The US Navy SEALs are an elite division of the US military and as such they require peak physical condition and suitability for deployment in the most demanding circumstances. For a job like this, very few are suitable and that is why every Navy SEAL must be able to pass rigorous fitness tests to show they are up for the job.
US Navy SEAL training programs are very intense and although they are tailored specifically for military personnel, they are great for anyone who is looking to get in shape, shed those extra pounds or even prepare for whatever sports they participate in.
What Benchmarks must a Navy SEAL attain?
There are many benchmarks that a Navy SEAL must pass in order to be suitable for military deployment. Some of these can be achieved through rigorous training, while others such as eyesight are more to do with nature than nurture.
These include....
The ability to be able to swim 50 meters underwater! That is 2 lengths of an average size swimming pool without lifting your head for a breath.
The ability to swim 1.2KM in a time period of under 45 minutes, which means each length of a swimming pool, must be completed in less than 1 minute.
The ability to swim 2 miles in an ocean in under 75 minutes! One difficult part of this task can be how cold the ocean is at the time of completion.
The ability to run 14 miles! This is over half the length of a full marathon.
As well as physical training a Navy SEAL must pass academic exams to be suitable as well. The above mentioned activities are great for anyone looking to train for swimming, wrestling, athletics or any other high endurance sport. Being able to do things such as hold your breath for long periods of time can increase your cardiovascular strength considerably while swimming long distances can work all muscle groups and allow you to have sustainable endurance.
What diet does a Navy SEAL have?
Navy SEALS have diets that are designed to have them in peak physical condition when they have to perform. Because it is important that they remain hydrated drugs such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine are out of the question because they cause dehydration which in turn causes them to have less energy and require more fluid intake when it may cause disadvantages. In order to attain peak performance, SEALs consume a break down of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the following fractions - Protein - 2/10ths Carbohydrates - 5/10ths Fat - 3/10ths
Protein can be consumed through foods such as red meats, whilst carbohydrates can be consumed through pasta and potatoes for example. Fat intake is still important for Navy SEALs however they will not put on weight as they will burn it off and transfer any excess fat into muscle.
Having a Navy SEAL diet or participating in a Navy SEAL fitness program can help you to attain peak physical fitness that will help you to live a longer, healthier and more fulfilling life.
Starting a fitness program is the best thing you can do for your overall health and as soon as you have your Doctor's okay you can get right into all that physical activity which can help reduce chronic disease as well as improve your balance and your coordination.
Start by assessing your current fitness level. You probably have at least a rough idea of just how fit you are. You need a baseline to start with so your fitness scores can be compared for gain. You should record your pulse rate before and after you complete your mile walk, how long it takes you to walk that mile, how many pushups you did at one time, your body's mass index or BMI, and the circumference of your waist. Once you have this information recorded your fitness program is ready to go.
Next you need to design your own personal fitness program. Start by determining your fitness goals so what it is you want to accomplish - lose weight, improve your cardio function, or perhaps run a marathon. Think about what it is you like or dislike when it comes to exercise and activities. Plan to start light and then build as your ability gets better. That's the best way to avoid injury and do remember to spice it up a bit so that your workouts have lot of variety so you won't get bored.
Now you need to assemble any exercise equipment you have purchased for your fitness program. Perhaps you purchased one of those all in one machines, or maybe it was just a treadmill. At any rate you will want to get it all assembled so that you can start your workouts and be on your way to a healthier you.
Once you are ready to get started you will need to start slow and gradually be build up. Make sure your warm up is adequate so that everything becomes easy. Depending on where you are will depend on what type of exercises you incorporate into your workout and for how long you workout will be. That's what your personal fitness program is all about.
It's best to break things up if you need to. Remember shorter more frequent sessions also work very well and it is much easier to fit 10 minutes of exercise into your busy day than it is 30 minutes. That 10 minutes means 3 short and quick sessions. It's that easy to get your fitness program into your busy day.
Try to be creative with your workouts because you are much more likely to stay at it when your program is interesting and not boring. It's hard to stay enthusiastic about the same exercises in your fitness program when you have to do them day in and day out.
Make sure that you are listening to your body. Shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea means you need to take a break from your fitness program immediately. If you have pain in an area reduce the amount of exercise for a bit to give it a change to heal.
It is very important to monitor your progress because otherwise you have no way of knowing if your fitness program is working for you. You also don't know when you should make things easier or harder.
Now that you've created your own personal fitness program you have no excuse to get busy.
Both James Kara Murat & Steve Johnson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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