Customer Reviews

The Navy Seal Workout : The Compete Total-Body Fitness Program

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a senior in college, I've had trouble finding time or motivation to follow a workout program. On top of that, it is hard to pick a routine from the hundreds available (each telling you that their workout program is the best).

I came across THE NAVY SEAL WORKOUT and thought I'd give it a chance. Let me tell you, this workout is really great. First, you don't really need any major weight equipment, the program uses your own weight. The only equipment you need is a pull-up bar and a dip bar (which saves time, because you won't have to wait in lines at the gym). Second, the system of reps De Lisle has you do is really effective (2-3-4-5-4-3-2, etc.). And the exercises are easy to understand.

Don't get me wrong. They are challenging. When I fist flipped through to book I almost put it down because the exercises almost looked too easy. I couldn't have been more wrong.

If you keep with the program, steadily, for a couple weeks, you WILL see results.

I don't agree with some other reviewers that this book gives inadequate information or that people can get hurt easily using the program. I'm a 42-year-old male who had been lifting weights sporadically for years without seeing much improvement. Within a few weeks of starting Mark's program, I noticed increased definition all over, especially in my arms and abs. Unlike weightlifting, I've had little soreness. Also unlike weightlifting, it's impossible to drop a barbell on your foot, since you're only using your own bodyweight for resistance! I think most people would be more likely to hurt themselves using weights or even weight machines.

For anyone who is even remotely in shape already, the only way to really get hurt with this program would be to do too much, too soon. Mark emphasizes repeatedly that beginners need to take it easy, and the beginner routines involve minimal repetitions. I found the progression from beginner to intermediate levels to be clear and logical (you work up to the next level gradually; you don't just jump from one level to the next.) I also found the explanations and photographs of the various routines to be adequate to permit proper form.

Maybe this isn't the ideal book for former couch potatoes, but every book doesn't have to serve every possible audience. I recommend Mark's book highly.

I must say this is an awesome book for one who wants to get into shape. The only problem with it is, I bought the machine in the back of the book for doing pull ups and latts but Mark Desile never shipped. It was a 144 dollar purchase, and the author took my money and ran. I have attempted to recieve reimbrushment but the author seems to be out of business. Trust me it is a great book, but never buy anything from it. The author and his company do not practice sound business practices.

Navy SEALs are renowned the world over as being among the most-physically fit men alive. In this book, Mark De Lisle, who became a Navy SEAL at age 27, adapts various workout routines and methods from his training to be useful to the 'average' civilian who wishes to work out hard.

There is no substitute for Navy SEAL training, and if you are looking for precise programmes of fitness routines and performance standards of SEALs here, you will be disappointed. For one thing, most people cannot come by the equipment required in SEAL fitness training. However, there are standards and performance measurements that can be attained in a number of ways, and De Lisle provides a good adaptation here that calls for a minimum of special equipment and settings, but still requires a maximum of dedication and drive.

De Lisle provides a brief description of the history of the SEALs as well as his own introduction to the training. De Lisle is an inspiring writing, giving details of his own performance failures and working through these - one thing he emphasises over and over is that determination and definite goals are important.

The first section is on stretching, an often overlooked part of training. Pre-workout stretching should take at least 15 minutes following these routines. In all, there are 18 different stretching exercises detailed. Each has description and basic photographs of the movements. There are stretches for all parts of the body, upper, lower, etc., as well as some stretches that could be done by two people. Working out in pairs can help with motivation.

The second section is on upper-body workouts. It is very tough. Five of the ten exercises listed are variations of pull-ups, and four are variations of push-ups. For these, some place for doing pull-ups will be necessary, as well as dips. De Lisle gives charts for beginning, intermediate and advanced pacing. These are all body-weight exercises; there are no weight-machine or free-weight exercises here. This is a book about fitness rather than body-building.

The third section is lower body exercises, primarily meaning abdominals (many exercise manuals classify these with upper body exercises). There are 13 exercises here, that will give a good all-around burn to the midsection. Again, De Lisle gives general tips and hints on exercising and maintaining proper form, so as to minimise the chance of injury.

Sections 4 - 6 look at running, swimming and combined run/swim programmes. There are few leg-strengthening exercises built into the exercise routines, as that is accomplished through the running and swimming. These include sprints, stair-climbs, and other methods to keep the legs and the aerobic system in good order.

There are two final parts of the book, one on maintenance and one on progress charts. De Lisle gives basic nutritional information (it seems few exercise books are complete without requisite but basic nutritional guidelines; these include here both suggestions for losing weight and for gaining weight). Progress charts are highly recommended, as they are very motivational, and SEALs are big on motivation.

The photography in the book is basic black-and-white, no real glamour shots here. De Lisle and a partner illustrate the exercises; in between are a few 'mood' shots, but these are few and far between. The book is really about working out.

After having quadruple bypass, open heart surgery, I thought, "What could this program do for me?" How about a new life! I originally purchased Mark De Lisle's first book, "Navy SEAL Workout." The results I experienced were nothing less than phenomenal. As soon as I found out that Mark had completed "Breakthrough To Master Level Fitness," I had to have a copy. Breakthrough blows away anything else I have encountered in the fitness market. I have purchased other Navy SEAL workout books and videos but they were either too incomplete or did not sufficiently layout an effective program. Breakthrough however, contains exercises for upper body, legs, cardio workouts, sprints, long distance running, abs and plateau breakers such as Burn Outs, Intervals, and Circuit Training. And with 12 Weeks To Better Than Ever, which lays out routines on a day by day basis, you can't wander off the path to improvement.

With the 12 Weeks, I simply took the evaluation test and checked off each day. The routines were laid out right before me. It even told me when to do my burn outs, intervals and circuits. With the new book combo, I have been able to take myself up another notch. For a middle-aged business executive with heart disease, I need every edge I can get. I highly recommend this book combo over any other SEAL/fitness exercise book or video. Thank you Mark De Lisle, your program is saving my life and dramatically improving my lifestyle.

First off, I just want to clarify that all these people who say you won't be a Navy SEAL after reading this book are right. The only way to be a Navy SEAL is to go train with them. That said, this book is excellent for an ordinary person who wants to get in great shape. I am using it to train for rugby and the strength excersises are what I find most helpful. Using body weight has left me less sore than using dumbbells but a lot more tired. This program is primarily for building muscle endurance, though you will get stronger. I recommend it more for a high school/ college athlete as a supplement to whatever your coach has you do. This is NOT a book for someone who wants to try out for any kind of a Special Forces job.

I am writing this review after having checked out several workout books from my local library. I am a 30 year old male who has never worked out a day in his life. I've always been a swimmer, but have not been in the water on a regular basis for some time. I'm not a military guy. I don't have any interest in becoming one. But I DO have interest in having the strength and build of a military guy, particularly a Navy Seal.

I wanted to begin working out and get fit. I checked out all kinds of books, some had scads of color pictures with buffed-out people throughout. Most used cheesy language and required expensive weights. This book is a complete workout that is straight forward with precise instructions and work out routines outlined without weights. I checked it out and renewed it until the library wouldn't renew again. So now I'm buying it and I'm happy to do so. I know how much I've benefitted from it and will continue to benefit from it.

If you just want some basic exercise guidance . . ., then this book definitely won't hurt your home library and you may really enjoy the step by step instructions and diagrams on basic exercises (pushups, dips, situps). If you want to get in serious shape, you're gonna have to look further.

This book is workout-lite and would probably fall into obscurity if the title didn't have "Navy SEAL" in it. One of the other reviewers, a fmr. Special Forces, nailed it: there is nothing in this book that you can't download off the net for free. Most of the chapters focus primarily on calisthenic repetitions and the pages are heavily illustrated w/ step-by-step photos of how exactly to do a pushup, situp, flutter kick, etc. The workouts are comprised mostly of calis and are far less intense than ANYTHING you'd find in a real military training program. SEAL training is very swim intensive and that's where a lot of people get rolled -- this book only has 2 1/2 pages on swimming that won't help novices or experts. This book will not prepare you for BUD/S or any other elite military program. If that's what you want (or just a more rigorous workout) you need to get Stewart Smith's "Complete Navy Seals Workout". . . . You can thumb through a copy of this book. But you probably don't need to buy it. Finally, there is a great new book I just picked up called "Navy Seal Physical Fitness". It's a comprehensive guide for workouts/techniques for weight, swimming, cals, plyometrics, running, conditioning, stretching, eating & nutrition, injury prevention, and basic physiology. I would say it's almost unparalleled as a workout planner and desk reference for the serious endurance athlete or soldier.

As a Marine I was looking for a overall improvement to Marine Corps PT programs.(Non-weight lifting combat fitness program.) I have known Navy Seals over the years and respect there ability. However this is a very basic guide to fitness. The upper body work outs are GTG. but I feel the combined work outs leave allot to be desired. Not for those already in great shape. Entry level fitness at best.

Mr. DeLisle challenges the readers of his book to raise the bar on their fitness level. After an educational and inspirational introduction, he offers up workout plans for beginners to experts. I have been doing the beginners workout for three weeks, and am making remarkable gains in strength and definition. The pyramid system that is used for the upper body portion of the workout is very effective in fatiguing the muscles involved. If you follow this program you will definitely see results. Other reviews of this book have mentioned the lack of a lower body section. While it is true that leg training is not given its own exlusive section, I feel that the stair sprints that are included from the second week of the beginners running workout on are sufficient.The author also advises the reader to include hill running, which many pro-footbal running backs include in their workout. So leg training is technically included. The most impressive part of this book is that the author gives readers a phone number and makes himself available to answer questions about the program(within reason). An excellent book for those interested in achieving an exceptional level of fitness without investing hours of time and large amounts of money.