How to train like Bear Gyrlls

If you are a fan of Man vs Wild, you may want to achieve a fitness level like Bear Grylls. For those that don't know who he is, Bear Grylls is the survival expert in the Discovery Channel show Man vs Wild. Bear Grylls has one of the best all around fitness levels that I have seen. The key to a fitness plan like Bear's is to have core strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness involved.

I would call Bear Grylls strength functional strength. Being able to have a big bench press isn't going to necessarily help you hold on to a tree to climb down it. Core strength exercises require your abdominals to engage during the entire movement similar to outdoor activities. They also help by forcing multiple muscles to work together which is different that isolation exercises common at gyms. Proper core exercises should also work your flexibility and more important your strength through a full range of motion.

Good cardio is more than just 60 min. on the treadmill day after day. Proper cardiovascular training utilizes specific targeted heart rates to achieve effective workouts.

The last important aspect to achieve a fitness level like Bear Grylls is to get out and climb and hike yourself. Going for a weekend hike is the best way to build the hip strength needed to go backpacking. Indoor rocking climbing is a great strength workout and is considered one of the safest indoor activities you can do.