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Field Target and You: A Healthy Sport(?)

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DRAGON64

DRAGON64

Member
Aug 13, 2017
143
16
Alabama, United States
A little background; I started the year (2018) at 325lbs! I was told that based on my build, I need a bucket and sticks in order to shoot and enjoy field target (Hunter). What I wanted, and have always wanted, was to shoot WFTF. Although there are more driving factors under the proverbial hood of this vehicle (me), one driving force was to lose weight so that I could shoot WFTF in the 2019 season. By that I mean so that I am able to get into those pretzel positions that WFTF is known for...

Years ago I was given advice by Hector Medina to eat better: more at breakfast, a little less at lunch, and next to nothing in the evening. Without really trying, I managed to find myself following this exact same model, a life-style change. The trick is to eat healthier choices at the same time. To date, I have dropped 61lbs. I have a long way to go, and a relatively short time to get there, but I plan to be shooting with the Good Ole Boys and Invicta soon enough.

So, what do many of you shooters do to maintain a healthier life-style so that you can continue to shoot field target? Not just from a diet stand point, but from a physical aspect as well. The matches can be long, so stamina is a must... What do you do to prepare mind? body? and soul for the big events?

I have 90+ pounds to go to get to an "internet" recommended weight, but already, I am getting more comfortable in a sitting position, just not there yet...
 
Congratulations on your success so far! That's a loss of a 1/3 of a person already! I am an older guy, pushing 70, and I am pretty beat up from a hard physical life so the "pretzel positions" are pretty much a thing of the past. I do use meditations to help my mental control and to build a healthier body. I start each day with a 10 or 15 minute session while the coffee is brewing and I find that my day just seems to go better. When I sit down for a shooting session I take a few minutes to pull my mind and body into a place that is really focused on the task ahead of me and the results are as if someone better than the old me is shooting my targets! You might give it a try and see if it can help you. It also helps with the weight loss.

Good luck and shoot for the "bull" every time!

Bruce
 
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Dragon I am in very much the same position. Being over weight (along with age and limited flexibility) I too have been relegated to bucket and sticks. The WFTF guys in my small group are ALL thin and in good shape. I plan to lose some weight and improve my fitness level over the winter in the hope of shooting in open class next year (if I can find a harness). I applaud your weight loss efforts and wish you good luck in reaching your goal. FT may be the clearest motivator, but weight loss opens the door to enjoying life in general and should add some years that we have left to be able to participate in this wonderful sport. Uj
 
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I second the congratulations !!!

For me... I have always been active but gained a bit of weight increasingly as I passed 60. My wife has decided to pursue a less toxic lifestyle so she does most of the food selection and prep and has us now gluten free as well as other unhealthy additives. Without any real effort, my growing beer belly and other extra layers just went away. 

I'm pretty busy in retirement. That probably helps. Pickleball, hiking, motorcycle riding, and of course... tons of pellets down range. I do shoot without any aids, but my wife and I have always done that.

Yoga will very much help your conditioning, flexibility, and stamina if you can manage to include it in your lifestyle change. 

Just stay with it. 

Bob 
 
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Thanks guys, it has not been an easy journey for sure. One other factor I forgot to mention, is I am in my mid 50's... so yeah, there that! As I lose the weight, I have been rewarding myself along the way, so as I to show some appreciation for myself. Most recently (May) I ordered myself a custom Gary Cane stock for my action, which went into production just last month. By the time it arrives here in the states, I should be in pretty good shape to start training with it.

Regarding mental control and coffee brewing... you are right, that is the sweetest "me" time that I make for myself: There is something about the new morning light, the quietness of the house, the still air and the smell of the coffee, all coincides to set the tone for the day.
 
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I have become a work out junkie. I have hand weights and resistance bands and spend 30mins a day 6 days a week working out. After 4 months i have started to notice a difference. My clothes are a bit loser and my aches and pains are less. Migraine headaches have almost dissappeared. My posture is better and my flexibility and stamina are greatly improved. I have always eaten somewhat healthy diet so that hasnt changed. I dont care what my weight is as i know im getting healthier and thats all that counts. Congrats to Dragon and everyone working towards a healthier self.
 
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Way to go, stay the course! I use FT as a motivation to work out. People often ask how much I practice and are surprised when I say "about 30 minutes a month". However, I workout 3 times a week including some exercises I specifically designed for FT shooting. I do frequent mental training, including visualization. If you are starting matches shooting well then fading the last few lanes you might want to consider your physical training and eating habits. At 63 "all my workouts are rehab and all my practices are matches".

Will Piatt
 
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FT certainly keeps me conscious of my fitness. I was out of work for a year and put on 30lbs. Before I got back to work I changed my eating pattern and slowly started loosing weight. Once I got back to work the pounds started to shed. I am a carpenter so exercise and stamina isn't an issue. Diet is. As for mental fortitude working as a carpenter with the long hours and at time unruly fellows keeps that pretty sharp. You tend to pay lots of attention to spinning blades and nail guns as well. My biggest issue this year has been breaking my shooting routine on second shots. So when not practicing my offhand I've also been practicing my routine when seated. From approaching the lane through putting the gun away and exiting every 6-8 shots then repeating. As Will said I've been trying to treat local matches as practice also.

Good luck with your continued weight loss and I hope to see you out shooting next season.

John Eroh
 
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"Letting it go" was one of the biggest hurdles in this weight loss journey. I am my #1 critic, as well as my own bully. I had to learn to love/like myself, and not be so hard on myself... if I screwed up, I just had to let it go, and focus on the big picture or the end goal. As I get better at it, I should be able to project that into my field target routines as well.


 
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