The Complete Guide to Navy Seal Fitness (Military Fitness)

The book is packed with supremely clear step-by-step photographs with accompanying explanations that won't leave you guessing whether you're doing anything wrong. That's a good thing, too, because it would be easy to get confused with the seven types of sit-ups in the abdominal section. The workout's designed to be done without requiring a gym membership, although you will need a chin-up bar and swimming pool to complete the entire workout. There are plenty of stretches and tips on technique to prevent injury, along with an adjustable beginner's four-week program for those who aren't in good enough condition to attempt the main program. So whether you want to become a Navy SEAL--or just look like one--you'll be in good hands with this book. As the Navy Frogmen would say, HOOYAH! (Bullhorn not included.) --Erica Jorgensen

Product Description
Whether you want to be a Navy SEAL or just look like one...here's your chance! SEALs are ordinary people who do extraordinary jobs. It takes an optimal level of fitness to swim 6 miles, run 15 miles and perform over 150 pull-ups, 400 pushups and 400 situps in one day--but more importantly it takes motivation and determination to stick with it to the end. If you follow and finish this workout, you will find yourself in the best physical shape of your life! The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness is an advanced-level exercise program that teaches running, swimming, rope climbing, stretching and exercise techniques all in one book. With this program, you will be ready for any military training or physical challenge in the world. Come train with the world's fittest and strongest individuals: the US Navy SEALs!

The other reviews that augment the warnings in the book are dead-on. These workouts are serious challenges to anyone, triathletes and boxers included. Having said that, it's possibly the best workout you can do without weights.

If you can't pass the initial test and the 4 week beginner program is still too hard, halve it (make it 8 weeks, do half the work the first 4 weeks and take a week of active 'rest').

Overall, Lt. Smith sets a high standard for fitness with these workouts, but after reading other reviews, I bought it and will tell you myself: he lays out more than one map to these lofty goals, and his writing encourages you to try and keep trying. I found that to be the difference between this book and any other fitness book. I came away inspired, not intimidated.


A Must Read For Those Who Are Serious About Fitness.   June 18, 1998
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

Lt. Smith's book is informative, motivating, and easy to follow. I'm a 23 yr old male planning on pursuing a career in the SEAL Teams. I knew I needed to get moving with my physical fitness regimen but I lacked direction and motivation. The Complete Guide to Navy SEAL Fitness was exactly what I was looking for. It provides insight into what is arguably the most intense and demanding military training anywhere in the world. Pictures showing calisthenic exercises, as well as stretching, make it great for beginners and seasoned athletes. The "12 weeks to BUD/S Workout" is well organized and leaves nothing to the imagination. Its detailed diagrams and charts on running, swimming, and calisthenics will challenge you and certainly improve your overall physical fitness....there's no doubt about it. Bottom line, it's a great book, and if you complete the workouts inside, you'll be in the best shape of your life.


Second Best Fitness Book in the World   April 14, 2003
-_Tim_- (The Western Hemisphere)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a wonderful book, second only to the same author's Maximum Fitness. It presents an extremely rigorous and effective fitness program that uses no weights. The program provides a lot of variety and the workouts are fun. They are also very, very difficult. But if you stick with the program you are going to see some pretty stunning results, both physical and mental. And that's a promise.

A bonus is that you will laugh out loud several times when you first read through the exercises and when you read about what real Navy Seal training is like.

After running through this program a couple times, anything will seem possible to you. That's something you can't put a price on, and I think that Stewart Smith has done us a great service by writing this book.


This can change your life...   October 23, 2000
MVDM (Shanghai, PRC)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

... if you are ready for it. I'm in my fourth week of the 12-week training program and I have never felt stronger or healthier in my entire life. Though this program is not for starters, even the 'beginners' 4week program would demand some decent level of fitness to 'survive' it. But the book is all what it promises to be; it offers you a very comprehensive insight in the simple - yet o-so effective - training methods by the army. No need to have or to share weights or machines; so no excuses for not doing a complete set!! Probably the biggest challenge you will have as you start this program is TO STICK WITH IT!! So far I did, and the results are already there; my abs are much more pronounced, my chest and shoulders are more firm, and my running and swimming times are getting better every week. Combine this program with a balanced low fat diet, and with the right motivation and take care of the details, such as stretching and rest. The results are awesome...


Excellent for SEAL maniacs or people serious about fitness!   October 15, 2000
Rolando Beirao (Santos, SP - BRAZIL)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I must start this review by saying that I rate this book as a five star because I think it really delivers what it promises.

This book, in my opinion, is a complete and serious manual about the exercises in a Navy Seal workout. Of course there are not boat lifting or M-16 jumping around, but overall the great majority of the exercises are covered in this book.

The author seems to be a real Navy Seal, and I'm sure that having him around screaming bad words at my ears would have greatly improved my results... :) Maybe in the future they could launch a Navy Seal cassete tape with motivation or something... That would be nice! Hehe... :)

Now seriously! A nice aspect is that all exercises are clearly explained with text and pictures. If an exercise has three phases, there is a picture for each one, so no matter how dumb you are, you can be totally sure that you are doing the exercises correctly.

Another important aspect is that even the small details are covered. It shows how is the proper grip for pullups, breathing techniques, etc... There are even sections on rope climbing and the special swimming stroke that Seals use, so if maybe you are intending to really try BUD/S one day, this book may be a valuable tool.

At the end of the book you find detailed programs that you can follow to improve your fitness. The exercises grows in a crescent order until you reach a level that I never ever came even near. There are instructions for each day of the week, how many pushups, how many miles to run, etc...

The big problem of this book, in my case, was how to find the motivation to exercise alone day after day. But even this is not a problem of the book, but mainly mine.

But I lent this book to a friend of mine who was a military buff, but kind of weak, and to my surprise when I met him after six months and he was totally changed... :) With good muscles and everything.

He told me he was doing series of 25 pullups and many pushups, etc... But he followed the book to the core and would even swim in the open sea. For me it means that if you follow the book you get results, if you don't follow it seriously you will be disappointed with the results.

For those who are interested in this kind of thing, I would suggest the use of a walkman with some tapes like "USMC Running" or similar. They helped this this totally unfit lawyer pass the physical tests for the Brazilian FBI a few years ago. And I believe they would be a great tool for anybody wishing to follow this book.

This book is a great buy if you know what you really want and are serious about it!