HELP! How do I prepare for bootcamp, physically?!

[santiago712]

I have exactly 2 months before I leave for bootcamp. I am not in my best physical shape. I am within weight standards, which is great. I just cant do my required situps unfortunately... =(

Advice, anyone, please...

[SonandSea]

I'm in Texas... but you're right, it shouldn't matter. My son joined a gym that is month-to-month (no contract) and has 2 pools. Pretty reasonable, too. ($30) a month. 

Now, if he will just GO and swim!! :)

 

[jguzan]

my son is currently in BC tomorrow will be week 4 day 1. he is 30. Kinda old for a new recruit. Talk about out of shape... He was a depper 4 months. 15 lbs over weight and a smoker. but he wanted it bad. no money for a gym either. He got up every morning and jogged and was way over limit of 1.5 miles in 14 min. pushup , pullups, situps, forget it. He then gave up smoking. ran every day twice a day and practiced his other requirements 2-3 times a day. After a month he could do the requirements and had lost 10 lbs. After 2 months he lost not the 5 he needed but 10 lbs and was under the time limits with time to spare. he has passed all tests so far with ease and is seeing others struggle. One 19 yr old in his division at right wt could only do 4 pushups. he is glad of the self discipline he used prior to going in and being prepared. BC is hard enough with being physically fit. So I say best advice get out and excercise daily (pace yourself) and work up to what is required over the time you have. You don't need a gym to run, you canlay on floor for push ups and sit-ups. You can use can goods to do arm lifts for strengthening arms. Believe me there is physical work outs being done without going to expense of joining gym. You can do this on your own!

[santiago712]

Hopefully, tomorrow I will be visiting the YMCA closest to me to speak to someone reguarding my situation (me being a future sailor trying to prepare for boodcamp in June) to see if they can let me come in and workout for free. If not, $30 a month isn't bad. I can afford that. I would love to be able to just get up and go for a run, but I have two toddlers, a 4 and a 3 year old. So, it isn't that easy. I'm a stay at home mom, don't have a sitter. My husband is working pretty much all the time, so when he is home, which is usually around 8 or 9 at night, Its too dark for me to run (I get scared running by myself that late), also I like to try and spend that time with him since I leave in less then 2 months. I do have a double jogging stroller that I still try and squeez them in now and then... LoL.

[jguzan]

I am sorry I didn't realize you had kids. that would make it difficult. I am wondering though how is your husband going to manage with you in the Navy and away at boot camp 2 months and then A school? I would try the Y then. I know I had 6 kids and had to improvise. you can still work on situps and pushups at home in living room floor and run in place do jump rope and alot of other things to get in shape right at home. That's what I did when my kids were still at home. It can be done . Believe me where's there a will there's a way.

[Taylor's Girl]

You've just got to focus on getting yourself ready by actually going out and doing the required exercises. Don't give yourself the excuse of "Oh, I don't have time to go to the gym because I have a family," or "I don't have anyone to hold my feet so I can't do sit ups by myself." When I went through boot camp, my RDCs had us spend the last 5 minutes before bed doing sit ups and push ups. Yeah, I know 5 minutes does't sound like a lot, but when you are pushing yourself to push out as many as you can, trust me, it goes a long way. All of my division passed our sit ups and push ups with flying colors thanks to that. None of us were worried, while the girls in our brother division (who didn't do what we did) were crying the night before they did theirs because they weren't sure if they were going to pass their sit ups and push ups.

 

If 30 sit ups is all you can do for the first night, then just do 30. Find a piece of furniture to wedge your feet under and have at it. If you can find someone to hold your feet, that's even better. Then tell yourself you will do 30, and don't do any less. Then on the next night, tell yourself you will do 35. And then 40. Keep adding to it every night and you will be set. Don't expect results right away, and don't be disappointed in yourself if you can't do as many as you would like. Maybe after a week, do your sit ups and then 20 push ups. And then sit ups and 25 push ups. And hey, don't worry, if you are close but not quite there, boot camp will make sure you get there. Don't sweat it.

[KristyPedy]

Thanks, ladies... and gents too! I haven't signed anything to join the Navy but I've been doing sit-ups and push-ups around my apartment to prepare myself. I've even jogged around my apartment every now and then for at least 15min. I also have a young son who is almost a year and a half now who keeps me pretty occupied; however, my problem is, is that my husband can't seem to find work so on top of me trying to get fit - I'm the one that's going to work. It's only minimum wage which is another reason I am looking into joining the Navy to better myself and open new job opportunities for myself.

[ckwinn]

just make sure you do a lot of running and sit ups and push ups keep in shape my son started out then he slacked off some and it was very hard for him and don't eat the ice cream even when it is in the galley.just keep pushing your self

good luck

[Sandy's_sailor son]

Santiago, My son was in DEP or 9 weeks. He did not prepare and had a very hard time with the running. Of course having serious blisters on his feet from combat boots did not help. He said that if he had to do it all over again, he would have gone for a 2 mile run every day to prepare. Try to run every day.   My son said that the running was the hardest thing for him.

If you are having a hard time with the sit-up invest in an exercise ball. (you can find them at Target or Walmart.) This will help you a lot. Not only does it work your abs but it will help your back out too. Start a little at a time with the sit-ups. Make sure that you concentrate and keep your abs squeezed in. If you are not using an exercise ball, start by doing your sit ups with your knees bent. Don't worry about how fast you do them at first. Just concentrate on your form. Once you have got that mastered then speed up. You might want to find a Pilates DVD. (Target,/Walmart) Pilates teaches you how to do sit ups properly. Pilates will also help you stretch out. My son said that they had a lot of Pilates exercises in boot camp.

If you have access to a swimming pool that would help you too. One part of the swimming test requires you to float for 5 minutes.

Best of luck your you.

You can do it!!   

[lishiyloops08]

I am also leaving to basic but not as soon as you are. I have to wait til jan 18 2012 (: What i keep doing each day is do as many sit ups as I can then add one or two more the next day and from there your numbers will go up before you know it ((: What is your run at?? and how many push ups can you do??

[Momma Grace]

My daughter just graduated boot camp. Wook out hard she did and she was glad she did. She was short to the time by 1 1/2 min. When she passed running test Irene was. With 1:15 to spaire. Don't worry. You'll get it.

[Debra]

Just keep working out. My son graduated 9/9/11 and before he went to bootcamp, he went to the gym everyday and watched what he ate...you'll be fine just do you best.  Good Luck!!