TFR235 - Common Mistakes in Spec Ops Preparation and Training

[@RedBurritoMadness]

You guys truly know your shit. Jeff perfectly described how my brain has functioned for 4 years now. I heard all the podcasts, I read the books, and I got the BUDS bug. Then I went to a recruiter completely unprepared (Stew nailed it) and started the process before I could even swim. Low and behold, I went, and I DOR’d 3 days into phase. Then, as most do, I wanted to go back. But instead of working, I continued to mentally plan and build all these workout regiments without even doing them. I felt like I was getting closer to the goal, but in reality I wasn’t. I’ve now stopped the thinking, stopped the podcasts, stopped building the “perfect workout routine for logs, boats, and runs.” I’ve found that for me, I just gotta be mind numb and just go workout. Once I’m at the workout area and I start, I figure out the plan. Otherwise I just sit and think about what Im going to do and never do it. Not that any of that matters to yall, but that’s my experience and maybe it’ll help someone not make my mistake.

[@StewSmith182]

No - this is great. We have seen it happen for decades now. Nothing new under the sun. - Keep on crushing it.

[@sqwerglywhergaly5582]

Get to BUD/S and get THROUGH!!! We are all in the same boat crew in a way, I'll see you there!

[@carlogambino8109]

Jeff and Stew deliver like FED Ex! They have that one two combo liver shot, knock out punch that puts the bull shi$^t on the deck!

[@josephhoff88]

Love when Jeff is on!

[@rengoku9029]

Time to shut up, listen up, and learn

[@JoeGresko]

Hi Stew, Im preparing for BUDS for a year and a half. My PST scores are (80 pushups, 94 situps, 21 pullups, 10:10 run, 12:07 swim). This is how my training plan looks like: 1) Monday - weightlifting + fast 3 mile run 2) Tuesday - push ups/pull ups 3) Wednesday - gut check + 3 mile run + 2200 yard css swim 4) Thursday - push ups/pull ups 5) Friday - Squats, walking lunges + 3 mile run 6) Saturday - push ups/pull ups 7) Sunday - testing my scores + abs + jumping jacks. The workout im doing are usually 2 hours not including runs/swims. I wanted to ask you whether the training that im doing is optimal and what are the areas I should improve on (as well as what is the best way to implement them into my routine)? Thank you very much for your answer. The only easy day was yesterday!

[@StewSmith182]

I think this is an OK way to build a foundation however, I do not think you are running, swimming / swimming with fins enough. Plus your lips mixed in with your calisthenics almost on a daily basis is not allowing you to recover properly so you’re just going to likely stay on a plateau with this programming. If you want to get to the training by crushing the PST, you should focus on that. But you don’t have to do daily pull ups and push-ups and upper body lifts in between. Then once you crush the PST, you need to have time to focus on getting through Buds, which will mean rucking, loadbearing, more, and longer swims with scuba fins mixed in with pool skills.

[@StewSmith182]

Check out this article and specifically read the part about phase 1 and phase 2 of tactical fitness: www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/recruit-welcome-to-the-special-ops-journey

[@JoeGresko]

​@@StewSmith182 Roger that, more running/swimming and less calisthenics till I crush the PST. I have read the articles. And I have one more question. You said i should stop making the leaps of calisthenics and cardio in one day and allow myself to recover more. Will it be reasonable then to do 1 type of workout everyday e.g. 3 calisthenics days + 2 swimming days + 2 running days in a week, what's your take on this? Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond to these messages, they are very valuable to me

[@sqwerglywhergaly5582]

​@@JoeGresko I'm not stew but his 1st phase program has running and swimming at least 5 days a week. So I'd run and swim everyday except for two.

[@markw3956]

I’m preparing too for SOAS this summer , those calisthenics numbers are impressive . I’d recommend a swim coach for sure , even just a couple sessions helps tremendously with using way less energy to get a better score . I did my PST last week and got 8:39 swim , 74 pushups , 72 situps , 13 pull ups , and 10:28 run (barely passed )- I need to work my ass off to become a faster runner - hope to see you at buds one day 👊🏼👊🏼

[@ericberges6794]

Your information is so valuable. I learned how to swim from your old videos. Got my sidestroke to under 9 min 500 yards. That was 20 years ago, you do a great job of showing guys what to do. That was from barely being able to swim btw

[@bull_chops]

Thanks, Stew and Jeff. There was some really good insight and food for thought here. I would watch a pt. 2.

[@business-advice-that-works]

This is pretty awesome finding your channel. I read almost every online article you wrote before and during my time in the Army. Keep up the amazing work.

[@jonklein7130]

Experts both of them.

[@Apple.Tetanus]

10:53 the middle way

[@JonathanRodriguez-ul6re]

Hey Stew, I’m a really skinny guy, 6ft 140 lbs. Do you have any recommendations for putting on muscle/weight while also working on improving my run times. My goal is to join Army Special Forces. I’m currently following a running program that includes a long run (about 6 miles), 1 interval run, and then two shorter runs each at about 3 miles. I swim everyday, I do a minimum of 1250 yards/session. And I’m weight training on my days off from running. I have absolutely no athletic background so I’m basically starting from scratch. Does this sound like a decent plan, is there anything that you’d recommend?

[@StewSmith182]

My advice is replace half of your running with rucking (for now). Take out all swimming as you are just burning a lot of calories making it difficult to gain weight. NOW - lift more. Warmup with cals and build some mass / muscle / gain strength. BUT if you want to get BIG you have to eat BIG. Add more calories so you are getting a 500-1000 cal a day surplus. This is not easy but it will help you gain 1-2 lbs a week. Try my Winter Lift Cycles. but replace swimming with rucking or skip since you are going Army.

[@JonathanRodriguez-ul6re]

@@StewSmith182 Thanks Stew! Do you have any recommendations as far as the rucking goes? Is there an ideal weight/mileage that I should start at?

[@StewSmith182]

@@JonathanRodriguez-ul6re if you are new to rucking, given your current size and running ability, I would suggest 10 to 15 pounds and a weight vest or backpack and walk fast for an hour two times a week on your leg days. You should have plenty of time since you are no longer swimming 10,000 m a week.

[@JonathanRodriguez-ul6re]

@@StewSmith182 Awesome, thanks again Stew, I really appreciate all of the info.

[@StewSmith182]

@@JonathanRodriguez-ul6reI also just wrote a full article for military.com featuring your question. Email me and I will send you the Word Doc.

[@RedFishRunnings]

I don't think anyone can prepare for the psychological butthurt games of biblical proportions....

[@RedFishRunnings]

Is level 16 boat good tho on the shade game tho? The bathory I found. All I can say is wow. Impressive product