Don't meet the physical standards yet, but working hard. What tips, diet/exercise suggestions or tips about ANG basic or OCS can you tell me?

Thank you! I just started using the squat rack and actually love it! I'll keep at it!

Try shopping online for supplements as well, as sometimes if you are training but not seeing results it's a nutritional thing (GNC will burn a hole in your bank account) would recommend a good pre workout like C4 or Ion Performex, a whey protine (Nitrotech has Creatine and a bit of a pre workout all in one to save you even more)

Supplements are good. You may not need to purchase at a GNC to have a good friendly chat with their employees that can provide recommendations on the types of supplements that may assist your conditioning. Then you can go online and find better prices. I've used some pre-workout things before but I find for me, I'm more of a post workout recovery person. I like Muscle Milk powder in some almond milk with a banana and some baby spinach for my after work out muscle rebuilding.

Arguably the best conditioning you can do prior to boot camp/ basic training is cross fit, but gyms can be very expensive. There are a lot of crossfit "groups" that advertise online meet ups and use for example their own tires, makeshift pullup bars, sandbags etc which can save you a ton of cash

Thank you!! Very helpful! Today I started trying what you're referring to as doing multiple sets throughout the day for my situps! I am doing assisted pushups for now but will try to add a few normal and up those daily! Your advice is very appreciated!

One NCO I worked under would have us do push ups at the top of the hour and sit ups at the bottom of the hour through the work day. We did as many as that hour, so 9 then 10 then 11, then 12, up to 16. During a 10 training class once, when we had our breaks every 60-90 minutes, we'd do push ups and/or sit ups before getting more coffee, etc. I had a 1SG that would have us do a routine at least once a month that he called the Spartan. We'd have to do 100 push ups and sit ups, however you get them in whether you did 100 push ups and then 100 sit ups, or sets of 50 alternating, or in my case, sets of 20. We'd run a mile, then do 75 push ups and sit ups, run a mile, then 50, a mile, then 25, and a mile. Once complete, we had done 250 push ups and sit ups and ran 4 miles. Once we did this routine and I finished 4th to last, and again 2 weeks later and I was last and wondered if I slowed down. We had a PT test the week in between and those that were slower than me had failed and been assigned to morning remedial PT. I was the cut off, so if anyone was slower than me at the Spartan, they better pick up their working out or they were in danger of failing a PT test. LOL.

I can do long distance run (up to 7 miles so far) but can't beat a 12:00 / mile pace while doing the 2 mile run (often needed to stop for a moment which slows my pace), my last physical trainer really ignored my stomach and was really all about arm weights so I am trying to remedy that now but can only do 30 sit-ups in 2 minutes instead of 45, and I'm not even sure I can do army pushups lol... I have been really tightening reigns on diet and not struggling much there... I've lost 60lbs and losing daily. Is it a huge issue that I can't do pull ups? What are some of the exercises that would really get me ready? I have looked into Crossfit and may give that a shot... just signed up for an all womens "bootcamp" at a local gym but I'm actually worried it won't be tough enough.

If you want to start training with what the Army recommends, there are Youtube videos demonstrating Army PRT (Physical Readiness Training). In many cases, you can do most of the exercises in a park that has monkey bars if you want to practice pull ups and such, but as much as they try to work in training towards that, pull ups are still not part of what is required on a PT test.

I'll preface this by saying I'm a horrible runner. Always have been, and probably always will be. My first diagnostic at basic training my only goal was to finish under 25 minutes because that's when they said they were stopping the clock. I joined later in life but I still needed 17:42 as a male on the 2 mile.

The best things to do to help on your speed is to do interval training. Best being subjective because not the same things work for everyone. Start with small intervals of 30 second sprint and 60 second walk/jog, alternating between them for 8 repetitions. Build up to 45 second sprint with 90 second walk/jog, and then do 1 minute sprint with 2 minute walk/jog. Cardio routines such as within Insanity workouts are also good.

You will also want to strengthen your core muscles to improve both sit ups and push ups. Plank exercises are good. Build slowly. 15 seconds at a time. 30 seconds at a time, etc. Can be done while watching TV or reading or waiting for food to microwave, etc. Side planks and regular planking.

For sit ups, I would say more sit ups are always good. When doing my tests, I will do them in sets using my central ab muscles for my first 10, then switch to one side obliques to pull me up for the next side, and alternate to the other side obliques, then pause in rest position, then do the next 15 in sets of 5, then the next in sets of 3, then 2, then 1. Also, make sure you're falling back when doing them. A lot of people typically lower themselves slowly, which you lose energy and increase strain doing that. Fall and bounce back up.

Edited to add:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=army+prt

SSG (Join to see) - Thank you!! So helpful!! I endure long runs but still run at a 14:00/mile... for 2 miles, I'm about 12:30/mile and need to be 10:15/mile.... thats so fast for me haha... I sound like I need an oxygen tank! Your tips are exactly what I was looking for!

You can also look into a weight vest. The kind you can adjust how much weight you wear. You can look up the teem Fartlek running.

yes! But I have to meet the standards first to enlist and then I'm able to attend that for up to 9 months to get better prepared for basic and ocs. I will totally take advantage of that!

Jessica Walker - Well then yeah, just keep working out and eating right. Personal trainers are great if you can afford them, but regardless, I think having a gym membership is good too (at least for me, when I pay for a gym membership, I feel like I *have* to go more). However, once you are in RSP I think you will be good to go. It certainly doesn't mean you should stop working out on your own though if you can.

Thank you! I just still have that 5% body fat to lose and I'm concerned about how much longer that'll take. Was hoping to enlist next month to get my semester tuition waiver for the fall!