Staying in Shape for Metal Detecting

[togamac]

I just cleaned and tallied up my 2013 clad finds and realized that I knealt down and got back up just over 1000 times in 2013! This hobby is not for couch potatoes!

I'm getting up there in years but so far have no problem doing those 1000 plus squats and deep knee bends mainly because I do a lot of bicycling. I can't recommend it enough. If those ol' joints are aching from retrieving your finds, try hopping on the bike. Here are some tips that work well for me:

1. If you'll be riding in the road, always wear something white or yellow so that you contrast with the darker background. Traffic signs are not yellow and white by accident.

2. If you're riding at night, in the rain, or near dusk or dawn, go to a bike store and get yourself a couple of LED lights; white for the front, red for the back. They're bright as all heck and cheap to run. Also, your state may require them.

3. Don't get discouraged if after the first time out you feel like you've been dragged through a knot hole. It gets easier every time you ride. Just give yourself a day or two of rest between rides.

Good luck and HH, mac

 

[sprchng]

I try to do the Williams back exercises every morning for 20 minutes and then walk a mile or two with the dog ---not quite as much cardio as biking but it keeps you loose.
How's your prostate?

 

[mudpuppy]

Good post Mac! A fellers gotta stay in shape for this sport! Or, this sport will get a feller in shape or dead pretty quick! I rode bicycle for 3 years straight back in the late 70's It was a Raleigh road machine, 25X700mms...no big deal, except I lived in MN at the time, rode year round to work and back...it was nothing to do 100 miles just for fun on the weekends. Sure I laid it down a time or two, as one can expect going fast on 2 skinny wheels..and that was before there were helmets! Being a single young man at the time, I had a stinky pile of money from not having a car and the associated costs along with it. Then I got in on the Mtnbike movement with a Schwinn Sierra. Still have it...Yes, a feller can cover a lot of ground for essentially free if a guy gets a good bike and has the time.

Theres a guy in my town, my age, (55) who is the local scavenger...he rides a no account garage sale Huffy and pulls a Burley trailer...he's out everyday hunting empty cans, in all weather, digs through dumpsters, etc. and he also has a Bounty Hunter detector that he uses after the festivals and on the beach and all.....he runs a huge route!
Me and him talk about finds and stuff..he's pretty much insane as you can imagine, I am intrigued with his lifestyle, and could see myself in a similar situation if it came to it..I want to do a proper interview of him someday to tell his story...

Regarding what Sprchng questioned....I got lucky, no med troubles at all..havnt seen a doc or a dentist in over 10 years for any reason..sure I am busted up, broke neck in '76, (c4.5.6 , with a tibia fusion) skin cancer now, (nothing that cant be knived out presently, razor and whiskey) heart is telling me it needs a few stents or something, (gonna try an alcohol flush, whiskey again). Pulled a few of my own teeth...(lotsa whiskey, and lotsa wiggle)
All in all, its been a good run compared to most who fall out in their 30's from some sort of ailment due to lack of conditioning or excersize...I attribute my present good health to genetics, many miles of bike riding, running, walking, and hard work back in my youth.
Mud

 

[dan b]

Cycling is my number 1 activity when weather permits. Detecting is a close second. I ride 80-100kms on most rides (50-60miles). I would ride longer, but time is usually a constraint, having young kids and a wife at home. Always something they need or want me to do that cuts into my cycling time. By the way, I'm 50 and have been serious about cycling for the last 17 or 18 years.

Dan

 

[starvin]

After I turned 70, it has become harder to do metal detecting. My wife does encourage me though and after it warms up I will get back at it.

 

[ironsight]

The best way to stay in shape for this hobby is to swing, swing, dig, dig and dig even more.
Riding a bike ain't gonna develop those digging muscles.

 

[frankj3]

I am not a self-proclaimed-know-it-all, but I beg y'all's pardon.........ROUND IS A SHAPE!!!

So how can I "get in shape" if I am already in a shape? Actually, I am "modifying" my roundness by participating in this hobby. And for that, my wife is very happy.

Happy wife, happy life, right?

All joking aside, I have had back surgery (L4 & L5) so my 60 year old body doesn't function as it should. But I just have to keep in mind that I have a bad back and limit my hunts in length of time. I set a timer on my phone because if I am having fun and luck, I won't pay attention to my screaming body. And by the time I do, I am in a LOT of pain for the next few days. THEN IT'S NO HAPPY WIFE!!

The next few weeks the beaches here on the Texas Gulf Coast will be be packed with Spring Break high school and college students. Cha-Ching!!! I can already hear my unit singing with joy!! I love the fact that bathing suits and bikinis don't have pockets! (especially the bikinis!! wink, wink!!).

HH y'all.

Frank

 

[togamac]

So, all those great boxers like Rocky Marciano, Joe Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Sugar Ray were wasting their time by skipping rope, jogging, working the speed bag, and sparring when all they had to do according to Ironsight was go in the ring and fight. I bet they wish they knew that before they did all that training.

 

[Steve O]

I know from reading Iron Mike's autobiography that he was a proclaimed alcoholic and coke head, between and during fights, big time. He was messed up....he!! of a fighter though.