Getting into shape for Jan. of 2008

[PonyPerson]

[FONT="Fixedsys"]Is it too early to start getting into shape for the army? I have a year (atleast) and want to be in real nice shape so that BCT isn't a real "shock" to my system. What kinds of things can I be doing to tone my body and boost my cardio? (I have a treadmill, dumbells and a VECTRA machine to work with)

I'm 16 years old, (17 in May) about 5'3 and 130 lbs. I can run a mile in 12:00 easy, 10 full military style pushups, about 4 sit-ups and can bench press atleast 100lbs. (Haven't checked lately if its gone up) I have a fair amount of upperbody strength, but lowerbody is a tad flabby.

If anyone can give me some tips I'd appreciate it!
Also, for those of you who have already joined, could you give me a brief synopsis on your expiance so far?

Thank you,

Lauren[SIZE="1"]

[Chaim]

[FONT="Fixedsys"]Is it too early to start getting into shape for the army? I have a year (atleast) and want to be in real nice shape so that BCT isn't a real "shock" to my system. What kinds of things can I be doing to tone my body and boost my cardio? (I have a treadmill, dumbells and a VECTRA machine to work with)

I'm 16 years old, (17 in May) about 5'3 and 130 lbs. I can run a mile in 12:00 easy, 10 full military style pushups, about 4 sit-ups and can bench press atleast 100lbs. (Haven't checked lately if its gone up) I have a fair amount of upperbody strength, but lowerbody is a tad flabby.

If anyone can give me some tips I'd appreciate it!
Also, for those of you who have already joined, could you give me a brief synopsis on your expiance so far?

Thank you,

Lauren[SIZE="1"]

It is never too early to start. It is good if fitness is already a personal habit by the time you get there, it is one less stress you have to worry about once you get there. As for what you can do, the machines are good for general fitness so you should keep it up but the best preparation is just doing more of what you'll be doing in BCT- run, go for long walks (try to walk fast, and if you can do it while carrying some kind of weight, all the better), do sit ups and do push ups.

Good luck.

[sp.ranger]

[FONT="Fixedsys"]Is it too early to start getting into shape for the army? I have a year (atleast) and want to be in real nice shape so that BCT isn't a real "shock" to my system. What kinds of things can I be doing to tone my body and boost my cardio? (I have a treadmill, dumbells and a VECTRA machine to work with)

I'm 16 years old, (17 in May) about 5'3 and 130 lbs. I can run a mile in 12:00 easy, 10 full military style pushups, about 4 sit-ups and can bench press atleast 100lbs. (Haven't checked lately if its gone up) I have a fair amount of upperbody strength, but lowerbody is a tad flabby.

If anyone can give me some tips I'd appreciate it!
Also, for those of you who have already joined, could you give me a brief synopsis on your expiance so far?

Thank you,

Lauren[SIZE="1"]

I don't think it's ever too early to start getting into shape for your furture. I mean, I'm already deep "in training" and I'm 14! I can't go anywhere for three and a half years. But that doesn't stop me. I have my own weight bench, a treadmill, the track at the park to run at in the summer, and I'm so "into it" it's not even funny. But since I'm so small (barely 5 feet tall, 118 pounds), I want to have plenty of muscle strenth. In other words, I think it's a good idea for you to prepare now. It sounds like you're already in pretty decent shape. That's impressive that you can benchpress 100 pounds. I can't do that.
If your lowerbody is a little flabby, maybe you should try running more. A good schedule is running for twenty minutes at least three times a week, weight training three times a week, sit-ups two or three times a week, and push-ups two or three times a week. That's basically my schedule. When Is started I could barely run a half mile without almost killing myself. I could barely do five push-ups, only ten sit-ups. Now I run two miles in 17 minutes and something seconds (I have run three miles before, but I never timed it). I can do 45 push-ups (although only about 35 or 40 are real good ones; i'm still working on it), anywhere from 75-90 sit-ups in two minutes (when I'm not timing and going for speed I can get 100, 110). My point to all this is just that if I can do it, you can do it. You won't become physically fit over night, but it will work.