I am currently a D1 college football player who plans to join the SEALs once I graduate from college.
In preparation, I want to start running / swimming on a regular basis. However, upon recently reading the “Running Makes You Fat” articles, I was wondering how people go about still running long distances (because they have to) without breaking down all their muscle.
Sir,
With all due respect, I would highly recommend you seeek out the advice of someone who has actually been to BUDS to give you better insight and advice on your training. What I do know for certain is that you need to “keep your eye on the prize”, which is becoming a SEAL. The last thing you need to be worried about is losing muscle.
I see you are in Texas? I don’t know where, exadtly, but have you considered contacting Marcus Luttrell? I am quite sure he’d be more than willing to help you prep for BUDS. If I’m not mistaken, he does that as kind of a side job. He was born and raised here, so he knows what it’s like to prep in the Texas heat, and I believe he still lives down around Huntsville somewhere.
Good luck to you.
[quote]JGrace55 wrote:
I am currently a D1 college football player who plans to join the SEALs once I graduate from college.
In preparation, I want to start running / swimming on a regular basis. However, upon recently reading the “Running Makes You Fat” articles, I was wondering how people go about still running long distances (because they have to) without breaking down all their muscle.[/quote]
Seals don’t care about having huge muscles, if you look at their physical training it’s a ton of calisthenics, swimming and running, I would do that. Think about this logically.
[quote]JGrace55 wrote:
In preparation, I want to start running / swimming on a regular basis. However, upon recently reading the “Running Makes You Fat” articles, I was wondering how people go about still running long distances (because they have to) without breaking down all their muscle.[/quote]
That’s because SEALS are actually fucking bad-ass beyond comprehension and don’t give two shits about the “Running for a long time will rob me of all my strength!”
Plus, they’re not looking for big muscles. They’re looking for the strength necessary to move their body and other heavy things effortlessly. Those are two very different things. If joining the Navy SEALS is your goal, then you should be looking to getting as strong as you can, while still being as fast and agile as you can.
There are plenty of other websites where you can get advice regarding this from actual SEAL members or other related military folks. Go there. This is not the place to ask this.
google navy seal buds warning order pdf
[quote]JGrace55 wrote:
I am currently a D1 college football player who plans to join the SEALs once I graduate from college.
In preparation, I want to start running / swimming on a regular basis. However, upon recently reading the “Running Makes You Fat” articles, I was wondering how people go about still running long distances (because they have to) without breaking down all their muscle.[/quote]
Prior to shipping, the “eat more” maxim obviously applies, although you may still lose some leg size with all the running.
Post-shipping: you can’t avoid it. Most sailor recruits (especially SPECWAR candidates) get a lot fatter, and weaker, during basic. Pre-BUD/S will help to an extent, but then you get thrown in the meat grinder all over again.
Average weight loss in First Phase is between 10-20lbs. You run around 125 miles during Hell Week.
Long story short: you will lose muscle, and feel skinny-fat (maybe especially being a football guy), for all of BUD/S, and most of SQT. If you can’t wrap your head around that and accept it, handling BUD/S is going to be really hard. Good luck.
[quote]mapwhap wrote:
Sir,
With all due respect, I would highly recommend you seeek out the advice of someone who has actually been to BUDS to give you better insight and advice on your training. What I do know for certain is that you need to “keep your eye on the prize”, which is becoming a SEAL. The last thing you need to be worried about is losing muscle.
I see you are in Texas? I don’t know where, exadtly, but have you considered contacting Marcus Luttrell? I am quite sure he’d be more than willing to help you prep for BUDS. If I’m not mistaken, he does that as kind of a side job. He was born and raised here, so he knows what it’s like to prep in the Texas heat, and I believe he still lives down around Huntsville somewhere.
Good luck to you.
[/quote]
In his book “Lone Survivor” (upon which the movie is based), Marcus Luttrell actually talks about this issue a little. He states that all of the big, muscular guys were the first ones to wash out from BUDS. He stated that the big muscles made them too slow to do the work required in the SEALs and that above all else, the SEALs value speed. In his words, “speed kills”. The type of strength required to get through BUDS is strength endurance, not maximal strength. If you want to prepare for BuDS, do what you will do in BUDS: thousands and thousands of push-ups, running from before sun up to after sun down and swimming miles and miles. Luttrell also says that you cannot overestimate the importance of being a strong swimmer both to make it through BUDS and for life in the teams so if you are lacking here, work to get it up.
It seems that to make it through BUDS, the most important thing is your mental toughness and your ability to keep going long after you think you no longer can. I’ve read a couple of places that the instructors usually know within a couple of days from the start of a selection class who are the candidates that will make it through because they can immediately identify that internal drive in a candidate. It seems like they want those guys who you have to cut up in a million pieces before they will stop.
[/quote]
In his book “Lone Survivor” (upon which the movie is based), Marcus Luttrell actually talks about this issue a little. He states that all of the big, muscular guys were the first ones to wash out from BUDS. He stated that the big muscles made them too slow to do the work required in the SEALs and that above all else, the SEALs value speed. In his words, “speed kills”. The type of strength required to get through BUDS is strength endurance, not maximal strength. If you want to prepare for BuDS, do what you will do in BUDS: thousands and thousands of push-ups, running from before sun up to after sun down and swimming miles and miles. Luttrell also says that you cannot overestimate the importance of being a strong swimmer both to make it through BUDS and for life in the teams so if you are lacking here, work to get it up. It seems that to make it through BUDS, the most important thing is your mental toughness and your ability to keep going long after you think you no longer can. I’ve read a couple of places that the instructors usually know within a couple of days from the start of a selection class who are the candidates that will make it through because they can immediately identify that internal drive in a candidate. It seems like they want those guys who you have to cut up in a million pieces before they will stop.[/quote]
This is all true (although, post-schoolhouse, a lot of SEALs become very big boys and lift quite a bit. Look at Luttrell and the DEVGRU guys). However, while swim technique (especially combat side stroke) is important, there is a significant percentage of pre-BUD/S devoted entirely to swimming. Running is much more important, because at BUD/S you will probably be running more than ever before in your life (40-50 miles/week) - to and from chow, to and from the grinder, soft sand conditioning runs, weekly timed 4-mile runs, a 13-mile run for completion, etc. You run literally everywhere until graduation. Running (especially on soft sand) is what causes the stress fractures, broken ankles, and shin splints, not swimming. The #1 reason candidates DOR is injury, and First Phase is where the most injuries occur, due mostly to running. Plan accordingly.
Big muscles = big target.
Survive = small target.
Get wise.
You’re going to need to find a SEAL training
mentor too.
Do search for Mark Owen’s book on how to survive BUDS it covers every detail including having monster drinks in your room frig to bribe the instructors during room inspection.
Long distance running only makes you fat and weak if that’s all you ever do. Balancing strength work with bodyweight work and enough running will definitely not make you lose all of your muscle or strength. Take the advice of the people who have been there before and check your ego, passing BUD/S needs to be a higher priority than being big. There will be PLENTY of time if you make it to lift big when you’re done proving yourself.
Look into Stew Smith and his SEAL training series. Smith was a SEAL and has written many programs for guys preparing for various special operations tests and careers. His stuff is solid, and he’s a very helpful and generous guy in my experience.
Some of the advise on there was truly asinine. In BUDs you will run countless miles every gawd day of the week and Monday starts with a timed four mile run. You aren’t allowed to wear a watch to pace yourself but you’d better pray to the baby jesus you better your last run but at least a second. Run, run and run some more.
[quote]cjbuhagr wrote:
[quote]
In his book “Lone Survivor” (upon which the movie is based), Marcus Luttrell actually talks about this issue a little. He states that all of the big, muscular guys were the first ones to wash out from BUDS. He stated that the big muscles made them too slow to do the work required in the SEALs and that above all else, the SEALs value speed. In his words, “speed kills”. The type of strength required to get through BUDS is strength endurance, not maximal strength. If you want to prepare for BuDS, do what you will do in BUDS: thousands and thousands of push-ups, running from before sun up to after sun down and swimming miles and miles. Luttrell also says that you cannot overestimate the importance of being a strong swimmer both to make it through BUDS and for life in the teams so if you are lacking here, work to get it up. It seems that to make it through BUDS, the most important thing is your mental toughness and your ability to keep going long after you think you no longer can. I’ve read a couple of places that the instructors usually know within a couple of days from the start of a selection class who are the candidates that will make it through because they can immediately identify that internal drive in a candidate. It seems like they want those guys who you have to cut up in a million pieces before they will stop.[/quote]
This is all true (although, post-schoolhouse, a lot of SEALs become very big boys and lift quite a bit. Look at Luttrell and the DEVGRU guys). However, while swim technique (especially combat side stroke) is important, there is a significant percentage of pre-BUD/S devoted entirely to swimming. Running is much more important, because at BUD/S you will probably be running more than ever before in your life (40-50 miles/week) - to and from chow, to and from the grinder, soft sand conditioning runs, weekly timed 4-mile runs, a 13-mile run for completion, etc. You run literally everywhere until graduation. Running (especially on soft sand) is what causes the stress fractures, broken ankles, and shin splints, not swimming. The #1 reason candidates DOR is injury, and First Phase is where the most injuries occur, due mostly to running. Plan accordingly. [/quote]
I’m actually reading the same book right now. To follow up on your point, he mentions that there is a minimum amount of 6 miles of running a day just to get to and from the mess hall (and obviously lots more on top of that every day).
Ignorance is still knowledge I guess. The chow hall was moved up to tbe beach a few years ago. Check out Smith and Owen and for the latest.
[quote]JRT6 wrote:
Ignorance is still knowledge I guess. The chow hall was moved up to tbe beach a few years ago. Check out Smith and Owen and for the latest.[/quote]
I don’t really care. I was just saying what a book I read said.
When you sign up you’ll get an MOS first of all. Basic and then MOS training. You won’t go straight into BUDs. I don’t give 2 shits what a recruiter says. IF you can make it to buds, you’re gonna lose a TON of weight. Period. It’s GONNA happen. They starve you, sleep deprive you, break you down and make you wanna quit. You may not even pass BUDs which I think s something like 80% drop/fail rate. You don’t wanna lose mass, don’t go SF. After you complete your training (if you make it) you can always bulk back up.
Look up James “The Thinker” Smith. He was an S%C coach at Pitt and has trained many people for BUDS. He also went through BUDS himself so he has first hand knowledge on what is required. I believe you can hire him or he has a book/program on training to be a SEAL.
Good Luck!
[quote]BillyHayes wrote:
Look up James “The Thinker” Smith. He was an S%C coach at Pitt and has trained many people for BUDS. He also went through BUDS himself so he has first hand knowledge on what is required. I believe you can hire him or he has a book/program on training to be a SEAL.
Good Luck![/quote]
x2 -super knowledgable guy.
Also Mark Divine a former Seal commander offers coaching andseems to have some legit products.