Need to get fit...

[moonshinemadness]

Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be. I have access to a well equipped gym and pleanty of places to walk and run i was just wondering what kind of regime you guys use to get and stay fit? How many days a week should i work out? Is there something i should be concentrating on? Ideally i need to be fit and healthy, be able to run 1.5 miles is a decent time so any ideas?

 

[Locke]

Not sure how well this works for everyone, but I've been doing this for about 2 weeks thus far.

Jog 2 miles every other day.
On off-jogging days do a 1 hour back, or upper body workout.
Once or twice a week play a good hour of Dance Dance Revolution :beer:

I have the benefit of being in decent shape to start with though. 6'0, 168lbs. Took me 4-5 runs to work up to a full 2 miles.

 

[moonshinemadness]

That sounds good but i really need to start off a bit slower ive never attempted jogging any where near this distance, the workout i can deal with i think but the running i doubt will cause me some problems.

 

[IGBT]

Be all you can be..get down ther and sign up. Boot camp will take care of all the fast food and krispy kreams.

 

[whaleskinrug]

Originally posted by: moonshinemadness
That sounds good but i really need to start off a bit slower ive never attempted jogging any where near this distance, the workout i can deal with i think but the running i doubt will cause me some problems.

start with a brisk walk for a mile or two

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: IGBT
Be all you can be..get down ther and sign up. Boot camp will take care of all the fast food and krispy kreams.

If you join the army to lose weight and get in shape, you're gonna get smoked. While it will get you in better shape, you need to already be in decent shape before you go to basic training.

 

[moonshinemadness]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: IGBT
Be all you can be..get down ther and sign up. Boot camp will take care of all the fast food and krispy kreams.

If you join the army to lose weight and get in shape, you're gonna get smoked. While it will get you in better shape, you need to already be in decent shape before you go to basic training.

Thats what i figured, theres a fitness selection rest i would need to be fit enough to get through before i can join up. ill start with the walks and try and gardually build it up

 

[lancestorm]

Definitely take your time so that you can get yourself up there. Don't be discouraged if it takes you several weeks before you can comfortably get one mile in. It WILL take time. If you are very unfit your body will not be used to breathing heavy or going at such an increased pace of speed. Take your time so that you do not avoid energy. Set a goal each day (maybe go a bit further distance, or just a bit faster) and eventually you'll reach that bigger goal of completing 1.5 miles in a decent time. What is the time you are going for? "Decent" falls into many categories...

 

[lancestorm]

"Take your time so that you do not avoid energy. "

Dang it's early. I meant, "Take your time so that you avoid an injury!!"

 

[StageLeft]

If you want to join the army simply to get fit that is far and away the stupidest idea I have ever read on Anandtech. I mean that too.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you want to join the army simply to get fit that is far and away the stupidest idea I have ever read on Anandtech. I mean that too.

Definintely. Realize that the army is not so much an "opertunity to get fit, " as it is a commitment to give up your life for a certain amount of time to serve your country.


<----lost 11 lbs in a 1.5wks going to the gym four days a week, so he knows what is possible

 

[MangoTBG]

Skoorb & Goosemaster- I'd think you two would have better reading comprehension, but apparently you don't.

Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be.

Ahhhhhh....the wonders of reading the post as it should be!

 

[Danman]

Run dude, that's what I'm doing. It's gonna hurt for the first couple weeks but you are going to shed weight and feel a lot better. No pain no gain!

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: moonshinemadness
Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be. I have access to a well equipped gym and pleanty of places to walk and run i was just wondering what kind of regime you guys use to get and stay fit? How many days a week should i work out? Is there something i should be concentrating on? Ideally i need to be fit and healthy, be able to run 1.5 miles is a decent time so any ideas?

I use the "get up off your lazy ass and just do it" regime. The rest comes naturally.

All you really need to do is jumping jacks and pushups, the army will do the rest for you.

Edit: Yes, read that as "forget the damn running". Jumping jacks are better cardio, a more intense workout, and will do more to prepare you for boot camp than running alone ever will.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
Skoorb & Goosemaster- I'd think you two would have better reading comprehension, but apparently you don't.

Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be.

Ahhhhhh....the wonders of reading the post as it should be!

Easy there, I can see now reading the first sentence of his first post how he wants to get into the army, but wants to get fit first. However, i can still read it the way I originally read it as wanting to get into the army to get fit!

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
Skoorb & Goosemaster- I'd think you two would have better reading comprehension, but apparently you don't.

Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be.

Ahhhhhh....the wonders of reading the post as it should be!

Sorry...I actually didn't read your entire post and rather skimed it and commented on skoorb's remark.....I lost my weight by doing this:

20min Fat Burning on Eliptical machine
20min Cardio on Eliptical machine (back to Back)

Lifting and mchines for 30min


EDIT: GOod luck

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
Skoorb & Goosemaster- I'd think you two would have better reading comprehension, but apparently you don't.

Im quite desperately unfit and im toying with the idea of joining the army but its kind of dependant on whether i can get myself up to the fitness i would need to be.

Ahhhhhh....the wonders of reading the post as it should be!

Sorry...I actually didn't read your entire post and rather skimed it and commented on skoorb's remark.....I lost my weight by doing this:

20min Fat Burning on Eliptical machine
20min Cardio on Eliptical machine (back to Back)

Lifting and mchines for 30min


EDIT: GOod luck

That's why you should never skim skoorb's posts

I think I'll change my original intent to say anybody joining the military to get fit only is doing something bad, although I think probably the original poster is not doing that, but rather donig what everybody else interpreted his post as

 

[Regs]

Start off very slow like I did. Start yourself on the exercise bike for a good 2 weeks. 15 Minutes on good resistance for the first week, then 30 Minutes for the 2nd week. Do this at least 3-4 days out of the week. After the first two weeks, let your muscles and legs heal for 2 days, then start jogging a good 2-4 miles a day.