hello everyone, a while ago i posted on here that i was thinking of joining the Marines, but it was for all the wrong reasons (financial problems, family issues, basically just wanted to do it because i thought i had nothing else) but for the last 3-4 months, i've been thinking hard about it and i've decided this is something i actually would really like to try, i want to do this for no other reason than to be a Marine. i've talked to my mom, family and friends, and they all don't necessarily like the decision, but they will support me in it. However, i realize i might be a bit overweight for it. (im about 5'7 and weigh about 205lbs) For the Marines on this site, what would you recommend me to do in order to get in better shape?

Hold on, Do not join the marines. You will die. First to go in: first to die. You get the cheapest equipment, and often not even full equipment. Go to the regular army.

I knew 4 marines; now I only know 1.

I think it is up to him to decide if the Marines are right for him.

I have been steadfast on joining as well, and I personally think its a great choice.

As to your question, from what I have seen I would do lots of running first and foremost . Should help trim some of the uneeded weight and will also help build stamina/endurance. If you are really set on joining I would also talk to a recruiter as he/she can really help you out a lot in getting you fit for Boot camp.


This should give you a general idea of how fit you should be when you enter:

http://www.marines.com/becoming-a-marine/how-to-prepare

I signed up for the Marines when I was 17 in the Delayed Entry Program its been a few months and so far i haven't regretted it since I've wanted to do this my entire life. Your recruiters at your local marine corps recruiting station will have you come in a few days a week to workout and run so this is probably your best choice if your serious about joining the Marines good luck.

It's hard to tell for being over weight with just figures. For example, I'm 6'3 and 238lbs, which technically is overweight, but then the majority of rugby players are overweight, and realistically I only need to drop a small amount of body fat before next season.

But anyway, on topic for you. Running is good yes, diet is also important as well. Try to cut back on refined sugars (arguably more important than on fat, although it depends on the type of fat, but I'll leave the science for now). One of the best exercise techniques for weight loss and general fitness is HIIT (high intensity interval training) I'm sure there is a wealth of info on this on Goohle. Circuit training is also very good, and a bodyweight circuit would be very useful. Also any resistance activity such as lifting weights can't hurt, as long as you train the antagonistic pairs of muscles.

This seems like a nice workout.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/pulse/201112/unbelievable-4-minute-cardio-workout

I'm neither Marine nor an American, but I'm joining the Army Rangers here in Sweden in about a year.

My best advice is to train strength using your own bodyweight, i.e. pull-ups/chin-ups, dips, crunches or sit-ups etc. As for cardio and overall stamina run 20-30 second intervalls with 10-15 seconds of rest and repeat that about 10 times, then go jogging slowly for 5 minutes. Walking with a heavy backpack(~20kg) for about 20km once a week is good too.

My weekly training schedule.

Monday - Strength + kickboxing in the evening
Tuesday - Cardio/Stamina
Wednesday - Strength + kickboxing in the evening
Thursday - Stamina
Friday - Strength
Saturday - Stamina (walking with 20kg backpack)
Sunday - Rest

Hope I could help

thanks for the advice guys, and as for izchar, i know exactly what i would be facing if i joined, but, i plan to get a Non infantry MOS, not because i don't want to fight, but because after my service is over, i would like to take something with from from the Marine Corps back into the life of a civi. i also understand that just because i have a POG, doesnt mean i won't be deployed.

as for the work outs, i've tried to simulate it somewhat to what i (think) will be doing in BC, this consists of:
- Running about 2 miles every day with some breaks in between (if i need them)
- Swimming ALOT, can't really measure how much but alot lol
- walking/hiking with added weight, about 60lbs pack
- 30 crunches after work, everyday
- 20 pushups after work, everyday
- i only eat 3 meals a day, with water (ocasionally tea) and that's it.
and that's about it, i don't have a pull up bar at my home so its kinda hard to do that, but so far it seems to be working, i feel slimmer, and don't get as tired anymore.

try doing 3 sets with 10-15 minutes of rest between of 50 situps 50 double leg lifts and 25 pushups rest 1 minute then another 25 pushups thats what i do every night

Wouldn't recommend just sit ups and press ups. I can give you a circuit training circuit if you would like.

Yeah, I'm thinking of joining the Marines in a few years too. The only thing that is holding me back is that I have flat feet. Without insoles in my shoes I can run and do stuff just fine, but after a lot of running (in football tryouts) my feet and ankles start to get sore to the point where it's hard to put pressure on them. With insoles I can run just fine and don't have that problem. But because I don't think they let you have insoles in basic, I don't think they'd let me in. But I guess i'll just have to see a recruiter in a year when I'm 17 (old enough to join w/ consent), or talk to my uncle, whos an airforce recruiter because i'm sure that the physical requirements are about the same.

unfortunately, im not quite there to be able to do 50 of each just yet, gotta build up some stamina first, as for you deathdealer, i'd love a circuit workout, whatever helps would be great

K1NGFL1P wrote:

unfortunately, im not quite there to be able to do 50 of each just yet, gotta build up some stamina first, as for you deathdealer, i'd love a circuit workout, whatever helps would be great

Are you joining? And I'll be 17 next year, so i'm gonna sign up for DEP and kick ***.
And if your wondering, here are the top physical requirements in basic:
200 situps/ curlups in 2:00
20 pullups
run 3 miles in 18:00

Those are the maximum, if you did all that you'd get a perfect score. But from what I have read and heard, you need endurance. Especially for the crucible which is the 10 mile hike up and down a mountain. But I heard most of it's mental.

I'll get it posted here tomorrow. Had completely forgotten D:

no worries, but as an update. im getting better at this now, i've lost some (noticeable) bellyfat in the 2-3 weeks or so that i've be trying this "marine style" diet. and my endurance has gone way up. i've noticed i can run much longer and faster without getting nearly as tired as i used too. i ran about 1.5 -2 miles yesterday without stopping once, which is good for me. So, hopefully ill get more results in the workouts to come.

Okay. The thing we had which proved pretty effective was:

Press Ups (Decline/Clap)
Sit Ups (Hold medicine ball above head)
Squats (Jump)
Pull Ups
Back Extensions (Arms extended to the front)
Lunges (Split Jumps/Weighted Lunges)
Tricep Dips
Twisted Sit Ups
Calf Raises (Heel raise)

The brackets are extensions to make it harder when you start finding it easy

To start of with the circuit worked as 30 seconds on the exercise, then 20 seconds rest. At the end of the first circuit, 2 minute break and then repeat.

The key is to keep it difficult every week, otherwise your body will not be forced into overload and won't adapt. To make it harder, you can use the adaptations of the exercises, increase work period and decrease rest period (I was doing 40-10 at the end) and you can increase how many reps of the circuit you do.

Make sure to do a proper warm-up and cool down for anything. People most often forget the cool-down which can increase DOMS.

Just don't join the army and do this.

Poor bastard...

Gave me a laugh though lol.

@Deathdealerr

Are you supposed to do that whole set in order?

As a starting point, something similar (anything that dies upper body-core-legs) allowing each group decent rest times, but as a progression, exercises for one of the 3 areas can start to be togeyhet (e.g. squats followed by lunges, press-ups followed by pull ups etc.)

Joining the Navy. lol Joining the Marines. Ooooohhrahhh

Lol. Comparing the two the Navy looks like a day job being a Walmart clerk xD

Haha, I wouldn't join the Navy. Looks too damn easy, looks like some kinda Summer camp lol