Hey all, just got back from the army's SERE (survival,evasion,resistance,escape) school which came down to a conclusion week at the end of it.... with relative no food + major physical activity (it was winter afterall) or about 300- calories a day.... heck, probably closer to 200 (grass & nifty weeds isn't that filling). Anyways, got back and did the usual binge of the usual terrible food everyone dreams on and drives you on during 18 degree weather.
Anyone go from a similiar situation to back into training with any success..... my mission plan tomorrow is to first.... digest the disgusting amount of food (or end up throwing it up.... ill let my stomach decide that one) and give my body about 2 or 3 days of no workout / 2500 caloric..... average guy days.... to get my stomach back to what it was. Then go down a level in training..... and do the 10 percent rule to finally get back to wear i was.....
Phyisically i went into the school being about 175 at 5'10'' and ended at 153.... boy, i thought i was relatively inshape/inthin... ive probably lost atleast 2-4 inches on my stomach...... it was to the point where i was seeing hips and stuff which is strange for me. (being a guy) and always having a good amount of muscle.
well... any thoughts how to get back into the ususal ironman training. Perhaps i different type of training, foods or something else. thks in advance for answers.... kind of a unique situation im in,
wow, sounds like an interesting experience. seems like you've got a good plan in order. still early enough where you should be able to get back to your endurance shape with plenty of time to get into specific training for the season. I've had a late start myself and am just getting into the base phase with some strength training and preparing for my first race in May. Though that'll be just a warm up starter race, not my target race. Probably shoot for a June race to be at my fittest.
sorry, not sure if that helped you at all, it is a unique situation but I think once you get back to training you'll be able to better gage where your fitness level is and yes, then apply the 10% rule with tapering every fourth week. Maybe heavier on the protein and doing some strength training to gain back any muscle you may have lost.
yeah, i think the only experts on the experience you've gone thru are the folks that have most likely gone thru it themselves and have possibly put others thru it. of course the best person that really knows what to do is you. not the 'no pain no gain' you, but he small voice in the back of your head that can tell the difference between good pain and bad pain. listen to that closely over the next few weeks.
the only times i've ever been in serious caloric debt were because of poor food planning, and choosing routes that really taxed my body, nothing like you just went thru tho.
adventure racers tend to gain weight after serious expedition races. not because they ate a lot during the race, but because of the caloric deficit that they put their body thru. (average caloric expenditures can easily reach 10,000+ a day) It's not possible to replace the calories lost during the same time period as the race, so racers usually come out of a 6-12 day venture a little thinner. afterwards, it's all about eating, and rebuilding the body.
good luck and let us know how it goes!
I used to wrestle and had similar periods of weight loss. The body has a remarkable ability to rejuvenate itself. I went from 160 to 135 at 6'. Yes, after I made weight I would eat anything I could get my hands on including the dreaded Big Macs!
I agree with the above but also might contact a nutritionist to help. Is there one on the base you could talk to?
Hey man. I went through selection (SFAS) back in Jan 2002 after returning from a 6 month deployment in Afghanistan. I was 178 and returned from SFAS weighing 158, so i know what you are going through. SInce I had pretty much sore everything, mostly my legs, I needed a week break from any physical activity. I spent a week eating the food you dream of during the star course and the treck. ANyway, just try to take a week break to get you body used to the activity that you once did. Hehe, I felt so bad for the SERE guys we saw take off in helo's when i was in selection in Jan. I know it sucks.
~Chris
thks for the advice.... (takes a look at the big bag of chex mix next to computer)..... ill be getting back into things..... in a *little while. Still got a few desires that i need to take care of.
as for armyjive, i highly highly recommend getting back and doing the q-course.... best place in the military is on the teams. well thats is, if u passed SFAS which im assuming.