Monday, August 6, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday July 28th, Sunday July 29th. REST DAYS!!!!!!
Rest up this weekend!!! Remember that rest is just as important as your workouts!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday July 26th Triplet 20 minutes as many rounds as possible.
Triplet of 3 Dips.
5 Cleans at 50% 1RM
10 Med Ball Slams.
5 Cleans at 50% 1RM
10 Med Ball Slams.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tuesday July 24th
Tuesday July 24th Chin-up Pyramid and Jump Rope Rotations.
1 Chin-up, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
2 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
3 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
4 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
5 Chin-up, 20 Jump Rope Rotations then back down the pyramid.
1 Chin-up, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
2 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
3 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
4 Chin-ups, 20 Jump Rope Rotations.
5 Chin-up, 20 Jump Rope Rotations then back down the pyramid.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Saturday July 21
Triplet 20 minutes as many rounds as possible.
3 Chin-ups
200m Row (sub 20 SDHP @ 30-40#)
10 25-40lb KB swings.
3 Chin-ups
200m Row (sub 20 SDHP @ 30-40#)
10 25-40lb KB swings.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Friday July 20th.
Friday July 20th - 15 Minutes to find 10 rep bench press max then:
3 Rounds, each for time of 10 Bench Presses, 200m Run. Rest 10:00, hydrate then:
8 x :45 on :15 off Core Session (pick 4 exercises and alternate each set)
Sorry about no post yesterday, although as you can assume.. rest day!
3 Rounds, each for time of 10 Bench Presses, 200m Run. Rest 10:00, hydrate then:
8 x :45 on :15 off Core Session (pick 4 exercises and alternate each set)
Sorry about no post yesterday, although as you can assume.. rest day!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Tuesday July 17
July 17th - 20 Minutes as many rounds as possible.
10 Sit-ups, 15 Thrusters *light*, 20 Jump Rope Rotations. Focus on moving from exercise to exercise fluidly.
10 Sit-ups, 15 Thrusters *light*, 20 Jump Rope Rotations. Focus on moving from exercise to exercise fluidly.
July 16th Conditioning WOD
Monday July 16th Metabolic Conditioning WOD: 1/2 Mile Light Jog Warm-up,
4 x 400m (Post times to comments) then 1 Mile Slow 8:00-12:00 Jog.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Saturday July 14th.
 |
| Super 64 Over the Coastline of Mogadishu |
*The Mogadishu Mile* (Use weighted vest/pack if you have one)
1 Mile Farmers Walk w/ Dumbbells.
10 Push-ups every time the weight touches the ground.
This is a day to silently honor those who have given their lives for our freedoms. Get out there and get it!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
First Video! A introduction about myself and the page.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Cardio? Are we doing it all wrong?
I think it's safe to assume that everyone on this page has heard of the term cardio. For some of you it means dreaded countless hours upon hours of burning calories trotting along on a treadmill, but is there a better way? While you may think that more is better, but that might no necessarily be the case.
There are 3 main energy systems in the body, each with a different function. To effectively understand how to best train you have to understand each of these systems, and the conditions under which they function.
The ATP-PC System is the shortest term energy system in the body, mainly used for sprinting activities lasting under and up too 10 seconds. This is the main system used for things such as powerlifting or 100m sprints. While these energy stores run out quickly, they are also quickly replenished by the body.
The Anaerobic System is the next shortest term energy system in the body. It's used predominately in exercises lasting under 2 minutes. This system produces lactic acid as a by product, which for many people is the "burn" they experience when lifting weights. This system is used in weight training, and shorter distance running (1/2-1 mile)
The Aerobic system is the long term energy system in the body. Providing nearly 98% of the energy for a marathon runner this system is the one most commonly trained as "cardio". Sustained exercise for more than 2 minutes is training mainly this system. *note that these systems don't work independently, and cannot be trained as such. When describing activity it is not which energy system is working but which predominates.
While training that is mostly aerobic in nature has it's benefits, such as increases in mitochondrial growth, and better fat utilization it has drawbacks as well. After 45 minutes of sustained aerobic training the body begins to produce cortisol, which causes your body to break down muscle for energy. This is a widely overlooked NEGATIVE side effect to aerobic training. Cortisol also stops the production of testosterone which also negatively impacts muscle size and strength. If you're looking to gain muscle, and keep it on.. keep the cardio short and sweet!
Studies have shown * that anaerobic training has all the same benefits as aerobic training, but without all of the negative effects on muscle size! Doing high intensity interval training increases anaerobic, as well as aerobic capacities. The time of the individual events and the rest in between determines which systems are effectively used. As a basic rule of thumb, rest 5-6 times longer than your work periods. So for a 10 second sprint, you would rest 1 minute and repeat that. It is very important in any type of interval work that the power output for each work segment of the interval is consistent. This means taking the full rest, even if you feel you do not need it.
*(Explosive-strength training improves 5-km running time by improving running economy and muscle power. J Appl Physiol. 1999 May;86(5):1527-33.)
There are 3 main energy systems in the body, each with a different function. To effectively understand how to best train you have to understand each of these systems, and the conditions under which they function.
The ATP-PC System is the shortest term energy system in the body, mainly used for sprinting activities lasting under and up too 10 seconds. This is the main system used for things such as powerlifting or 100m sprints. While these energy stores run out quickly, they are also quickly replenished by the body.
The Anaerobic System is the next shortest term energy system in the body. It's used predominately in exercises lasting under 2 minutes. This system produces lactic acid as a by product, which for many people is the "burn" they experience when lifting weights. This system is used in weight training, and shorter distance running (1/2-1 mile)
The Aerobic system is the long term energy system in the body. Providing nearly 98% of the energy for a marathon runner this system is the one most commonly trained as "cardio". Sustained exercise for more than 2 minutes is training mainly this system. *note that these systems don't work independently, and cannot be trained as such. When describing activity it is not which energy system is working but which predominates.
While training that is mostly aerobic in nature has it's benefits, such as increases in mitochondrial growth, and better fat utilization it has drawbacks as well. After 45 minutes of sustained aerobic training the body begins to produce cortisol, which causes your body to break down muscle for energy. This is a widely overlooked NEGATIVE side effect to aerobic training. Cortisol also stops the production of testosterone which also negatively impacts muscle size and strength. If you're looking to gain muscle, and keep it on.. keep the cardio short and sweet!
Studies have shown * that anaerobic training has all the same benefits as aerobic training, but without all of the negative effects on muscle size! Doing high intensity interval training increases anaerobic, as well as aerobic capacities. The time of the individual events and the rest in between determines which systems are effectively used. As a basic rule of thumb, rest 5-6 times longer than your work periods. So for a 10 second sprint, you would rest 1 minute and repeat that. It is very important in any type of interval work that the power output for each work segment of the interval is consistent. This means taking the full rest, even if you feel you do not need it.
*(Explosive-strength training improves 5-km running time by improving running economy and muscle power. J Appl Physiol. 1999 May;86(5):1527-33.)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Hormones and Muscle Gains.
If you're going to want to gain muscle, you're going to need testosterone. There are many natural ways of boosting testosterone to increase your gains, but there are also some things you do not want to do if you're trying to gain muscle.
First major thing is to keep your workouts short and sweet. Ideally under 2 minutes of rest per set, and no more than 45 minutes per session. After 45 minutes of hard training the body begins to produce cortisol, which is a catabolic, or muscle destroying hormone. This will mitigate any muscle gains you're trying to put on if you're constantly in a state of cardiovascular stress. Keep the cardio high intensity for short intervals and you'll see the same effects of long, slow cardio.. without the diminished muscle size!
Another major component to keeping your hormones in balance is your diet. Healthy fats, like those found in Olive Oil, Avocados, Lean Meats, and Fish are naturally testosterone boosting. High Glycemic carbs, or "bad carbs" as you will commonly hear them called (white breads, rice, sugars, potatoes) cause your body to have a cortisol response, which has a negative impact on muscle gains. Keep your diet clean with low glycemic, high nutrition value carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
These are just a couple tips to help you maximize your muscle gains, I'll be writing more about hormones and their effects on training in the future. As always, stay strong and informed!
First major thing is to keep your workouts short and sweet. Ideally under 2 minutes of rest per set, and no more than 45 minutes per session. After 45 minutes of hard training the body begins to produce cortisol, which is a catabolic, or muscle destroying hormone. This will mitigate any muscle gains you're trying to put on if you're constantly in a state of cardiovascular stress. Keep the cardio high intensity for short intervals and you'll see the same effects of long, slow cardio.. without the diminished muscle size!
Another major component to keeping your hormones in balance is your diet. Healthy fats, like those found in Olive Oil, Avocados, Lean Meats, and Fish are naturally testosterone boosting. High Glycemic carbs, or "bad carbs" as you will commonly hear them called (white breads, rice, sugars, potatoes) cause your body to have a cortisol response, which has a negative impact on muscle gains. Keep your diet clean with low glycemic, high nutrition value carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
These are just a couple tips to help you maximize your muscle gains, I'll be writing more about hormones and their effects on training in the future. As always, stay strong and informed!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Nutrition.
Nutrition is hands down the most important factor in living a healthy lifestyle. What you eat, and what you don't eat can make all the difference on and off the field. In general I suggest a higher ratio of proteins/fats to carbohydrates than most people do. This is because of the purpose of Carbohydrates in the body. They serve as a source of energy for the body, while they don't serve an essential purpose like proteins (essential amino acids) and fats (essential fatty acids) I suggest about a 40% Carbohydrates, 40% Protein, and 20% Fat ratio for maintaining a healthy, lean physique. I'll go over the each individual macro nutrient in depth in this article.
Carbohydrates. Now this doesn't mean that you can drink pop all day long because there is a difference. Soda is all empty calories, meaning that your body doesn't get any nutrition from it, it actually uses up more of the vital nutrients to digest it than it gives you back.
Carbohydrates can be broken down into 2 types, Simple Carbs and Complex Carbs. Now this may seem complicated but somebody has already done the work in figuring out the two types for you! This is called the Glycemic Index or GI. It measures the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. A low-GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high-GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person experiencing hypoglycemia. High GI foods are also good for post-workout as they will stop the process of catabolism, or the breaking down of muscle tissue for energy in the body. *highly suggested to take protein with High GI foods after workouts for optimal results*
Low Glycemic Index Foods: 55 or Less on the GI: most fruits and vegetables, legumes/pulses, whole grains, meat, eggs, milk, nuts, fructose and products low in carbohydrates.
Medium Glycemic Index Foods: 56-60 on the GI: whole wheat products, basmati rice, sweet potato, sucrose
High Glycemic Index Foods: 70 and Above on the GI: baked potatoes, watermelon, white bread, most white rices, corn flakes, extruded breakfast cereals, glucose
Proteins. Protein is to your muscles what Carbohydrates are to your energy level. Aside from water Protein is the most abundant molecule in the human body. Protein is found in all cells of the body and is the major structural component of all cells in the body, especially muscle. This also includes body organs, hair and skin. Protein is one of the key components in exercise. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are used for building new tissue including muscle, as well as repairing damaged tissues. Proteins, however, only provide a small source of fuel for the exercising muscles when carbohydrates and lipid resources are low. You should aim to eat about your body-weight in grams of protein daily to maintain lean muscle mass, and build new muscle.
There are many different sources of protein ranging from whole protein foods (such as milk, meat, fish, egg, and vegetables) to a variety of protein powders (such as casein *slow digesting*, whey *fast digesting*, and soy). Protein powders are processed and manufactured sources of protein. Protein powders may provide an additional source of protein for exercising muscles. The type of protein is important in terms of its influence on protein metabolic response and possibly on the muscle's exercise performance. The different physical and/or chemical properties within the various types of protein may affect the rate of protein digestion.
Fats. (the healthy kind) Fat is a major nutrient and is vital for proper growth and development and maintenance of good health. Certain Vitamins (A, E, and K) are only soluble in Fat. Not all fats are good for you though. You should try to steer clear of any saturated fats, which are the artery clogging ones. You'll find them in butter, some meats, and palm and coconut oil. You'll also want to avoid trans-fatty acids (fats the are formed when foods are hydrogenated and that are found in deep fried commercial foods and many packaged foods, especially baked goods). These fats act like saturated fats only worse. They raise your bad cholesterol level, and lower your good levels, putting you at a higher risk for heart problems.
Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fats are the better fats for you. They're found in foods such as Olive Oils, and Canola Oil and are absolutely necessary for the many functions of life. Our bodys also require essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as linoleic and alpha linoleic acid, for normal cell growth and development. They only way to get these acids is through your diet. EFA's are found primarily in fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, and in certain nuts, oils, and dark green vegetables.
Hydration is equally important, so don't forget to drink about 2 quarts of water daily. (http://selfempoweredsnc.blogspot.com/2011/12/hydration-fountian-of-life.html) Exercise and Nutrition are vital to allowing your body to thrive instead of just survive. Supplements are fine but don't rule out natural sources, which are bound to always be at least easier for your body to process. Stay away from the center aisles at your supermarket and you can't go wrong.
 |
| Carbohydrates are great for long, and short term energy! |
Carbohydrates can be broken down into 2 types, Simple Carbs and Complex Carbs. Now this may seem complicated but somebody has already done the work in figuring out the two types for you! This is called the Glycemic Index or GI. It measures the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI; carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. A low-GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high-GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person experiencing hypoglycemia. High GI foods are also good for post-workout as they will stop the process of catabolism, or the breaking down of muscle tissue for energy in the body. *highly suggested to take protein with High GI foods after workouts for optimal results*
Low Glycemic Index Foods: 55 or Less on the GI: most fruits and vegetables, legumes/pulses, whole grains, meat, eggs, milk, nuts, fructose and products low in carbohydrates.
Medium Glycemic Index Foods: 56-60 on the GI: whole wheat products, basmati rice, sweet potato, sucrose
High Glycemic Index Foods: 70 and Above on the GI: baked potatoes, watermelon, white bread, most white rices, corn flakes, extruded breakfast cereals, glucose
 | ||||||
| Proteins should form the basis of all your meals. |
There are many different sources of protein ranging from whole protein foods (such as milk, meat, fish, egg, and vegetables) to a variety of protein powders (such as casein *slow digesting*, whey *fast digesting*, and soy). Protein powders are processed and manufactured sources of protein. Protein powders may provide an additional source of protein for exercising muscles. The type of protein is important in terms of its influence on protein metabolic response and possibly on the muscle's exercise performance. The different physical and/or chemical properties within the various types of protein may affect the rate of protein digestion.
 |
| Nuts are a great source of healthy fats. |
Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fats are the better fats for you. They're found in foods such as Olive Oils, and Canola Oil and are absolutely necessary for the many functions of life. Our bodys also require essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as linoleic and alpha linoleic acid, for normal cell growth and development. They only way to get these acids is through your diet. EFA's are found primarily in fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, and in certain nuts, oils, and dark green vegetables.
Hydration is equally important, so don't forget to drink about 2 quarts of water daily. (http://selfempoweredsnc.blogspot.com/2011/12/hydration-fountian-of-life.html) Exercise and Nutrition are vital to allowing your body to thrive instead of just survive. Supplements are fine but don't rule out natural sources, which are bound to always be at least easier for your body to process. Stay away from the center aisles at your supermarket and you can't go wrong.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Refusal to Accept Defeat.
I know this is a little outside of the blog's normal format here, but I wanted to talk about something that's very important in fitness community. Working out is hard. Lifting weights is never easy, if you do it right.
Which brings us to our topic of this post. The Will to Win, and the Refusal to Accept Defeat. While you might think of this as more of a team oriented concept, but the will to win exists inside every person. Who wants to be second best at anything? Are you satisfied with just good enough? Are you willing to lay everything on the line to accomplish your goals and dreams? You should be.. and I'll tell you why.
The Samurai have a term for the indomitable spirit, or the refusal to accept defeat. It's Kokoro. There's no truer measure of a person than their heart, and the refusal to accept defeat in the weight room transfers over into other aspects of your life as well. Most people are familiar with the concept of meditation, clearing the mind and allowing the thoughts to flow freely and unobstructed into the mind. This should be done twice daily, once upon waking, and once before sleep each night. You should focus on the end result you want to accomplish and strive to incorporate qualities from your visions into your real life. If you see yourself as being stronger, then consecrate your body daily with a fervor that would put a monk to shame. If you see yourself as being faster, go out and run sprints until your body can't take it anymore, and then keep going. You'll never know your true limits if you never push yourself.
Personally, I strive everyday to be a little better than yesterday. I believe this is a good way to live. Training for Pararescue I've found my Kokoro. I know that everyday I train so that I can not only improve my life, but my training could potentially save another person's life. When I'm struggling with those last few reps, or that last 1/4 mile I try to visualize someone at the other end of the run, or imagine lifting a person onto a lift to try to force myself to put out. Meditation allows you to find something that you can grab onto when you're at your lowest, that pulls you through. If you have something inside of you that will drive you on through anything you'll become a unstoppable force to be reckoned with. True strength is gained in those last few reps, where the muscle is on fire, and you couldn't possibly force another rep out...but you do. Something in your mind clicks, and you realize that pain is temporary but the refusal to quit, and the mindset that comes with that are not going anywhere. Atleast not in me.. and hopefully not in you. This is my Kokoro.. my refusal to accept defeat when most people would have quit long ago. This drives me everyday. Find your Kokoro.
(Side Note, I'd like to thank SEALFit's founder Mark Divine for introducing me to the term Kokoro, it's changed my understanding of the mental game a bunch.. thank you for everything you do.)
Which brings us to our topic of this post. The Will to Win, and the Refusal to Accept Defeat. While you might think of this as more of a team oriented concept, but the will to win exists inside every person. Who wants to be second best at anything? Are you satisfied with just good enough? Are you willing to lay everything on the line to accomplish your goals and dreams? You should be.. and I'll tell you why.
Personally, I strive everyday to be a little better than yesterday. I believe this is a good way to live. Training for Pararescue I've found my Kokoro. I know that everyday I train so that I can not only improve my life, but my training could potentially save another person's life. When I'm struggling with those last few reps, or that last 1/4 mile I try to visualize someone at the other end of the run, or imagine lifting a person onto a lift to try to force myself to put out. Meditation allows you to find something that you can grab onto when you're at your lowest, that pulls you through. If you have something inside of you that will drive you on through anything you'll become a unstoppable force to be reckoned with. True strength is gained in those last few reps, where the muscle is on fire, and you couldn't possibly force another rep out...but you do. Something in your mind clicks, and you realize that pain is temporary but the refusal to quit, and the mindset that comes with that are not going anywhere. Atleast not in me.. and hopefully not in you. This is my Kokoro.. my refusal to accept defeat when most people would have quit long ago. This drives me everyday. Find your Kokoro.
(Side Note, I'd like to thank SEALFit's founder Mark Divine for introducing me to the term Kokoro, it's changed my understanding of the mental game a bunch.. thank you for everything you do.)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Get out of your Comfort Zone!
No body likes doings they aren't good at. That's a simple fact. Especially when you're training yourself it can be easy to tend to avoid the things you hate/suck at doing. Some people don't like running, others aren't fond of weight training. I believe it's important to incorporate the things we aren't very good at into our routines because it forces us to react and adapt to new / uncomfortable situations and it builds mental toughness. There's nothing better for your self confidence that crushing a workout you would have deemed impossible earlier on.
I would recommend at least twice a week incorporate your most disliked exercises into a workout and tough it out. Give it 4-5 weeks and you'll be surprised at how your body is adapting to the new stimuli. If you don't like running, take one day this week and run a block or a mile longer than you have before. Force yourself out of your comfort zone and push yourself. You can't truly know your limits unless you find them once in a while. Always remember to be safe first and foremost. If you're lifting heavy, lift with a spotter. Common sense is king.
I would recommend at least twice a week incorporate your most disliked exercises into a workout and tough it out. Give it 4-5 weeks and you'll be surprised at how your body is adapting to the new stimuli. If you don't like running, take one day this week and run a block or a mile longer than you have before. Force yourself out of your comfort zone and push yourself. You can't truly know your limits unless you find them once in a while. Always remember to be safe first and foremost. If you're lifting heavy, lift with a spotter. Common sense is king.
Monday, December 19, 2011
A Little History about Myself. (Story behind my decision to join Pararescue written 1-21-2010)
I figured I'd share a little backstory about myself on here to let you guys know who I am. This was written 1-21-2010.
I haven't always been a big kid, for a long time I was skinny as a rail. My distaste for physical activity at the time, and a insatiable appetite have left me where I am now. I'm about 220 as I write this. While that might sound like alot to some of you I used to be 300-315. Years of no exercise and eating whatever I wanted to left me feeling sick most of the time, and dampered most of my social life throughout middle/high school.
When I finally got out of school I really didn't look into the future much.. I guess I wasn't the most motivated of people, but due to unforeseen family circumstances I have had to remain here and help out for the last 3 years. I don't mind living with my family still, but it's given me alot of time to think about what I want to do with my life.. which brings me to my point. I've decided that I'm going to become a Air Force Pararescueman. While this sounds a bit drastic for the normal "fat guy finds his higher calling which allows him to do what he loves while maintaining a level of fatness" let me explain..
At the end of 2007 when I was becoming a legal adult "yay".. I started getting alot of mail from the military about joining up. At the time I shrugged it off because I wasn't looking for something like that, and I just ignored the calls and letters for the time being. It slowly died down as the year progressed and I put it into the back of my mind while I focused on other stuff (online gaming). Towards the middle of 2007 I decided that I was tired of being in generally poor overall shape.. and I began to change my habits around with the help of my Step-dad. I started eating right for the most part, drinking mostly water.. and occasionally working out. It didn't take long for me to start feeling better and I decided that I was going to stick with it. By the end of 2007 I had dropped about 30lbs and was sticking to it for the most part.
In 2007 I was working for a cleaning company, and I wasn't very happy with the job. I started to think about what I wanted to do with my life and started to consider the military as a possible option. January 2008 came around and I decided that I would go talk to a Marine Corps recruiter.. (yes it was the dress blues with the sword commercial). I weighed 269lbs and couldn't do more than 2 push-ups when I went in there, and he made it clear I would have to really up my game to make it in the military. I still lacked the hardcore motivation to make myself do things on a daily basis, but I was making myself do more, it just wasn't enough. I hit a wall around the end of 2008 and I couldn't seem to make myself do what I knew was right. Things stayed this way for months untill April 2009.
April 2009 was the first time I'd heard about airsoft on a large scale, I'd known about the cheap walmart guns for a while but never got into it much. My friend Jonathon (Apollo on Airsoft Ohio) told me there was a game in April that he was attending and wanted to me to go with him. We had no idea that Crimson Dawn 2 would be as much fun as it was. Ever since that day I've been hooked on airsoft. It was a fun hobby and great exercise.. and It really hooked me on the military. I'd been debating with my step-dad on the idea of joining the Marines because he didn't want me to go in for infantry, he said "If you're going to join you should find something you can make a career out of". I thought about what he'd said and as I talked to more and more former military members they all seemed to validate his point. I started looking around at different jobs in the Marines but nothing really seemed to peak my interest.
During the Summer of 2009 I started seeing commercials on the military channel for a new show coming out called "Special Ops Mission" and I heard the phrase Pararescueman. I looked it up on wikipedia and was surprised to read about what seemed to be some of the United States most elite soldiers. My interest in the Pararescue program was fueled throughout the shows airing and it stuck with me ever since. I wanted a way to be able to really test myself physically, mentally, and to make a career out of my time in the military. I found that in the PJ's. From the time the show ended in Fall 2009 to now I've done a lot for myself physically. I couldn't do a push-up when I started working out again, I'm up to 15 without a problem now. I feel and look a lot better than I ever have, and I plan to continue until I reach my goal. I know it's going to be a long and arduos road ahead of me, but I intend to stick with it and do something I can be extremely proud of.
I think that if it wasn't for my step-dad really pushing me towards looking at other options I wouldn't have found what I consider the perfect job for myself. I'm willing to get up everyday and work my hardest knowing that someday I might be able to save someone's life. It's their duty to put other people before their own comforts and desires, and I plan to make it mine as well. I will write more blogs to keep up with physical progression of myself as time goes on, as of the moment I can do 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 30 4-count flutter kicks. I'm no where near the physical shape I need to be.. but it's 80% mental right?.. I can fix the 20%.
I'd like to say thank you for anyone who is currently serving or has served, you guys are the real deal and I have nothing but respect for you, and thank you to anyones who's encouraged me so far.. I appreciate it.
I haven't always been a big kid, for a long time I was skinny as a rail. My distaste for physical activity at the time, and a insatiable appetite have left me where I am now. I'm about 220 as I write this. While that might sound like alot to some of you I used to be 300-315. Years of no exercise and eating whatever I wanted to left me feeling sick most of the time, and dampered most of my social life throughout middle/high school.
When I finally got out of school I really didn't look into the future much.. I guess I wasn't the most motivated of people, but due to unforeseen family circumstances I have had to remain here and help out for the last 3 years. I don't mind living with my family still, but it's given me alot of time to think about what I want to do with my life.. which brings me to my point. I've decided that I'm going to become a Air Force Pararescueman. While this sounds a bit drastic for the normal "fat guy finds his higher calling which allows him to do what he loves while maintaining a level of fatness" let me explain..
At the end of 2007 when I was becoming a legal adult "yay".. I started getting alot of mail from the military about joining up. At the time I shrugged it off because I wasn't looking for something like that, and I just ignored the calls and letters for the time being. It slowly died down as the year progressed and I put it into the back of my mind while I focused on other stuff (online gaming). Towards the middle of 2007 I decided that I was tired of being in generally poor overall shape.. and I began to change my habits around with the help of my Step-dad. I started eating right for the most part, drinking mostly water.. and occasionally working out. It didn't take long for me to start feeling better and I decided that I was going to stick with it. By the end of 2007 I had dropped about 30lbs and was sticking to it for the most part.
In 2007 I was working for a cleaning company, and I wasn't very happy with the job. I started to think about what I wanted to do with my life and started to consider the military as a possible option. January 2008 came around and I decided that I would go talk to a Marine Corps recruiter.. (yes it was the dress blues with the sword commercial). I weighed 269lbs and couldn't do more than 2 push-ups when I went in there, and he made it clear I would have to really up my game to make it in the military. I still lacked the hardcore motivation to make myself do things on a daily basis, but I was making myself do more, it just wasn't enough. I hit a wall around the end of 2008 and I couldn't seem to make myself do what I knew was right. Things stayed this way for months untill April 2009.
April 2009 was the first time I'd heard about airsoft on a large scale, I'd known about the cheap walmart guns for a while but never got into it much. My friend Jonathon (Apollo on Airsoft Ohio) told me there was a game in April that he was attending and wanted to me to go with him. We had no idea that Crimson Dawn 2 would be as much fun as it was. Ever since that day I've been hooked on airsoft. It was a fun hobby and great exercise.. and It really hooked me on the military. I'd been debating with my step-dad on the idea of joining the Marines because he didn't want me to go in for infantry, he said "If you're going to join you should find something you can make a career out of". I thought about what he'd said and as I talked to more and more former military members they all seemed to validate his point. I started looking around at different jobs in the Marines but nothing really seemed to peak my interest.
During the Summer of 2009 I started seeing commercials on the military channel for a new show coming out called "Special Ops Mission" and I heard the phrase Pararescueman. I looked it up on wikipedia and was surprised to read about what seemed to be some of the United States most elite soldiers. My interest in the Pararescue program was fueled throughout the shows airing and it stuck with me ever since. I wanted a way to be able to really test myself physically, mentally, and to make a career out of my time in the military. I found that in the PJ's. From the time the show ended in Fall 2009 to now I've done a lot for myself physically. I couldn't do a push-up when I started working out again, I'm up to 15 without a problem now. I feel and look a lot better than I ever have, and I plan to continue until I reach my goal. I know it's going to be a long and arduos road ahead of me, but I intend to stick with it and do something I can be extremely proud of.
I think that if it wasn't for my step-dad really pushing me towards looking at other options I wouldn't have found what I consider the perfect job for myself. I'm willing to get up everyday and work my hardest knowing that someday I might be able to save someone's life. It's their duty to put other people before their own comforts and desires, and I plan to make it mine as well. I will write more blogs to keep up with physical progression of myself as time goes on, as of the moment I can do 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 30 4-count flutter kicks. I'm no where near the physical shape I need to be.. but it's 80% mental right?.. I can fix the 20%.
I'd like to say thank you for anyone who is currently serving or has served, you guys are the real deal and I have nothing but respect for you, and thank you to anyones who's encouraged me so far.. I appreciate it.
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