Living
the outdoor lifestyle together with a healthy diet of nutritious foods can help
one achieve good health, live longer, and thus enjoy more quality time outdoors.
You can call it an outdoor persons "circle of life." A
physically fit body together with a sound mind and spirit are linked together
for true happiness. Diet makes up a high percentage of physical fitness. There
are many specialized diets that have been commercialized for human well-being.
You may be sick and tired (how ironic) of hearing about them. The old saying,
"everything in moderation," is good advice to follow. Body
building in my younger years and serious weight training now (when I can find
the time) has taught me several specific facts about different types of foods
and what they do to the human body. The
following tips about foods will help your body be more efficient in the outdoors,
especially under strenuous physical activity. These tips can help you achieve
a fit overall lifestyle throughout the
years, and heck, you my even shed a few unwanted pounds and inches.
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Rule #1: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and
should be the largest. This meal is often skipped by humans and even worse replaced
by caffeine! This is a NO-NO! Solution; eat more “carbs!” Forget about the "low-carb"
diet here. The body needs carbs for energy. Starchy foods like potatoes, rice
and pasta should be ingested and are perfect foods before strenuous physical outings.
Try these without coffee (caffeine). Substitute fruit juice or milk instead.
Out of these pasta would be my favorite pre-hunt
energy food, especially spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce (from my personal
garden of course). You might be saying or thinking, "Yuck," about now
but in fact pasta and high starch foods should only be eaten for breakfast if
you’re concerned about your weight or your figure. Also if you have a “sweet-tooth”,
eat those foods at breakfast. Pies, cakes, cookies, are O.K. now -
you'll burn them off later. |
Wild
pigs like this boar often inhabit steep, brushy terrain, and hunting them is physically
demanding. You'll want to be as physically fit as possible or suffer the consequences.
Follow these dietary tips before your next outing. |
Rule #2: Five to six small meals ingested throughout the day
are used more efficiently by the human body. High protein snacks should be eaten
now along with the high carb snacks (during strenuous physical activity). Pass
the jerky and granola
bar please. Note: If you're not physically active
just pass the jerky. Low-carb foods applied in this case.
I'd
like to say something concerning regular sodas and diet sodas. Let me say this
loud and proud, “Diet soda IS NOT BETTER FOR YOU!” Let me explain.
Sugar does not make you fat! The body quickly uses simple sugars for energy and
therefore are not stored like complex carbs (starches). You're body is burning
off sugar as you read this. On the other hand, long-term ingestion of artificial
sweeteners found in diet sodas may have serious side effects. Please research! Rule
# 3: During times of daylong strenuous activity a field,
especially on multiple day or weeklong hunts, a high-carb meal at dinnertime won't
hurt. (Sitting in a deer stand all day doesn't count as strenuous physical activity).
I used to "drive” deer and bear in the high country of the Sierra's,
and a high carb meal the night before, as well as at breakfast, kept me energized
and alert all day long. Steak and potato lovers rejoice! Potato and potato lovers
rejoice! “Extra butter and sour cream please”. Don't forget the salad
or green vegetables, however. Under
normal or low physical activity stick to the low carb foods for dinner. Meat and
vegetables only! I know that sounds harsh or boring but this is how we keep from
getting heavy, especially as metabolism slows down. And
absolutely NO DESSERTS! Join a gym if needed. |
