Thread: Running Out of Time

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@grandpamac Good stuff!!! I've been trying to lose weight; have 15kg (20kg in an ideal world) to lose. Jumped on the scales at the GPs on Monday and have lost 5kg since April. A combination of chainsawing trees and fencing, cutting sugar, most carbs and snacks (sorta Keto). I deliberately haven't been getting on the scales because I know that if I go up 500gr I'll say "eff it" and have a binge week. Even though it was probably just more fluid on board

Went hunting a couple of weeks back and the steep Parapara hills seemed less steep and not as high. Clothes were baggier but I daren't hope in case it was me wishing for it. It wasn't until I saw a pic of me with a deer on my back in Feb and the same from the last hunt that I got a shock at the weight loss. The GP visit was validation.....

Still 116kg (I'm 58) but my ext aim is to go below 110. 95 is the ultimate goal, but time will tell. I was once (about 15years ago) 135.6kg.... I'm a comfort eater; was in a shit relationship. When I finally left I lost 20-kg over about 2 years! Last year I put weight on after breaking my ankle. But onwards and upwards now! Or should I say "downwards)?

I seem to be sharing a lot of your experiences. Originally 1.86 metres (shrunk about 30 mm) with weight that has bobbed around. Maxed at 138 kg about twenty years ago and back down to 111 kg currently. Goal is between 95 and 100 kg. The former would give me an old mans allowable BMI of 27. I think you get those extra two points of f BMI for being old. We had scotch fillet and veg for tea tonight. I was on cooking and after gaining permission cut one fillet in half rather than having a whole one each. It was quite big. First time that has ever happened. Having a small block certainly keeps you active. We have had ours for almost 30 years and I think I would be a lot worse of health wise without it. Retiring 5 years ago has helped as well.
Regards Grandpamac.

Greetings @bumblefoot,
I see from some old gym records that Jan 2008, aged 58, I was 122.8kg so you are ahead of me. Well done.
Regards Grandpamac.

@grandpamac I've found that it's a lot easier eating pie compared to working them off!

Greetings All,
Was just eyeing up Tuesday for a first bush walk for the season and Covid Shut Down 4. It still looks possible that Hawkes Bay could be in Level 3 by then so some un armed walking in the bush may be OK. Here's hoping.
Grandpamac.

A very cool thread. I'm 55 and certainly agree that the hills are steeper, the ground harder and the nights colder than they used to be. have similar challenges to what everyone is talking about, keeping the weight down and fitness up. My goal is to be able to have a decent walk/hunt until I'm at least 65, nd get in at least 2 trips per year in that time. Avoiding injuries is a biggie, had a shoulder reconstruction last year, plus a few other old niggles, I'm coming to the realisation that I need to choose between a bit of oldies rugby, cricket, squash, hockey etc - OR being able to hunt and fish. It's actually an easy choice.

The internet gets a bad rap at times for the antics of keyboard arseholes, but on the other hand, on threads like this - everyone is as good-natured as you no doubt all are in real life. On ya.

Originally Posted by Northkiwi

A very cool thread. I'm 55 and certainly agree that the hills are steeper, the ground harder and the nights colder than they used to be. have similar challenges to what everyone is talking about, keeping the weight down and fitness up. My goal is to be able to have a decent walk/hunt until I'm at least 65, nd get in at least 2 trips per year in that time. Avoiding injuries is a biggie, had a shoulder reconstruction last year, plus a few other old niggles, I'm coming to the realisation that I need to choose between a bit of oldies rugby, cricket, squash, hockey etc - OR being able to hunt and fish. It's actually an easy choice.

The internet gets a bad rap at times for the antics of keyboard arseholes, but on the other hand, on threads like this - everyone is as good-natured as you no doubt all are in real life. On ya.

Greetings @Northkiwi,
Thanks for your kind words. May I humbly suggest that you set your sights a bit higher than 65. A cobber and I had flown in to Venison Top Hut when I was about your age. We were going to walk out via Ballard and Makino Huts. We were sitting around drinking cups of tea and feeling pretty pleased with ourselves when an old chap arrived. He had been dropped into Back Ridge Bivvy or Hut the previous day and had walked down to Rocks Ahead Hut and up to VT. This is a bloody long way. After a cup of tea and a chat he was off heading for Mangaturutu Hut and was due out at Clements Road in a couple of days. He was 75. We were gob smacked. I often think of him when the body is having an off day as I now approach his age.
Regards Grandpamac.

The old fella who hunted with the Duleys in the Ruahines on tv was really inspirational for me (at 58). I also look at it from a different angle.... I realise that there will come a time when I can't climb the steep hills to knock off a deer. Even though I cop a little bit from some "hunters" that my concentrating on goats somehow makes me less manly, "kid's stuff etc" etc comments.

But.... I get tremendous satisfaction in shooting a goat and putting bloody nice kai on the table. Sure I love deer hunting, but when the day comes that I can't hack the big hills I know that I still enjoy hunting goats for food. So instead of spending all the time after I can't get up the hills being morose and thinking of the "good old days of youth", I still may be able to get out and knock off a goat.

I'll also still be growing my own food, so have something to concentrate on instead of being the miserable old man.... A bit like when some farmers leave the farm and really go into a decline. I think you have to find related things that you can throw yourself into before the time comes to leave farm, or inability to hack the hills, comes about. Be prepared....

Yep, pays to keep the targets at a realistic distance. My old man worked 364 days a year then died at 60. Maybe I'm guilty of going the other way a little.... Had about 20 years until 2010 where with travel, work, kids etc, I never really did any hunting in NZ. Then we got back into it via Te Urewera, 3 mates who had all been in similar boats. Rekindled the fire.... We had to re-learn what stinging nettle felt like. Followed very quickly by re-learning what it looked like....

Just do what you can do, Grandpa. and enjoy it. you set the goals. any time in the hills good. older you get, the more you appreciate it, I reckon. Couldnt sit still when I was younger. Now sitting on the tops somewhere, as the sun goes down is th best bits of my trips. That and sitting in front of the fire at the hut drinking coffee after a good day out. deer or no deer.
being much slower now, and not able to do some trip doesnt worry me now. Used to. long as i get there, in the end. sometimes takes 2 days instead of one, now
body weight is the biggest issue (for me). I like to eat too much. except injuries and health stuff of course. which we all get eventually.
I've found Mt Biking up the road, is good for general fitness. climbing hills is better, but can do that everyday, legs wont handle it. it reduces wear and tear on the knees.
now, I actually prefer going up hill, than down. knees dont like it. was once, was the oppocite, once
keep it up. good to see old fellas doing it.

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@grandpamac Good stuff!!! I've been trying to lose weight; have 15kg (20kg in an ideal world) to lose. Jumped on the scales at the GPs on Monday and have lost 5kg since April. A combination of chainsawing trees and fencing, cutting sugar, most carbs and snacks (sorta Keto). I deliberately haven't been getting on the scales because I know that if I go up 500gr I'll say "eff it" and have a binge week. Even though it was probably just more fluid on board

Went hunting a couple of weeks back and the steep Parapara hills seemed less steep and not as high. Clothes were baggier but I daren't hope in case it was me wishing for it. It wasn't until I saw a pic of me with a deer on my back in Feb and the same from the last hunt that I got a shock at the weight loss. The GP visit was validation.....

Still 116kg (I'm 58) but my ext aim is to go below 110. 95 is the ultimate goal, but time will tell. I was once (about 15years ago) 135.6kg.... I'm a comfort eater; was in a shit relationship. When I finally left I lost 20-kg over about 2 years! Last year I put weight on after breaking my ankle. But onwards and upwards now! Or should I say "downwards)?

Great effort Bumblefoot - the zero sugar + low carbs + stop snacking + exercise has worked for me too. Heaviest I ever got to 106 KG around 20 years ago. now at 59 I am hover around 82/84 kg now way fitter and climbing up hills is no longer the trial it once was. Quite happy capable to go up hills these days when out for a run - living in a city and with a desk job my exercise is walking and running mainly but I also have a Bosu ball at home on which I do balance exercises i.e. standing on one foot while doing light weights, squats, touching toes while on one foot etc. I am with Grandpamac as I see no reason why I can't be getting out in the hills when I am well into my 70's. The Bosu is amazing with regard to maintaining balance, knee strength, flexibility - when I frst got on it on two feet I could barely stay there for a few seconds, now one foot for minutes at a time while doing a few curls with weights, muscle memory is a real thing it seems.

I reckon as we age the time spent looking after our bodies by getting weight down combined with exercise is a bit like superannuation savings. No good getting to the point of retiring and not being able to get out into the bush or go diving etc.

Originally Posted by AMac

Great effort Bumblefoot - the zero sugar + low carbs + stop snacking + exercise has worked for me too. Heaviest I ever got to 106 KG around 20 years ago. now at 59 I am hover around 82/84 kg now way fitter and climbing up hills is no longer the trial it once was. Quite happy capable to go up hills these days when out for a run - living in a city and with a desk job my exercise is walking and running mainly but I also have a Bosu ball at home on which I do balance exercises i.e. standing on one foot while doing light weights, squats, touching toes while on one foot etc. I am with Grandpamac as I see no reason why I can't be getting out in the hills when I am well into my 70's. The Bosu is amazing with regard to maintaining balance, knee strength, flexibility - when I frst got on it on two feet I could barely stay there for a few seconds, now one foot for minutes at a time while doing a few curls with weights, muscle memory is a real thing it seems.

I reckon as we age the time spent looking after our bodies by getting weight down combined with exercise is a bit like superannuation savings. No good getting to the point of retiring and not being able to get out into the bush or go diving etc.

Attachment 175765Attachment 175767

Amen to that.
Regards Grandpamac.

@AMac Thanks for the kind words

I've just had a realisation that a patio on a building on my place is a perfect height for step-ups..... No excuses now.......

Greetings All,
Finally got back into the Kaweka's yesterday for a walk up Kuri Hill. Actually took a rifle as well. It has been 4 months since my last walk up there but with the firewood collection and a bit of weight loss I went pretty well. Part way up during one of my grandpa breaks I heard the unmistakable sound of a hoof on a fallen branch right where I have been squealed at in the past. I will try to mix in a bit of hunting with my walks over the next few months. My next goal is an overnight trip to McIntosh Hut in November.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS. Hope to get back to the pool soon as well.

Good stuff!!!