Working Out

usafafam

5-Year Member
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Feb 4, 2013
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Besides running a lot, what is the best thing to be doing to get in/ stay in shape?
I'm not a member of any gym, so should I join one?
 
for a service academy, rotc, enlistment, or just general information?
a great place to start is body weight exercises and then go from there.

Push-ups
Pull-ups/Chin-ups
Squats/Lunges
Muscle-ups
etc...
 
Besides running a lot, what is the best thing to be doing to get in/ stay in shape?
I'm not a member of any gym, so should I join one?

what are you getting in shape for? Beast? Running a marathon?

Your goals and current level of fitness will dictate the best training for you.
 
I would recommend doing Insanity this summer if you can. I did it to get ready for ROTC and it was...well, insane, but in a good way:smile: Definitely got me in shape.
 
Insanity

I totally agree with the Insanity workout.
It doesn't take too long but really kicks butt.
When working out just make sure to have enough protein(like protein shakes). That'll help build muscle
 
what are you getting in shape for? Beast? Running a marathon?

Your goals and current level of fitness will dictate the best training for you.

I'm getting in shape for the AIM program and then maintain that level of fitness until (hopefully) either the CGA Swab Summer or the USAFA Beast
 
Pumping Iron with some circuit training. That is if you want to build muscle and keep your cardio up.

Insanity/P90x do NOT build muscle unless you are at the most basic level fitness wise.
 
It may not be "Beast" but it is "BCT" and is generally pronounced the same.

And that's where the similarities end.

At USMA it's actually "CBT" and the term Beast Barracks is much older than the new acronym terms.
 
Cadet Basic Training and Basic Cadet Training, yep no similarities there. :thumb:
 
Pumping Iron with some circuit training. That is if you want to build muscle and keep your cardio up.

Insanity/P90x do NOT build muscle unless you are at the most basic level fitness wise.

I disagree about P90x. If you use a lot of weight, it will build muscle. You just have to work up to it and P90x is a great way to get there.

Don't believe me, ask the experts:
That said, this research shows that P90X is a valuable way to burn calories, build muscle and improve your overall fitness level. “The data provides a lot of evidence to say that P90X does work,” says Woldt.

For more, google ACE and p90x.

Now, should you pay 150 bucks for the program, that is up to the user to decide. You could just as easily look online for free workout programs, and youtube videos and create your own similar workout programs, but p90x does provide an easy to use package. After some time, though, you may get board and need to move on.

As for Insanity, ACE has something to say about that, too. No so positive:
Poor sequencing between body segments with inadequate anaerobic energy pathway recovery within same muscle groups (e.g., introduces push-up jacks and plank obliques at very end rather than interspersed between lower-extremity tests)

Begins with simpler, lower-intensity movements that induce fatigue before testing compound, complex movements later

Goodluck!

edit: another study, this one negative on p90x and Crossfit from a military perspective.
 
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P90X, Crossfit, and pretty much any other workout program that try to mix cardio with weight lifting will not build significant levels of muscle mass. There is a reason all the guys that win the crossfit games come from backgrounds with more traditional weight lifting.

That being said, you will not be doing much olympic lifting at Beast, etc. so focus on running (look up a track team 2 mile race workout) and bodyweight excercises. You do not need to spend money on p90x, etc. when you can do pushups, situps, and pull-ups in your back yard or high school gym.
 
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