Here is an email from a distinguished military and law enforcement officer concerning physical fitness testing in military and police professions. He writes: _Stew - I like your programs and articles but what is the big deal with physical fitness testing? Do you really think that maxing a fitness test is going to make you a good soldier or police officer? ...

Have you ever started off on a run and had aching knees or hips, but soon after a short warm-up jog and light stretch all felt better?  Typically this is how most people start off on a run.  Unfortunately, tendonitis can flare up quickly if running several times a week for several miles.  Myofascial Release (MFR) technique is a great way ...

I love to get email from people like this American. Both military and law enforcement seeking to improve his fitness level in a way that will not affect previous injuries. He writes: p((. "My training issues are I am age 35, 15 year history of wear and tear from military, police, and other high impact jobs (i.e. car accidents and bad ...

In a fast paced world where the fine line of work and relaxation has been blurred with wireless technology and the development of the home office, workers as well as families have become more and more susceptible to stress-related illnesses. Stress is a natural element of our behavior and our body handles stress by injecting “stress hormones” into our bloodstream when ...

This 15 day plan was written for a military member who had two weeks to pass his fitness test of 1.5 mile run, pushups, and situps. It is not designed for those members who have not exercised in months, but for those who just need an extra push to surpass the minimums. You could also use this routine to help you ...

Everyday, at least one of the emails I receive is from someone (male or female) seeking to improve pushups performance. Some maybe trying to do 10 pushups and others are attempting to get over 100 pushups in a two minute period to ace their physical fitness test (PFT) requirements. Over the years, I have developed several methods to increase pushups as ...

Here is an email from a man you likes to exercise as much as myself, but just cannot drop that last bit of fat off his stomach area: Stew - what gives? I have been busting my butt for years working out with running, calisthenics, weights nearly 5-6 days a week and still have trouble around my mid-section. I am in ...

In the first week of January I give out my 45 Day Beginner Plan free to readers, so this is always a gratifying week for me. Here is one of several emails from people who stuck with the plan for the month of January AND have built a habit of fitness and motivation to carry to the next level. Give yourself ...

This week, I received similar emails from young men less than 22 years of age and both were seeking fitness preparation information for military and law enforcement occupations. The problem with many young and older Americans is that the current fitness / health conditions they maintain are not good enough to ensure success at a military boot camp or law enforcement ...

Every now and then I get a question that requires extra effort to answer. This question required every bit of experience I had to answer. If you are on the fence or how or where to serve your country, please read. Stew I am debating where to serve? Firefighting EMT, Police SWAT, or Military Special Ops. I know you write about ...

During the winter months, many people who email me usually are looking for an alternative to running outside. In other words, what can they do inside to still workout. This week’s focus on indoor fitness activities is on swimming. Many clubs, community centers, and YMCAs have indoor swimming pools to use during the year. Here is what I like to do ...

_Hi Stew I am a 35 year old, 212 lbs Police officer and I run and lift weights for exercise. My goal is to find a weight lifting program to get "cut/ripped", not "big." Do you have a workout program that might help me? Thanks for your work - John T_ Yes, there are plans that will help you with your ...

Here is an email that is often received from men and women seeking to lose the "spare tire" or weight around their hips, help reducing their blood pressure, and overall just get healthier. It is a journey that can lead to many enjoyable future years if you can catch up with Mother Nature and Father Time before they catch you! Here ...

After doing research and writing about physical fitness tests for military and law enforcement agencies for the past ten years, I recognized a common appearance of the 1.5 mile run, pushups, and sit-ups test as a near universal basis for testing fitness levels. The groups who use the Common PFT are the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and more than 50% ...

An email from a law enforcement recruit in Wisconsin requested information on how to spice up running on the "dreadmill." He states, _"During the winter time it is nearly impossible to run any timed event due to the 2-3 ft of snow on the ground or ice on the roads. Is treadmill running going to hurt the running ability I am ...

Soldiers often contact me to update me on what they are doing for physical training.  Their fitness training cycles usually vary a great deal from basic training to maintenance training while overseas or preparing to go overseas.  Recently, in an AP article that was featured at Today Online, many combat veterans are adding sprints, agility drills and core exercises to build ...

Many future military and law enforcement special operations team members have to learn how to be comfortable in the water.  Whether that is to SCUBA dive, swim for miles, or learn insertions and extractions from the water using boats, submarines, or helicopter, learning to swim while wearing full combat gear is a requirement in many special operations units.  Here is a ...

Law enforcement is a physically demanding job that requires officers to always be in peak physical condition. Former Navy Seal and fitness expert, Stew Smith, CSCS, has joined forces with PoliceLink to offer its members fitness tips and tricks, diets, PFT information and workout routines. "_*Purchase Stew Smith Fitness eBooks*_":http://www.policelinkfitness.com/ Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a former ...

"Recovery and Maintenance," We hear these terms often in just about every area of our lives:  from improving your fitness and athletic performance and handling stressful professions to maintaining your health with a strong immune system.  Typically, most people in the military / law enforcement fitness and health genre ask about how to get stronger for Fitness Tests while working long ...

Stew Smith CSCS, former Navy SEAL Joins Forces with PoliceLink.com as fitness adviser / writer. I am pleased to start writing a fitness column for PoliceLink.com that will enable me to communicate with law officers on a regular basis, but also, I hope to assist our Heroes of Tomorrow and today with maintaining their fitness level and career longevity. It is ...