Trying to join the Army

You can eat cheap dinners and still lose weight. You just have to watch your portions and have a calorie deficit.

As for the fitness side. To get past the Army PT test, you will need to perform a set number of push-ups in 2 min and sit-ups in 2 min then run 2 miles for time. The breathing will come with cardiovascular training if you don't have an underlying medical condition like asthma (which would be a disqualifier from enlisting). Look into the Couch to 5k (C25K) program and get started. Insanity will be okay, but you will probably get more benefit strength wise from a body weight strength program like those on nerd fitness http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/ or convict conditioning.

Basic training is quite demanding on the body, but they don't push you straight into 6 mile runs or 12 mile loaded ruck marches. At least when I went through it, they do a progressive train-up to the longer distances and reps.

Best suggestion I can give you is to focus on your calorie deficit with what ever food you can afford. Try to keep a good amount of protein to maintain your muscle mass because you will need that strength when you get to basic training. Work on your cardiovascular health, but don't push too hard to fast since that is the easiest way to cause an injury that will just set you back even farther. Start a good strength/resistance training program. If you can afford a gym or have access to free weights, heavy lifting (3-5 rep range) will give you the best bang for your buck in terms of your goals, but because the Army uses a lot of body weight exercises in basic training, doing body weight work at home will be more than sufficient.

Good luck and feel free to add me as a friend if you want some prior military as support.

I dont have anything to track the calories i burn, also it's really hard to count calories for me. Like let me give you an example if I cook a baked chicken breast what can I put on it for flavor that isn't gonna completly ruin the calorie count, and how many calories is just a chicken breast without adding anything. another sucky thing is i don't have a gym to go to just the home DVD.

Not having much money then will play into your plan then by just eating less.

You dont need to have anything to track the caloris you burn. If you are on MFP you obviously are on the web. You can find how many calories you need to lose weight and how many calories are burnt by various exercises.


You will need to lose some serious weight to be able to join. They do have a tape test for body fat but you really dont want to have to deal with that and really need to focus on the number on the scale.

As for a gym? Sure you have one, it is called mother nature. If you want to e a part of the Armed Forces you need to learn how to adapt and deal with what you have and dont give BS excuses like the ones you are giving thus far. Losing weight can be extremely cheap. You eat less food, and just really need a pair of running shoes or two per year. The rest you can do, such as pushups and situps, wherever you are located.

Goodluck. Get out and run, run, run and run some more. To rest go and do pushups and situps. The standards are all online and/or at a recruiting depot. There needs to be no excuses.

To get ready when I enlisted I got ready by running in 90+ heat in the middle of the day in long sleeves and sweatpants to get ready for it. You dont need much other than determination and dedication to get it done.

Goodluck

Whatever it is that you do to make weight and fitness standards, make sure it is something sustainable. Once you're in, you don't get to breathe a sigh of relief and go back to old habits. It might take a little while, but you will get tossed to the curb. There are many ways to give your family a good life, and while it is a good motivation to serve, I hope it isn't your only one.

Thank you for wanting to join the military. It is not something everyone can do or wants to do.

Also, I concur with what everyone else has said. You don't need to belong to a gym to start
working on your fitness now. If you go online and see what the standards are for you, for
your height and age, those are you goals. Just don't make excuses, because in the military
there are no excuses, you either do it or don't, not doing it, is not an option.

Being in the army can be very demanding, but also very rewarding. You know that in the
army you will be doing ruckshack marches, and that's usually all of your gear on your
back. So, start going out and walking, then build up to running, and then maybe put a
bookbag on your back, with some stuff in it, so you can get use to what it will be like.

As for your diet, a lot of it is portion control, and you can eat healthy on a small budget.
You just have to sit down and plan out your meals and menus for the week. And hopefully
no one in your family is a picky eater.

I was in the military and it offered me wonderful opportunities and put me in the best
shape of my life. Feel free to add me as a friend, because the most important part
right now is accountablility. Also, you might want to talk to a recruiter and see if he might
be helping other future recruits to get into shape.

Good luck and again, thank you for making the decision to join the military.

I loved my time in the Army, and had I not had children i would still be in.

I looked up the current PT standards, for a 21 year old male:

*49 pushups -check out youtube for military pushups
*87 Situps -these aren't crunches...these are honest-to-god situps
*2 mile run in 15:12

These are for 70%...the lowest I've ever seen any first sergeant accept. I had a few though that would assign extra PT for those under 75% on an APFT.

In addition to working your body hard to get in and make it through basic, check out an ASVAB book and study it! Much of what decides what job you qualify for is determined by your ASVAB score, and your GT score (the GT is a component of the ASVAB). The rule of thumb is anything less than a 50 will get you jobs in combat MOS's, and service support (though this isn't always the case...I think combat engineers need a higher GT than is possible with less than a 50, for sure the finance guys needed a higher one), scores over 50 get you more support...

My brother scored a 38 and became a glorified mall cop, another one scored 97 and is a sateillite programmer, I scored 98 and chose Intelligence...But the higher your score, the wider your options are.

EDITED: Drill sergeants can smell weakness, so agree completely with the above poster...start this now -DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS!! I once saw a drill reduce a guy to tears over this...

I guess I should clear the air a little, I actually want a Combat job, I either want to be a MP or Infintry. I really want to be the front line in defending our homeland, My grandfather and my father also served our country, My grandfather was in the navy and my father was a private contracter. I need this not only to give my family a furture but to help my personallity. I won't tell my whole life story but in a short story I never felt as if i had the childhood somebody should have had. I Know I need to grow up and stop being stuck being a child. I want to be the best father I can be, if that means giving my own life on the front line. I know I can advance through the ranks with determination as did my grandfather. I am just so lost at this moment in what to do thats why I came to MFP.
[/quot


If you want a combat job then I wouldnt become an MP!

What I did as a poor person: filled bags with dirt and used them as weights....walked to the groceries and walked back with two full hands and a backpack.... walked/ run lots of hills.....ran like someone was try on to catch me....joined free run at local running groups....used a wooden bored with a little cushion to do incline sit-ups.....did squats.....walked with a backpack with bags of dirt for weight......ate a lot of chicken, salad....pasta...fruit....( some of the things I could think of right now)
My outcome in basic trainning: it was too easy......Max my PT
Use what you have.....Good Luck....Go get it!!

I was in a combat MOS in the army for 4 years and now doing reserve. Those jobs are physically demanding. However, it's more on mindset. Having strong mental fortitude is one a the most imperative aspects of joining the army. Basic training is ok and kind of like being trained as an athlete. As long as you have the will, the motivation and the mental fortitude to succeed, you do great and fit in nicely in the service.

What I did as a poor person: filled bags with dirt and used them as weights....walked to the groceries and walked back with two full hands and a backpack.... walked/ run lots of hills.....ran like someone was try on to catch me....joined free run at local running groups....used a wooden bored with a little cushion to do incline sit-ups.....did squats.....walked with a backpack with bags of dirt for weight......ate a lot of chicken, salad....pasta...fruit....( some of the things I could think of right now)
My outcome in basic trainning: it was too easy......Max my PT
Use what you have.....Good Luck....Go get it!!

YES!!! My exercise and food program consists of all of these things. Broke as a joke, but no excuse for not going for a dream and SUCCEEDING. I do heavy lifting. I do this at home with what I've got. That means lots and lots of textbooks (I'm a student who keeps everything I've learned from, lol) loaded into a dufflebag. Sling it on your back for squats, lift over your head for overhead presses, lift from the ground for deadlifts, etc. Cost $0.00 (except the cost of internet to get ideas).

Running's free, jump rope costs $1 (or make your own, like me, I'm truly frugal). There's your cardio.

OP---YOU can succeed. Eating "right" really doesn't cost any more (even is a bit cheaper) than eating "wrong" and too much. You have an honorable goal and wish you the best in finding your motivation and support!