Stew Smith, CSCS®

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle check out his Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive on Military.com. Contact Stew with your comments and questions.

Email: stew@stewsmith.com

Latest Articles

(U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Daniella Peña-Pavao)

The Endurance and Strength Training Performance Challenge

Even the best athletes in the endurance and strength worlds tend to excel in one area and perform poorly in the other.

U.S. Navy SEAL candidates run with inflatable boats on their heads during the 'Hell Week' crucible of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.

How to Boost Your Strength and Size for Special Operations Training

Preparing for any special operations selection involves making sure you have no weaknesses and have properly developed your...

1st Lt. Lindsey Boughter, a public affairs officer with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and a state powerlifting record-holder, demonstrates proper deadlifting techniques to Staff Sgt. Zane Craig.

Target the Key Areas of Tactical Fitness With This Challenging Workout

This is not a normal strength plan, as tactical athletes are not your normal athletes.

7 Ideas for the Fitness Lover on Your Holiday Gift List

There are gifts for everyone interested in bodybuilding, military-style training yoga or more calisthenics-based training.

On Thanksgiving Day 2011, leaders of the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry (2-135 Inf.) serve the troops of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bulls" on Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

5 Tips for a Guilt-Free Thanksgiving Feast

If you are considering making Thanksgiving your "cheat day" and combining eating a masterfully prepared meal with sitting...

A senior airman performs one-arm dumbbell rows in the Predator Fitness Center at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

This Workout Will Help You Ramp Up Your Tactical Fitness

“Good at everything” is the basic training dogma of those working to become a completely well-rounded athlete.

Basic crewman training candidates tread water in a pool while waiting for instructions during their first physical screening test at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado in California.

Struggling with a Military Fitness Test? Here’s How to Find Another Way Forward

Whatever the challenge, look for another way to get there if something does not work for you and you fail to meet the...

These foods, which represent the various aspects of the food pyramid, serve as examples of the numerous options available as a good fuel source for the body.

3 Crucial Factors in Fitness Training and Recovery

It is no secret that nutrition and sleep are the two most important tools to perform optimally and recover from daily...

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn, the commanding general of U.S. Army South, participates in the CEO Caucus Challenge Cancer Awareness Ride in Belmopan, Belize.

How to Continue Training Your Legs When They Are Too Sore

The buildup of a running cycle can require a little pullback. I like to call these weeks a "de-load week."

A sailor performs the swimming portion of the physical screening test for the Hospital Corpsman Advanced Technical Field school.

How Focusing on Technique Can Make You a Smarter, Faster Swimmer

Getting across the pool on pure guts alone, though, is no way to improve your swimming ability. In fact, learning proper...

Why Military Decision-Making Is So Important in Both Training and Fitness

Whether you are making strategic decisions or following tactical decisions, getting good at decision-making is, in essence...

BUD/S students participate in night gear exchange training.

An 'Old Guy' Prepares for BUD/S

Stew Smith, a Navy SEAL veteran and Military.com's tactical fitness expert, gives the lowdown on age limits for applying to...

Attendees of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego's Educators Workshop run on a track during a mock combat fitness test.

This Track Workout Will Do More Than Just Make You Faster

If you are looking for a break from resistance training and need to work on your running speed, pacing and overall endurance...

U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Green and Spc. Fiona MacReynolds perform the 2-mile run exercise of the Army Combat Fitness Test at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.

How to Pace Yourself for Military Fitness Tests

When military members and others in the tactical professions first take fitness tests, they tend to forgo pacing and put 100%...

Paul Boyce, 60th Force Support Squadron, prepares salads at the Sierra Inn Dining Facility at Travis Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force/Louis Briscese)

Everything You Need to Know About Food Categories for Healthy Eating

All foods can be categorized into the following categories: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary...

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