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Stew Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a former Navy SEAL, and author of several fitness and self defense books such as The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness, and Maximum Fitness. As a military fitness trainer, Stew has trained hundreds of students for Navy SEAL, Special Forces, Air Force PJ, Ranger Training, and other physical law enforcement professions. His eBooks at Military.com can help you achieve your fitness goals, whether you're a beginner or an expert. For more info on his books, visit the Military.com eBook Fitness Store. View the Smith Archives
Ever walk into a weight room and feel completely overwhelmed? Are
you intimidated because you think everybody is in great shape and
you are not? Many folks who are entertaining the idea of getting back
into shape get turned off immediately by those feelings. Many people
are also threatened by the number of foreign weight machines, treadmills,
stationery bikes, recumbent bikes, stair steppers, elliptical gliders
and free weights. How do you work these things? What are all these
buttons? If you have asked yourself these questions. . .here are some
tips for you that may make your fitness journey a little easier:
The bench press.
1) Go with a friend. Having a buddy to exercise with really
helps motivate you to do more than you would than if by yourself.
2) Hire a personal trainer. Personal trainers, like myself,
are your workout buddies. They can help push you properly and keep
you from injuring yourself. Most are flexible enough to exercise with
you at your time schedule and will help you set a time for fitness. Fitting fitness into your schedule is the hardest part of starting
a plan. Most personal trainers range from $30 to $50.00 an hour. So
find one that will exercise with you once a week and provide a plan
of the week for you to do on your own - if you are counting your pennies.
Lat pulldowns.
3) Take a group class - Group classes are not just aerobics. Now there are bicycling classes called "Spinning," body Sculpting
classes, which uses free weights, and, believe it or not, people even
pay for Bootcamp style classes. All of which will get you back to
your lighter days.
Leg press.
4) There are even options for those who do not want to go to a
gym or fitness center. All I need to workout is a set of monkey
bars at a playground, a place to run and swim. Calisthenics - yes,
the military favorite of pushups, pullups, situps, squats, lunges,
running and swimming - can get you in the best shape of your life.
You can also do these exercises inside your home as well, but you
may have to go to a local YMCA or swim club in order to add swimming
to your list of activities. Check out the training plan at the Military.com
Fitness Ebook Store for some downloadable plans that really work.
5) Out of all the ways there is to exercise, I still feel that
getting up and walking is the best. Pick it up a bit and jog or
bike if you want something more intense. Walk inside the local mall
if you battle weather in your area during the winter. This exercise
is free and easy to do. Once again go with a friend to keep it interesting
and fun. And always - remember to drink lots of water everyday especially
if you add exercise to your world.
Fitness can be fun and does not have to be intimidating as long as
you are willing to try and learn new things from fitness professionals,
books, videos, and of course fitness related articles such as this
one at Military.com.
If you have any questions on fitness, please feel free to email Stew
Smith at stew@stewsmith.com.
