Stew Smith Fitness News

What Your Question About How to Prepare Actually Depends Upon...    You may have read or heard my reply to others (or yourself) when you ask a question such as, "How should I start training for ___________?" My answer really depends on SO MANY factors that answering this question by email, text, or even in person does not give it justice. There are a few things you need to realize when you start the journey to prepare for any job that requires elevated levels of fitness such as any of the Special Ops programs in our military as well as...

Special Ops Selection programs as well as other tough journeys culminating in difficult goal achievement are filled with more of those who failed than succeeded for a reason - they are time consuming and hard. I recently had a few conversations with two different groups of people - doctor/surgeons and a few Navy SEALs. Both groups accomplished their goals and are still growing for future successes. Some of their statements really struck a chord with me and prompted this article idea. The newly minted Navy SEAL said:                          ...

Try These Quarantine Workout Ideas IF Spec Ops Candidate Prior to Starting Boot Camp About Quarantine:  New recruits march to their barracks at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The Navy is using the Army installation to isolate new recruits for two weeks before they go to Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, for boot camp.  Should You Taper Prior to Boot Camp?Answer - NO! NO TAPER NEEDED - Boot Camp IS a Taper - The week before shipping out to boot camp for the Spec Ops candidate should be considered a regular training week.  No need to taper prior to boot camp as...

The Transition from Winter to Spring is the Best!  After a Winter Lift Cycle, you may be ready for a change?  Are you ready to get outside and run, PT, and swim more? Every year at this time for the past 22 years I have been doing Seasonal Tactical Fitness Periodization, it has been one of the best changes to our routine - not only for over all attitude but for our performances increases in muscle stamina (calisthenics tests) and endurance events (timed runs / swims).  We have one more 3:1 Lift Cycle before we move into a more Spring...

When You Need to Make a 180° Turn Around- All It Takes is Two Right Turns -  No one wants to hear "you are going the wrong way - turn around", go back to where you started, or start a new path, but sometimes when on a journey or on the constant journey of life, we need to make a course change. In this dead end road metaphor, the two things a new direction needs is two right turns and sometimes that means going back to where you started.  In fitness, health, and overall human performance, these two right turns...