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Hey im looking into joining the Army - I have just broke up and have 6 long weeks ahead of me and want to get in shape - what else am i going to do in the 6 weeks? Play video games like i have done before? Im really confused with it all this , every ''Help to get fit''guides are really confusing half the terms i don't understand. I'm only young - 15 with one year of schooling left - But the pressure is building with poeple asking me what i want to when i leave, I despretetly need to get in shape. I'm around 67 KG and 6 ft 1 with a bad posture. I wouldnt say im fat or overweight to look at, but without im fat with stretch marks i even have them on my upper arms. I can't sit in all holidays and put weight on again like i have done in the past. If anyone can point me in the right direction to ''Starting out'' on all this it would be a great help, A timetable or goals for each day . Any simple tips would come in handy as well. Sorry if i come across to ambitous or unknowlageble but i'm only 15 and dont want to be sucked down into obesity like so many poeple are now.

Thanks

alryt mate. first of all dont join the army! join the royal marines commando. i start my training in september. to get into shape just start steady then build ya self up. start goin for a run 3 times a week, about 2 miles.(15 min run) and start doin press ups and sit ups(boady weight exercises)..... say 3 sets of 15 for both. this will get you used to your boady weight. after a few (3) weeks youll notice a difference. then increase the distance you run 3-4mile. and increase the reps by 5. try and join a gym and ask 4 advice there.. you wont be able to join a gym till your 16 (and have money). get to it lad!

Thanks for the advice, but could you just help me wih what 3 sets of 15 means? does that just mean 45 times?

alryt mate. first of all dont join the army! join the royal marines commando.

Hate to be picky and all but I have to say I don't agree with the way you have put that point across. I my self as you all probably know wish to join the Royal Marines this is because after lots of research I feel it is the Career /life style for me.

The Army, Navy, RAF all do brilliant jobs just as the RM do and to tell someone not to join a particular force in my opinion is wrong. people should be free to chose what force is right for them. maybe try and help him make an informed decision on what force to join and put across you personal feelings about the RM but in the end the choice is his.

The Army can be a equally as rewarding career as RM/Para’s/RAF what ever.

There all out there in Iraq, Afghanistan doing a top job!

My advice is look into all the aspects of each force and chose the right on for you.


Stokey

P.S.

you wont be able to join a gym till your 16 (and have money)

I know plenty of under 16's who are members of gyms (my self included)

Supercooper wrote:Thanks for the advice, but could you just help me wih what 3 sets of 15 means? does that just mean 45 times?

3 sets of 15 means do 15, 3 times, with a short rest in between.
Do lots of research about the different armed services (Army, Navy, Marines, RAF) and make your own choice. Good luck!

Hiya mate, first off glad to hear that you are wanting to make some changes, you've come to the right place. Secondly don't worry about asking what you think are "stupid questions". In my experience the only stupid thing you can do regarding questions you have is to not ask them.

If you have absolutly no idea of where to start then I suggest you do this: get out there and play. Join a sports team, or a club. Try a few different ones and see what works with you. Every other day try bashing out a few press ups, sit ups, and pull ups and see what kind of numbers you are acheiving (make sure you research proper form). Go out for a few long walks. Try and walk as fast as you can; who knows, you might end up breaking into a jog! Do that a couple of times a week for a few weeks. in the mean time read read and read some more. Anything you can get your hands on with regards to health and fitness. Maybe buy "Runners World" (in my opinion might be best to avoid things like "mens health" or "mens fitness"- although one or two won't hurt just to give you some fresh ideas). The most important thing to remember here is to enjoy yourself!

Maybe make friends with a Strength and Conditioning coach and get a few ideas off them. After a couple of weeks of gradually building up your activity levels you might then want to start work on a "real" training programme.

You also mentioned poor posture. Try and consciously correct this in yourself several times a day.


Further to your previous question, a "set" is a grouping of repetitions. Sets are often spaced out by a period of rest. A "rep" is short for a repetition. One press up rep would simply be one press up. One set of ten reps would be ten repetitions immediatly after one another without a pause. Two sets of ten reps (with 30 seconds rest) would be ten repetitions immediatly after one another without a pause, followed by 30 seconds of no activity and then ten repetitions immediatly after one another without a pause.

Hope that helps a little.
Spence

Hi Supercooper if you're looking to get fit over the summer holidays but you don't really know what you're doing it's best to train with someone who does.

Obviously not everyone can afford a personal trainier but your local council run gym/lesiure centre should run circuit training classes which will be run by qualified instructors.

It will be good for you as you will be told what to do and how to do it and it's a good mixture of cardio and strength training.

You will get all levels of fitness at the classes too so don't worry about not being able to keep up or anything as you can go at your own pace and build up your fitness gradually.

Also Marine101, get a grip mate, I don't know if you said what you did in jest but the Marines isn't the be all and end all when it comes to the military, this lad may not even want to join the Infantry he may want to joinone of the Corps.

marine101 wrote:alryt mate. first of all dont join the army! join the royal marines commando. !

If you wanna join the army dont listen to this guy.. just because he is doesnt mean you should.. do what feels right!

You gotta build yourself up, when i first started out i was running 3xweek covering 2-3 miles.. doin press ups .. sits ups.. and pull ups.. now im astonished how far ive come and ive got my PRMC for the marines in Sept.. just to stick dont over do it! also you have a year left at school.. try playin some sports if you dont.. i did 5 a side footie also helped me

Marine 101 learn to spell look at ur profile LAD

Thanks for the great help everyone.

My parents will allow me to join at 16 when i leave school, but is it worth it going to Harrogate? Or should i just go to normal Collage/6th Form? Another thing what should i be eating has anyone got any good meal/snack/breakfast ideas for me?

I'm pretty sure i don't want to be a Royal Marine. I was thinking about Grenadier Guards since my grandad was in them. But others do look appealing.

Thanks

Listen mate, at 16 you are still growing so do not even begin to consider calorie constriction. Eat plenty, and drink plenty of water and milk (not mixed though, moght not taste so great....) just be sensible and avoid all the usual stuff; sweets, cakes, chocolate etc. Notice how I said avoid, not completely stop eating. Same with thinks like Maccy Ds. Try and avoid, but one or two a month aint gonna kill ya.

Keep it simple now, you've got plenty of time to worry about the details later

As for choise of career, only YOU can decide that. If Harrogate apeals then go for it. If Welbeck appeals, go for it. If on the other hand you are happy with Lees Brook Community College then do that instead. Then if Grenadier Guards appeals then give it a crack.

Stay classy

i wont tellin you what or not to join i was just giving my opinion. an yh most gyms dont take anyone till 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marine101 wrote:an yh most gyms dont take anyone till 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats not true, the expensive ones won't, and small ones won't either due to exclusivity and insurance respectivly (so I'm told), but the mid priced ones usualy do, every council one I've been to allows at least 14. I joined my gym at 13, although they've raised the minimum for weight training to 14 now. Just shop around a bit if you have that option, both in my town will take under 16's, but council ones are the best bet.

alryt mate. first of all dont join the army! join the royal marines commando.

not looking for a fight or anything here but that isn't putting you're opinion across. If you had said... "I personally would join the royal marines" or "look into the Marines they may suit you better" then that would be a opinion.

What you said was a (for want of a better word) order/instruction

But as I said I’m not looking for any arguments here just putting my view point across. I wont say anything more on the subject as arguing will achieve nothing.

all the best.

Stokey

Well personaly I just saw it as a bit of a jokey comment not an order, like when ever I talk to my brother he says don't joint the marines follow me to sandhurst etc. its all good natured everyone thinks what they're aiming for/doing are the best. Think people said they thought it came across wrong, no need to keep going on about it, thats when it becomes an issue