start taking care of himself. As his conditioning improves, increase the level of difficulty. Some people lack the will power to get started on their own but do great with a little motivation.

gypsyman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2009, 06:16:34 PM »

At 53, 5'11''and 235, I need to lose 40lbs or so. And, I think I have found a way. About 2 miles from where we live, is a state park, right on Lake Erie. Real nice place. Just the other night, played racketball with my 7 year old. Now I know we didn't play by the rules, but still worked up a sweat, changed into our trunks, jumped into the pool. Then the wife and I hit the hot tub. As soon as the weather breaks, I figure to ride bicycles over there. Only problem I had was staying on the road when 25 or so deer wandered across the road, out of the park into a cut soybean field. gypsyman

45-70.gov · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:17:29 AM »

does haveing a vice make you unfit to survive??

in a survival situation what happens to a smoker?
i amn told me he CAN'T quit ...he can not go the bath room with out a cigarette
how long will he life once the cigarettes are gone?

how long will i last with out insulin?
but i have no choise now in that matter

why do people concern them selves with survival
then perpetuate life with an addiction that is killing them?

teamnelson · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2009, 10:25:56 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on April 09, 2009, 06:17:29 AM

how long will i last with out insulin?
but i have no choise now in that matter

The insulin issue was mentioned in two books, Alas Babylon and Lucifer's Hammer. In the first, the diabetics died off not from lack of medicine but because the older medication required refrigeration. In the second, the diabetic character had also studied how to make insulin the old fashioned way, which both served to save his life, and make him valuable to a community.

Your point is valid ... to truly be ready for a catastrophe is to require less to live; less food, water, sleep, medicine, and comfort.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2009, 11:10:23 AM »

yes the refrigeration is an issue specially in florida

i am not sure of its shelf life at room temp

so far i have been out 4 days with out refrigeration on the road and managed my suger ok

i have a few months only of the pills not needing refrigeration or syringes

what about all protein diet [atkins]...thought about trying that before i really had to rely on it

these major/cronic illness do haunt you and take away your sinse of independence

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:07:30 PM »

It will depend on if the diabetic is type 1 or type 2 , as some type 2 diabetics need less medication as they loose weight the longer they are on a low ration of food and loosing weight it may be a non issue . For other type 2 diabetics the change or lack of the food they can eat might be enough to add enough stress to cause shock . Type 1 need the medicine with out a doubt they will need speical care . There has been some useful food supliments by companies such as Shackley that help some people but each person is different .
The loss of sleep , stress from physical activity can also incress blood sugat levels .
It will not be a fun time for many and being diabetic only make the challenge more difficult .
I know , i am one and just going out to eat with friends can be a pain much less trying to get by with out medical support .

45-70.gov · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:16:33 PM »

i take insulin so would that be 1 or 2 i forgot

it is a strange disease so many thing affect it

been insulin shooting about 7 years now
i can think about what i have eaten and activity and how i feel
and be within about 50 points of what the test will say
most of the time

i get 60 to 120 every morning
rarely go over 200

teamnelson · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:33:24 PM »

Here's a link to a site that compiled some notes on how to deal with diabetes in a EOTWAWKI situation, and make insulin if you needed to:

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=33479

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:33:03 AM »

45-70 govt , in most cases you would be 1 . but there seems to be more shots given for 2 now . seems easier to do . I believe that as i test 3 times a day and sometimes my fingers that give blood start to hurt . I took allgy. shots from age 16 to 52 there were about 10 years from time to time i didn't but the shot is much easier than testing and regulating food .
A little story , at the pistol range there is a guy i see and shoot both bullets and the breeze with he to is dibetic . The other day he was telling me that one of the other shooters was a doctor , he was laughing at the dr. seems he had become a dibetic and was having a hard time keeping his sugar down even with shots . Told my buddy he had for years figured his patients were just not trying until he got it .
Some days it seems nothing i do helps , i even got a second meter to see if the first one worked .

Yankee1 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2009, 10:05:12 AM »

For me I find its all about regulating carbohydrate intake. Not always easy because without adequate carbs you still feel hungry. If carbs are controlled very carefully a type 2 diabetic can control blood sugar pretty well. If excercize is added it can be controlled better yet. So what I am saying is that in an emergency situation type 2 diabetics can regulate blood sugar by substituting carb reduction and excercize. Of course you have to know what foods contain the carbs.
Yankee1

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** April 10, 2009, 10:11:02 AM »

That's what i do now , the better diet has help reduce weight also which has helped , but for no apperant reason every so often it goes to he-- in a hand basket . To be honest a little sugar intake has no effect . Eat half a baked patato and i can hit 260 in a flash .

pastorp · « **Reply #21 on:** April 18, 2009, 07:10:01 AM »

Truth is, even with good survival skills and mind-set, many of us older guys will die without our meds. But then everyone dies eventually

I guess I have accepted that fact.
As a pastor I do way more funerals than I want to. The caskets come in a variety of lengths. I'm not making light of this. It's a fact I've observed. We do the best we can to live but some things are beyond our control.
We do need to prepare the best we can. Byron

bluntweapon · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2009, 04:56:16 PM »

I am 43 5'5" tall and weigh 236 lbs down from 300. I would like to hit 200 again its a good weight for me. but remember if all else fails fat people make good camp guards because we have to fight. There's just no way were going to out run anyone

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2009, 06:44:53 AM »

you die tired if you run