Chunky in the military

laurak33
laurak33 Posts: 5 Member
edited October 6 in Introduce Yourself
Hey, Im Laura I am not "fat" but not quite in standards and I am training to run a marathon this summer. I work out (hard) everyday but could not loose a lb. Went to a dietistian and she recommended me here and so far Ive learned that "over proteining" yourself will not make you loose weight but will weigh you down.
«1

Replies

  • uboom
    uboom Posts: 69 Member
    Hey Laura,
    I'm a Navy sailor too. I'm big into cycling, so I share your endurance sport love. I'm up in the Norfolk area. Would really need to see your diary in order to recomend any thing that might work for you.

    Cheers,
    Brent
  • blkmale67
    blkmale67 Posts: 61 Member
    Hello Laura,
    Welcome to MFP. I am also in the Navy. Stationed in Charleston Sc. Good luck with your training and feel free to add as a friend if you want.
  • Hey! Im in the ROTC program at shcool and maybe minoring in military science :D

    Good luck to you! This site is great :]
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    RAF here... i lost loads here! Helps you really analyse what you're eating, how you're exercising and if it all matches up. But you do have to be honest and as accurate as possible for it to work.
  • Hey, I am active Coast Guard stationed in Charleston, SC This site has helped me stay off the weight program, as well as keep my self accountable and in shape.
  • .
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    Navy wife, and about to PCS in the next year (we start picking in Feb!!). This site is fabulous for seeing what you're doing. If you have the right Mfp friends, you have access to TONS of helpful info.
  • N_BEAST_MODE_24_7
    N_BEAST_MODE_24_7 Posts: 120 Member
    Hi, Army here... Use your protein as a meal replacement, and continue to workout and do cardio... sometimes you may not lose the pounds, but lose inches..This is what I tell my soldiers that are on the overweight program, and most of them lose weight and come off the program. It's a daily battle, just continue to put up your best defense! OOH-RAH
  • Scott613
    Scott613 Posts: 2,317 Member
    The military weight program isn't too accurate. It's based on weight similar to BMI. I never made weight but would always measure out. Then I found out if you go on their overweight program they'll give you work time to go to the gym to workout. That's when I stopped measuring out so I could hit the gym during work time lol
  • lvnspoonful
    lvnspoonful Posts: 391 Member
    Hey everyone! I am U.S. Navy for almost 12 years.

    Feel free to add me as a friend!

    I am currently stationed in Groton, CT.
  • The military weight program isn't too accurate. It's based on weight similar to BMI. I never made weight but would always measure out. Then I found out if you go on their overweight program they'll give you work time to go to the gym to workout. That's when I stopped measuring out so I could hit the gym during work time lol

    Lucky for your service. The Coast Guard is not this way, If you go in the weight program you have to lose it on your own time. depends on what unit you are at and how your CO or OiC is
  • nel0311
    nel0311 Posts: 248
    Well I am a military spouse, hoping to get fit and ready and possibly join
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    The military weight program isn't always the best. My best friend was at the Air Force Academy, and every year when they did weigh ins, she was in the overweight or obese range. She plays volleyball for the air force team, and before that she played club volleyball pretty much her whole life. She's pure muscle, basically, but the military uses BMI rather than body fat percentage. She said she would always get sent to the medic who would look at her and be like "You're not fat. Go away." xD

    So just take it as a grain of salt. that number might not ever go down. If you're looking to shed some fat though (you might take a look at your fat percentage to determine if you need to) try doing some weights.
  • prettyfitchick
    prettyfitchick Posts: 502 Member
    I leave for basic Jan 4 for the Navy I am trying to get in the best shape I can before I go
  • Itsallbs15
    Itsallbs15 Posts: 262 Member
    Army soldier here. I have been in for 5 years and have never made weight but have always made tape. Just keep up the cardio and pay close attention to your calories. As for the protein, use it as a meal r snack replacement. I would have a protein shake after out unit pt session every morning (which was my 2nd workout of the day) and then have peanut butter and celery or mixed nuts as snacks and then chicken for dinner. It gave me my protein in moderation and allowed me to keep my strength up.
  • I was in the Marine Corp. I was in the weight program about half the time I was in, only about 1 or 2 lbs over most of the time and I hate the way they take body fat. To me the weight program where I was, was a joke and they didn't push you to lose weight.

    Anyways Welcome to this site it is great! It has help me get back in the my military weight and I wish I knew about this site when I was in


    Feel free to add me as a friend, I'll be training for a marathon soon too.
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    Hey I'm in the navy as well and I've had to watch my weight since getting in. I could go on and on about this but I should get to work.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    I use to think the military's method of determining body fat was antiquated, but after using a couple different methods to determine body fat, I found the circumference (neck / abdomen) wasn't so inaccurate after all. I've never made weight (217 lbs). The closest i've come is 223, which was post MFP.
  • I use to think the military's method of determining body fat was antiquated, but after using a couple different methods to determine body fat, I found the circumference (neck / abdomen) wasn't so inaccurate after all. I've never made weight (217 lbs). The closest i've come is 223, which was post MFP.

    tell me about it, at one point the military had me at 30% body fat...I went to the gym on base the next day and they took my body fat with calipers and I was at 13%...
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    She's pure muscle, basically, but the military uses BMI rather than body fat percentage. She said she would always get sent to the medic who would look at her and be like "You're not fat. Go away." xD

    This was me when I was active duty (same situation). I was at 17-18% body fat and was told I was "overweight" at every PRT. Every time I got sent to medical and calipered... the corpsman just sighed.
  • Lora0626
    Lora0626 Posts: 54 Member
    Hi Laura, I"m Lora. I'm stationed in CA with the Air Force. I'm in the same boat you are in and need to lose some weight. :-)
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    Sometimes you have idiots performing the tape test. If it's performed as the regulation states, there shouldn't be a 17% difference in body fat.
  • N_BEAST_MODE_24_7
    N_BEAST_MODE_24_7 Posts: 120 Member
    I'm Master fitness qualified in the military and a certified personal trainer on the outside. Yes the overweight program is broke and the military (Army) under the new SGM, they are thinking about throwing away the measuring tape. His theme is " SLIM DOWN OR GET OUT " Yes some ppl don't know how to tape correctly, but hopefully they will find a correct way to do this correctly. Until then keep working hard..
  • jbosey
    jbosey Posts: 119 Member
    Thank all you military folks for your sacrifice! You guys are the best!
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    The military weight program isn't too accurate. It's based on weight similar to BMI. I never made weight but would always measure out. Then I found out if you go on their overweight program they'll give you work time to go to the gym to workout. That's when I stopped measuring out so I could hit the gym during work time lol

    Oh we 'get' workout time alright. This last PFA we had about 9 failures within our security department. In order to stop this from happening next time the SECO implemented a mandatory workout schedule for the entire department. We now get to PT from 0600-0700 M/W/F. I'm certainly not against working out, myself and a bunch of guys in section usually work outbefore work. What I'm not fond of is that the people who failed are blending in with the crowd and falling to the wayside. Yesterday we did a mock PRT and the one guy in our section who failed-wasn't even there.

    Also I have to say I disagree with the tape measure method, I've seen too many people with 'big' necks get through who shouldn't. It's one thing if your neck is big because of muscle-a person shouldn't have a huge beer gut and pass tape because their double chin helped them measure below the max body fat.
  • supertracylynn
    supertracylynn Posts: 1,338 Member
    Just to put it out there, I was measured at 23% with calipers, and was 33% according to Navy standards... You can't tell me I was 23% weighing 210. Or maybe shedding this many inches (2" from my neck, at least 12" from my waist) and this much weight (70 from that point) has caused me to only go down 3% body fat?

    There's a reason it's called "Navy standards". They measure everyone in that branch the same way, according to gender. There's also a reason why there is a Physical Readiness Test. For years my husband passed the PRT, but not the tape. Then there are the ones who pass tape, but not the PRT.
    Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

    You always have the choice to get out.
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    Wow sounds a little harsh. There's always room for human error no matter what type of measurements are used. It's called standards and it would be great if they were followed. I was measured wrong and had to make the CFL pull the instruction up and get remeasured. He still didn't follow the instructions properly-but I passed at least. And yes I know all about the ones who pass the PRT but not the tape. I love it that the 23 year old I was counting for could barely do 40 sit-ups and ended up with a satisfactory on her overall score.

    I've seen way too many people get special treatment because they are friends with the CFL, so call it standards which is fine and I work hard to get back in and stay in them-it's not like I think they expect too much of me physically, but there's also error and favoritism involved as well. If it weren't, then personally I wouldn't have so many problems with the program.
  • twiztedgrl69
    twiztedgrl69 Posts: 191 Member
    Thank you for all your service!!!
  • miss_ally08
    miss_ally08 Posts: 167 Member
    I'm a Marine Corps girlfriend just trying to gain muscle, drop a little weight, and keep up with my boyfriend, lol. Thank you all for your service and commitment to this country. God bless!
  • hello and welcome here I was in the army so I know your feeling there are alot of great people here so good luck and hope you have a great day
This discussion has been closed.