Help Preparing to Apply in 2-3 Years

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>Alright, so I'm currently a HS Freshman and looking to either enter AROTC, NROTC-Marine Option, USNA-Marine Option, USMA, PLC or OCS in a few years.</p>

<p>Current GPA is about a 94/100 unweighted, 120 weighted. Class rank unsure, somewhere between 5-15%</p>

<p>Biggest obstacle atm is definitely physical fitness. I desperately need help and am finally prepared to address it.</p>

<p>Currently am 5'7", 210 lbs. Body fat somewhere around 30%.</p>

<p>Mile time is atrocious, as in like 12 mins.</p>

<p>Pullups are none.
Crunches about 25
Pushups about 5</p>

<p>While I realise this is pathetic beyond words, thats my fault, but I'm trying to look to the future and do what I need to do.</p>

<p>I appreciate the help.</p>

<p>First off, academically you appear pretty sound. Just keep it up and that will look really good.</p>

<p>Second, physically you need to do a lot of work. You should probably start some sort of eating plan that will work well with working out to lose some of the wieght. The weight only makes it harder. What kind of foods do you eat? Start running often, and start working on pushups and pullups. One thing that is for sure going to improve those is just doing them more and more often. Same with crunches. Im not going to say dont worry, but you have plenty of time to prepare.</p>

<p>Wow, what a great post. I'll let more appropriate people answer you, but I just wanted to congratulate you for having a plan and being smart and dedicated enough to prepare for it. You have plenty of time to get yourself in shape for this, provided you take it seriously and start now. And I bet once you start seeing results you'll be inspired to work even harder and achieve your goal. Very cool.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Academically, keep up the grades for one. Another thing is try and take advanced courses. Calculus before entering into any college is always helpful. </p>

<p>As far as physically goes, I really don't know what to do. I have never had a problem with my weight and I have always been pretty active. I suggest you talk to someone in health care and set realistic goals. One of the biggest problems is people try to do too much too fast. </p>

<p>That being said I will recommend some exercises that I love to do.<br>
Biking: This is probably my favorite way to kill boredom. Also, lot of times I bike instead of driving (make sure your parents don't mind if you do this). It will definitely get you in better shape.
Running: Just get out there and do it. This isn't my favorite exercise, but it is used a lot in the military as well as sports. Make it as fun as you can, change your path, plan for different stations along your run where you can take a break with another exercise before continuing on. Speed doesn't matter when you are first starting out, so don't stress it. Besides, once you start your time will definitely drop.
Deck PT and ladder workouts are a great way to build up pushups and crunches. Let me know if you are interested.<br>
I also recommend finding a buddy to work out with because that is really motivating. Try for a sport you like. It make take you awhile to get in shape for it, but just having that as a goal will help.
There is a lot more information on the web, just remember to be realistic in goals. I have posted this website before, but I really like it and there are a ton of articles on it so I will post it again. THE</a> Heroes of Tomorrow Fitness Center - Stew Smith CSCS</p>

<p>I think most people are going to wish you the best of luck, I am not. I think that your post here shows that you are determined enough to stick this through to the end so instead, I am going to say enjoy the ride and try not be too shocked in a year when you look back and see how far you have come. </p>

<p>The biggest thing is just believe in yourself and remember what Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."</p>

<p>Stick to it and you will excel beyond your imagination. All you have to do is find your arena.</p>

<p>Wow.
I second everything that's been said. If you could pull it off and get in great shape, what school wouldn't take you? First you probably need to concentrate on losing the weight, eating right, doing cardio and flab-burning exercises...Next priority Strength and Endurance-If you can't do pullups try standing on a step-stool or chair up to a bar, then lower yourself SLOWLY (repeat 20x at overhand grasp, underhand grasp, and behind the neck) this helped me so much when I was not able to do any pullups. Then when you've progressed try the Armstrong Pullup Program (Google It!), which has you do pushups each morning and a great day-by-day pullup plan. Get a Running Plan and STICK TO IT. Third..join a sport, be it cross country, track, bball, football, baseball, swimming, etc. etc. This will help you get in better shape, help your ECA's, ace the Candidate Fitness Assessment and promote awesome health. Remember Regularity, Consistency, and Motivation will get you further than anything else. Good Luck and Godspeed.</p>

<p>That's so great that you know what you want to do. Go for it! Join a sport perhaps and keep working on your grades! Good luck!</p>

<p>Join a wrestling team, they will help you lose some weight, get in great shape, and improve your strength and its fun. Even if you play other sports it will help you out with those by helping out with balance and all kinds of other stuff.</p>

<p>you have got to get involved with athletics. you arent in good shape at all and to get into and survive at the academy you have to be in shape. every student is also an athlete at the academy. you have a long way to go.</p>

<p>RUN!!! a lot
Compete in a sport or sports
RUN!!!
lose weight
RUN!!!
workout</p>

<p>then RUN!!!</p>

<p>once you lose weight, everything else will get easier.</p>

<p>In terms of physical fitness, if you're serious about it, I suggest you do two things. First, check with your physician regarding an appropriate diet/calorie intake. Gaining weight is a slow process and losing it is as well. You want to be sure that you're getting enough calories of the right types of foods at the right times, especially if you're going to be working out regularly. Just because you read about a diet in a magazine or on the Internet doesn't mean it's right for you.</p>

<p>Second, get in touch with your gym teacher, a personal trainer or some other fitness professional who can design a workout program for YOU. It's important to combine cardio and strength and flexibility and to create workouts that challenge you appropriately. Again, a workout from a magazine or book may be too much or too little for you given your current physical situation. Let a professional work with you in order to maximize your accomplishments. </p>

<p>Luckily, you have the time to do this right. If you're determined, there's no reason you can't be in decent shape within six months. But start now!</p>

<p>VERY good point about checking with the doctor.</p>

<p>"every student is also an athlete at the academy. you have a long way to go."</p>

<p>You have no idea what you are talking about.</p>

<p>I have always been told that everyone is required to play a sport (except maybe D&B?)</p>

<p>
[quote]
"every student is also an athlete at the academy. you have a long way to go."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
You have no idea what you are talking about.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Comments such as the one directly above (in reply to the first comment above) are not helpful. The fact is that being physically fit is important at USNA, probably more so now than in my day. For example, during Plebe Summer, PEP (morning workout) is now 90 minutes whereas in my day it was 50-60. Being out of shape when you report will make you miserable (or, at least more miserable than most plebes!).</p>

<p>During the academic year, all mids -- with a very few exceptions -- are required to participate in some form of organized sports (varsity, JV, club, intramural) at least 3 days per week (other days are usually parades) for 1.5-2 hours or more per day.</p>

<p>Each semester, all mids (except possibly varsity athletes) must take physical education one day per week. This includes swimming, boxing, wrestling and other sports and mids are tested/graded in each. Each semester mids must take the Navy PFT, which consists of a run, push-ups, crunches, etc. That too is graded. If you fail PE (and can't remediate) you won't graduate. </p>

<p>Whether the above constitutes being an "athlete" is, I suppose, open to debate. But to survive at USNA you had better be in decent shape and to thrive you'd better be in excellent shape.</p>