Thank's everyone for your comments and helpful advice!


What I saw in almost everyone's post is alcohol or drugs or something to that degree.


I don't drink, and I don't do drugs, or even smoke. Gotta stay healthy, you know?


But yes, I have been doing nightly workouts for about an hour to 2 hours each night, making sure to focus on my arms, legs, and chest.

I've cut back on soda, as well as other sugary items such as candy, etc. etc.

My diet is about 2000-2500 calories a day, I think that's pretty healthy, especially if I'm working out 2 hours a day.


I'm going to start riding my bike again, so that'll help with the leg muscles as well as sweating (losing weight)



Like I said before, thank you for all of your comments!

I've got about 12 months to get ready for boot camp, so i've got to make the best of them!

 

If you start running, may I suggest trail running. It's more physically demanding than road running and far more exciting. If you're not up to running distance yet, start with a minute running, two minutes walking, minute running, two walking, etc. for 30 minutes. As your stamina increases, increase your running time, decrease your walking time, and increase your duration. Always be sure to warm up and cool down with 10 minutes of walking. As you progress start working on hill climbs and incorporate short distances of running backwards.

Include a weight training regiment with your cardio. I'd start, again at 30 minutes and work your way up to 1-2 hours of lifting every other day unless you do splits (upper one day, lower the other). I prefer free weight because they incorporate more of the smaller muscles for stability vs. a machine. I'd start with smaller reps and again work your way up.

You won't do yourself any favors trying to hammer out heavy workouts in the begining and will risk injury. As you progress, incorporate more exercises targeting the same area. Your muscles are layered. As you fatigue the top layer, deeper muscles join in to help, as these are fatigued even deeper muscles are used to help. The deeper you get, the bigger the rewards. Mix up your routines and reps (instead of duing a simple 3 reps of 15, do progressions using heavier weights 1x15, 1x10, 1x5) because your body does get used to workouts and your gains will slow or seem to stop.

I'd recommend purchasing a good weight lifting book that shows numerious exerciese for each area (shoulders, back, chest, abs, arms, and legs). Also, your diet will need to change in order to properly fuel your body. As you gain more muscle mass you will be burning more calories at rest. Muscle is constantly burning calories.

Watch your food portions. x100 Veggies eat as often as you'd like, fruit not as much (sugars), and stick with lean meat, but don't avoid red meat. Cut down on your sugars and empty calories. Eat a small portion of almonds prior to exercising and I'd recommend a small baked potato, yogurt, or serving of pasta afterwards.

If you fall off the wagon, forget beating yourself up, and just get back to work. You'll see your greatest gains at the begining, so don't get frustrated when your weight loss and muscle gains slow as time goes on. All it means is that your body is becomming more efficent. If you have troubles with motivation, tape up some motivational stuff on your fridge, the bathroom mirror, in your bedroom, workout area, anyplace you'll have to see it. Also, it never hurts to get a training partner to help keep each other on track and be a kick in the butt when needed. Good luck!

 

Where at in NC are you?

 

I live about half an hour away from the largest Marine base on the East coast!

I live right outside of Jacksonville, NC.

 

on a side not, boot camp.. dont forget the mental portion, the physical portion is easy compared to the mental side... prepare yourself for your mind wanting you to stop, u just need to ignore it and think, its all time and time will pass no matter how much pain your in or how bad your mind or body want to fold.

Id rather fail a task because of my body then my mind, thats forsure. without a strong mind, you have nothing.

 

Congratulations and thank you.

I've lost a good 35lbs in the last year and a half by cutting out the fast food, soda/pop and the snacking. I am down to 219lbs and have another 25 to go. Everything I have done so far has been pretty laid back though as I didn't start running or anything like that. I always make an effort to control myself more and not eat as large of portions. I always laughed when people would say that greasy foods don't taste good after you quit eating them but they are right. A greasy burger kind meal or whatnot does not sound appealing anymore. I have also found that drinking a lot of water helps too.

Once people start noticing and commenting on how you have lost weight it makes it that much easier. A friend of a friend commented to the friend how she had noticed I had lost a bunch of weight and that sure makes a guy feel good about himself. When your pants start getting loose and you have to go buy a new gun belt you will feel good too.

 

Mentally, I believe I will be fine.

I am 100% committed to serving my country. And yes, I am willing to die to defend my country, the United States of America.

I am not worried about if I can mentally do it, because that is what I want to do; defend and protect the constitution of the United States.

I am worried that my body will not be able to handle it, and right now, it wouldn't be able to make it through boot camp.

I've got about a year to get ready, maybe 13 months. I am physically preparing myself.

I am not afraid to die.
Especially when losing my life will save countless others.

 

If your mind says you can do it then your body will follow suit. The mind is a very powerful thing.

 

You're on the right track Paul. Focus on endurance training, not strength. When you get to boot camp, it will be more useful if you can bench press 50 lbs 2 million times than if you can bench press 500 pounds 10 times.

What Uno means by mental toughness is something you won't understand until after boot camp. That's one of the things that you're taught in boot camp that really can't be described in words, you just have to experience it. Once you've gone through it and passed, you'll understand why this band of brothers is tighter than any other.

Just remember endurance is the key, just as Uno mentioned in the running department, but you'll get used to that in boot camp. If you've been working out 2 hours a day, try switching to 30 min or 1 hour of calisthenics every other day. Then work your way up to a couple of hours of that every day.

Your attitude sounds right so this advice is strictly on the best way to prepare yourself for boot camp, not anything to do with weight, but by doing this, the weight will come off. The main goal is looking too skinny on day 1 of boot camp. The diet recruits have it the worst since they get reduced portions. The kids that are too skinny have it the best since they get extra portions. Not that it really matters since there will often not be enough time to actually eat your meal before it's time to go anyway, but I always envied the guys who got double portions. I'm rambling so I'll shut up now.

 

that is correct about the mind, it has nothing to do with being willing to die or being a patroit. make sure you come back to this thread and let us know after you get outa bootcamp.

F350-6 is right you cannot put what your about to go through into words. no one other then a Marine can bring up that feeling, I can feel it today just as the days it was instilled into me.

 

Myself and Driximus are both at Cherry Point Air Station and I know that I would be glad to help any way I can.

Like said before, lots of cardio, good diet, but also keep up with your upper body and overall strength training.
I know people who have had great results with P90X and the Insanity workout programs as well.

I have a back injury so I can't train with you at this point, but if you need anything at all send me a PM.

-Evan, Cpl USMC

 

Any Idea's of what you want to do in the Marines?

 

Paul, have you been to a doctor? Do you have any medical conditions that need tending to? (Please don't discuss your medical history publicly).

MEPS entire purpose in life to weed out anyone who may seem unfit until the candidate can prove otherwise.

This will be your first hurdle. Eyesight, joint pain, bunions, lack of motion and the list is intense. These people are the gate keepers.

Any issues that you enter the service with or develop while on active duty is instantly owned by the service and the VA.

As an example, my daughter was trying to enter the Coast Guard. The recruiting office was too happy and obliging as I knew them all anyway and then she got to MEPS. She had to have a bunion removed and they said, "do not come back for 12 months".

Have you taken your ASVAB test yet? It's good for 12 months and you have an option to challenge the first test of you feel that you score better on the second one.

Any college? An education can get you in at a higher paygrade.

Just a few additional thoughts for you as everything is vitally important.

So, take care of yourself as if your future depends on it because it does.

 

Any medical conditions?

Not at all. Good this, that, and the other. My eyesight is 20/20 according to the eye doc about 7 months ago.

About the only physical problem I have is having a little too much fat. I've got muscle, just, some extra pounds are hiding it all.

As for the ASVAB test, I have not taken that yet. Planning on it, though.

No college education, i'm only just about to graduate high school.

(Did anyone notice my age??)

 

Definately take the asvab soon, that will give you an idea of what jobs you can go in to. Be careful about quick weight loss supplements like hydroxycut and the like. THey can mess your body up pretty good.

To go to boot camp you'll need to pass a semi-pft. 1.5 mile run in at least 13-14 minutes but try to do 3 miles in under 28 if you can. Crunches (look up how to do marine corps style) I can't remember how many to get into boot camp but later on you need at least 60 in 2 minutes, 100 is perfect score. At least 3 pullups, but at least 10 to get a decent score, 20 is perfect.

Plus with the new CFT you need to work on shoulder press (lifting ammo cans, 35 pounds as many as you can in 2 minutes), quarter mile sprint, and running with two 35 pound ammo cans, low crawl, dragging and firemans carry with a friend.


Have you started working out with the recruiter yet?