Customer Reviews

The Complete Guide to Navy Seal Fitness

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Comment about previous reviews: there are ample warnings in the book about resting between sets (Lt. Smith does make recommendations but also tells readers to take as much time as they need); Lt. Smith gives the reader *choices* and *alternatives* frequently; the only point without compromise is showing up and giving a full effort. I think that's the strongest part of the book.

The other reviews that augment the warnings in the book are dead-on. These workouts are serious challenges to anyone, triathletes and boxers included. Having said that, it's possibly the best workout you can do without weights.

If you can't pass the initial test and the 4 week beginner program is still too hard, halve it (make it 8 weeks, do half the work the first 4 weeks and take a week of active 'rest').

Overall, Lt. Smith sets a high standard for fitness with these workouts, but after reading other reviews, I bought it and will tell you myself: he lays out more than one map to these lofty goals, and his writing encourages you to try and keep trying. I found that to be the difference between this book and any other fitness book. I came away inspired, not intimidated.

I have owned this book for a couple of months. As a former Marine, I've always enjoyed the PT military style. This book will give you the fitness to accomplish every physical challenge you can think of without involving weights. As a busy salesperson, I don't have the time or place to lift weights consistently but I can do pushups and pullups and run and often swim just about anywhere on my travels. The only caveat I suggest is that for most of us, we need to divide the PT sessions into 2 or more a day if we want to finish it. Also, the jumps in routines actually require longer than he suggests. For instance, he says to run 3 miles one week then 4 miles the next week. More realistically, we should run 3miles, then 3.25, then 3.5, then 3.75 and then 4. THe same with swimming. But this program will get you into shape if you take it more slowly than recommended. So instead of 12 weeks, make it 24 weeks. You'll still be in great shape but not be so pressed for time.

This is definitely high-intensity -- if you're willing to start a 12-week workout that has you doing 660 abdominal exercises on the first day of the second week, this is the book for you.

A couple of caveats:

1. You should be in shape already. The reviewer who said the "beginner's" workout is too hard for most people was absolutely right.

2. You should already be a strong swimmer to be able to accomplish the amount of swimming prescribed.

3. You'd better have plenty of time available to work out. Workouts like:

Run 3 miles. Swim 100m freestyle sprint, then do 25 pushups, 25 ab exercises (repeat swimming/calisthenics 10 times!). Run 3 more miles.

are not exactly the fodder of the "Easy Lunchtime Workout" articles in most fitness magazines!

4. There are a couple of omissions, like how long you should rest between sets. And you'll be doing a *lot* of sets. Fortunately the publisher has a website with a discussion area where Lt. Smith ans! wers questions like this regularly.

This books is intended to be a preparation for those who wish to attend Navy SEAL selection. It contains workouts that are specifically intended to prepare the reader for SEAL selection. However, these workouts are equally beneficial to the general public as demonstrated by the physical fitness of Navy SEALS. The workouts contain running and swimming, as well as high intensity/volume callisthenic workouts which cover the entire body. The workouts will not likely build large mass, but instead will build practical strength, and definition
In short though, this book is a general layout of tried and tested workouts used in preparing for Navy SEAL selection. However, it will not provide the personalized tailoring and scientific backing that many modern workout books do provide. An excellent selection though if you want a tough pre-designed workout, that will develop strength, tone, and cardiovascular fitness, without needing any weights.

What this book has:
- INTENSE! Pre-designed 12 week workout, which is intended (if it can be completed exactly as written) to prepare the reader for SEAL selection
- A 4 week workout plan designed to build the reader up to the more intense 12 week plan
- Workouts made up of calisthenics, running, and swimming
- Variation on standard callisthenic drills of pushups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and dips
- Excellent photographs, accompanied by descriptions , explaining how to perform each exercise
- Stretching techniques for the exercises
- Information on how to apply to become a SEAL
- Information on the physical fitness standards applicants need to apply to SEAL school
Example: number of pushups/ sit-ups in 2 minutes, times for running a mile, maximum pull-ups etc.

What the book is missing:
- Scientific backing of how the workouts develop the body
- Descriptions of muscles used in each exercise
Sometimes just says a description of an exercise may say "uses the back muscles"
- Personal tailoring
This book does not give any description on how to personally tailor the workout plan. Instead this books is only a standardized layout of exercises and workouts that have worked for SEAL candidates in the past.

**NOTE: The author points out the danger of performing some of the sit-up exercises. Listen to him. However, he does not mention the danger of the neck exercises, watch for these as well. You will need pull-up bars for the exercises in this book.

Out of speculation and curiousity, I picked up a copy of this Seal Training Book. Bottom-line - VERY well documented and true-to-life book that delivers an honest and pure approach to SEAL training. For all of those people that left comments remarking that this guide was 'too hard', 'not for beginners', or 'too time constraining' then I ask you to please put down this book and pick up - 'a weakling's weekend warriors guide to a want-it-dont-want-it-that-bad 101' I am not pious nor disrespectful, but UDT/SEAL training is SERIOUS BUSINESS not casual telemarketing trash. Bottom-Line ___ GET THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO FEEL STRONGER, MORE DISCIPLINED & READY FOR ANYTHING IN LIFE. If you can't meet all of these strict requirements, then back off and do 1/2 of them and then build your self up slowly. I do honestly recommend that you are in decent shape at the genesis of this program. THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT READING. QUITE comparable to the actual USN SEAL ISSUE GUIDE. GET IT AND GET INTO SHAPE TODAY! *-*-*-*-* GOOD LUCK ~ GODSPEED

Stewart Smith's Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness goes far beyond the average fitness book. Smith teaches the reader a type of fitness which has been pushed into the wayside with the introduction of weight lifting, aerobics, and ab machines; that fitness is calisthenics. The purpose of his book is to give an opportunity to those who wish to enter BUD/s training (Basic Underwater Demolitions a.k.a. SEAL training) a workout program that will best help them negotiate this intense course while giving them some insight on the stresses that will be placed on them, but he also gives a great workout routine who wish to get into 'wicked good' shape. His workout is primarily designed to ready one for BUD/s and much of the text is devoted to describing how BUD/s is conducted. The first sections of the book demonstrate various stretching and physical training techniques. Many of these techniques are unique to the military, i.e. dive bombers. Nonetheless, each exercise, when done correctly, provides a great workout to the designated area of the body. Smith's next section pertains to another area of specialty in BUD/s - pull-ups. He demonstrates many pull-up techniques employed at BUD/s. The next two sections are devoted to running and swimming. Both incredibly emphasized at BUD/s, Smith goes into great detail on running properly and on swimming techniques. As an added bonus, a section on rope climbing has been added. The rest of the book is devoted to the actual workout. A 24 week routine, Smith provides more than the official Navy SEAL workout. By compounding supersets of calistinics with sprints and pull-ups, this workout gives the participant an anaerobic (without oxygen) workout. Overall, if you want an intense workout that will prepare you for anything, this SEAL workout is for you. The benefits aren't all physical, either. The mental toughness gained through this workout cannot properly be put into words. So if your a workout fanatic or have aspirations of joining the nation's most elite commando force, The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness is for you.

Lt. Smith's book is informative, motivating, and easy to follow. I'm a 23 yr old male planning on pursuing a career in the SEAL Teams. I knew I needed to get moving with my physical fitness regimen but I lacked direction and motivation. The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness was exactly what I was looking for. It provides insight into what is arguably the most intense and demanding military training anywhere in the world. Pictures showing calisthenic exercises, as well as stretching, make it great for beginners and seasoned athletes. The "12 weeks to BUD/S Workout" is well organized and leaves nothing to the imagination. Its detailed diagrams and charts on running, swimming, and calisthenics will challenge you and certainly improve your overall physical fitness....there's no doubt about it. Bottom line, it's a great book, and if you complete the workouts inside, you'll be in the best shape of your life.

This is a wonderful book, second only to the same author's Maximum Fitness. It presents an extremely rigorous and effective fitness program that uses no weights. The program provides a lot of variety and the workouts are fun. They are also very, very difficult. But if you stick with the program you are going to see some pretty stunning results, both physical and mental. And that's a promise.

A bonus is that you will laugh out loud several times when you first read through the exercises and when you read about what real Navy Seal training is like.

After running through this program a couple times, anything will seem possible to you. That's something you can't put a price on, and I think that Stewart Smith has done us a great service by writing this book.

... if you are ready for it. I'm in my fourth week of the 12-week training program and I have never felt stronger or healthier in my entire life. Though this program is not for starters, even the 'beginners' 4week program would demand some decent level of fitness to 'survive' it. But the book is all what it promises to be; it offers you a very comprehensive insight in the simple - yet o-so effective - training methods by the army. No need to have or to share weights or machines; so no excuses for not doing a complete set!! Probably the biggest challenge you will have as you start this program is TO STICK WITH IT!! So far I did, and the results are already there; my abs are much more pronounced, my chest and shoulders are more firm, and my running and swimming times are getting better every week. Combine this program with a balanced low fat diet, and with the right motivation and take care of the details, such as stretching and rest. The results are awesome...

I must start this review by saying that I rate this book as a five star because I think it really delivers what it promises.

This book, in my opinion, is a complete and serious manual about the exercises in a Navy Seal workout. Of course there are not boat lifting or M-16 jumping around, but overall the great majority of the exercises are covered in this book.

The author seems to be a real Navy Seal, and I'm sure that having him around screaming bad words at my ears would have greatly improved my results... :) Maybe in the future they could launch a Navy Seal cassete tape with motivation or something... That would be nice! Hehe... :)

Now seriously! A nice aspect is that all exercises are clearly explained with text and pictures. If an exercise has three phases, there is a picture for each one, so no matter how dumb you are, you can be totally sure that you are doing the exercises correctly.

Another important aspect is that even the small details are covered. It shows how is the proper grip for pullups, breathing techniques, etc... There are even sections on rope climbing and the special swimming stroke that Seals use, so if maybe you are intending to really try BUD/S one day, this book may be a valuable tool.

At the end of the book you find detailed programs that you can follow to improve your fitness. The exercises grows in a crescent order until you reach a level that I never ever came even near. There are instructions for each day of the week, how many pushups, how many miles to run, etc...

The big problem of this book, in my case, was how to find the motivation to exercise alone day after day. But even this is not a problem of the book, but mainly mine.

But I lent this book to a friend of mine who was a military buff, but kind of weak, and to my surprise when I met him after six months and he was totally changed... :) With good muscles and everything.

He told me he was doing series of 25 pullups and many pushups, etc... But he followed the book to the core and would even swim in the open sea. For me it means that if you follow the book you get results, if you don't follow it seriously you will be disappointed with the results.

For those who are interested in this kind of thing, I would suggest the use of a walkman with some tapes like "USMC Running" or similar. They helped this this totally unfit lawyer pass the physical tests for the Brazilian FBI a few years ago. And I believe they would be a great tool for anybody wishing to follow this book.

This book is a great buy if you know what you really want and are serious about it!