Customer Reviews

The Complete Guide to Navy Seal Fitness

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Stewart Smith does an incredible job in this book by getting right down to the bone of what all the readers are looking for: getting into excellent shape. This is a no B.S. book on how to get fit. There is no doubt about. So many other excercise books throw numbers and science your way, but Smith lays it all out on the table for you plain and simple. It is meticulously planned and easy to follow. All of the workouts are pre-written and easy to understand. As a former University of Maryland football player, I can truly say I have tried a lot of techniques to get into peak physical condition. However, this book is by far the best guide to working out that I have ever laid my hands on. Get it, work hard, and you'll feel better than ever before.

This book is pretty good. It provides a structured, periodized workout with a built in taper (rest period) at the end. Its oriented for someone who is already in good shape and is very motivated, probably a SEAL hopeful or triathlete or Masters swimmer wanting an aggressive workout. Its not a beginners workout.

This book I would still categorize as being for remedial fitness. For Army Ranger/Special Forces candidates, this book is probably not the best one to follow as it contains absolutely no rucksack marching. Which in my opinion is a major lapse for a supposedly gung ho SOF type workout. Heavy long distance rucksack training builds a different kind of fitness that is functional, real world and military oriented.

This book will help you do better on your formal military PT test. Such as the SEAL PT test, the USMC PFT or the Army PFT. It will probably help you get thru BUD/S training if you are a SEAL hopeful, as BUD/S contains little heavy rucksack training like Ranger and Special Forces training.

For Army SOF aspirees, I would not recommend this book due to the total lack of rucksack training.

If you are a beginner or out of shape this book will be too tough for you, Id recommend the other "getfitnow" book titled "The Navy SEAL workout" or just get a copy of the BUD/S warning order and follow that for six months to get in shape. Then do this book.

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.

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.

Building on the intensive physical training required for his becoming a Navy SEAL, Smith has made an engaging calisthenics-based workout that breaks down the components of military physical training into a tough, effective workout program. Although some of his suggestions, like jogging sternly through your neighborhood in combat boots, might raise some eyebrows, particularly in more prim neighborhoods, this book kicks butt, instructing you to do pushups, chinups, situps, runs, swims, and just about every other calisthenic. Although the frankly militaristic approach (as evidenced with chapters with titles like "Rope Climbing: Just for Fun") may not work for the average guy, much less the average woman, this book is far better than his later, paunchier "Maximum Fitness" which lost much of Smith's verve and punch by attempting to aim more towards the civilian mainstream. I did these workouts with a friend until both of us ended up with minor injuries, and boy was it fun!

If you are like me and you get to the gym and wonder what to do today, or aren't sure how hard is too hard or how long between workouts, this is the book for you. There is nothing vague about this book. It says do x number of pushups, situps, pullups, and then run y number of miles. And believe me, x and y are really high.

The author is right on with his notes about confidence. The first time you finish a 20 set superset or a 10x pyramid, you will walk home and ooze confidence.

The other reviews are right on about this being tough - it's extremely tough. Its important to look through the book and modify the workouts as you need. The best part is the author, Stew Smith, will answer any questions you have on [the website].

Amazing book, worth every penny. Buy it, read it, then go do it. You will find yourself addicted to the feeling that this book brings. You will also find yourself occasionally having trouble bending your arms and legs they are so sore, but its a great feeling.

A great book for SEAL [hopefuls] or just the average schmo who wants to get a great workout. It even has a 4-week "warm-up" for guys who haven't done any exercise since Carter was in the White House. Be careful, some of the swimming is dangerous and can't be done alone. However, I guarrantee that this book is worth the price.

The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness is an amazing workout. It offers exercise variety, constant challenges, and builds self-confidence. This workout routine will prepare you for any sport or event you might be training for. I did the four week beginner and 12 week programs (16 weeks of training), and afterwards I felt in such great shape that I decided to try and complete a triathlon, which I did successfully. I consider that a huge hurdle. A couple of years ago I could not run a mile without nearly fainting. Now I can run 6 miles in a little over an hour in boots and fatigues, and still have energy to swim a mile and do some PT! Thanks Stew! I plan on doing the program several more times before I go to BUD/S. Hooyah!

I bought this book when I was training for a 2nd degree black-belt exam in full contact Kyokushin Karate. This is not terribly unusual except for the fact that I was 48 years old at the time and most of the fellow candidates were at least 15 years younger. Because of the nature of full contact fighting, I was looking for a set of exercises which would strengthen me at at the same time improve my stamina. I had been following the 12 Weeks to Bud/s workout when one of my fellow candidates asked me if I had been secretly lifting weights!

The results were astounding. After a month I could not only feel the results, but they were noticeable by others. The book not only offers good routines, but I was impressed by Mr. Smith's attention for the warming up.

I've adapted his program somewhat (no swimming) and use it as the physical training for my own karate students. Can you imagine teenagers in this day and age doing 150 pushups and just as many situps! Amazing. What I like most of all about the program is the fact that you can feel yourself getting stronger on a weekly basis.

One thing-always be critical when doing any situps in order to insure that you're doing them correctly and not taxing your lower back muscles. However in Mr. Smith's book, there were enough sit-up exercises that the one or two exercises that I thought may have been detrimental to my back were easily missed.

I highly recommend this book.

Another good book is The Official United States Navy Seal Workout by Andrew Flach.

I've lost 90 pounds in the last year, and am in better shape than I was in high school a decade ago. It didn't turn me into a SEAL, but it's a very motivating book, the routines are simple to follow, and it makes it very easy for this to become a habit. The book is well written and to the point. An 18 year old who follows this book religiously and has the proper motivation will probably be able to do very well at BUD/S. For the rest of us, this is a good plan to get into the best shape of your life!