Fat Soldiers

[1stindoor]

This is nothing new...been going on every since we started taping Soldiers. Diet pills, diuretics, saunas, etc....nothing new, we just added surgery to the mix.

I found it ironic though that they list doctor's concerns considering how many fat, out of shape, doctors, surgeons, dentists, etc. I've seen over the years....and as a "fat" senior NCO, I've seen the same hyprocracy in the senior leader ranks.

[Masochist]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

This is nothing new...been going on every since we started taping Soldiers. Diet pills, diuretics, saunas, etc....nothing new, we just added surgery to the mix.

I found it ironic though that they list doctor's concerns considering how many fat, out of shape, doctors, surgeons, dentists, etc. I've seen over the years....and as a "fat" senior NCO, I've seen the same hyprocracy in the senior leader ranks.

And it sets the example for those just starting their careers. If you're overweight, do you go to an obese trainer? If you have high blood pressure, do you go to a doctor who can't manage his/hers?

You can't help others until you help yourself.

[uplink5]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

This is nothing new...been going on every since we started taping Soldiers. Diet pills, diuretics, saunas, etc....nothing new, we just added surgery to the mix.

I found it ironic though that they list doctor's concerns considering how many fat, out of shape, doctors, surgeons, dentists, etc. I've seen over the years....and as a "fat" senior NCO, I've seen the same hyprocracy in the senior leader ranks.

Amen....

There was a time in one Major Subordinate Command which will remain anonymous, where we basically had three unofficial categories; those within H/W standards (the vast majority), those who were outside the standards and therefore pushed to improve, and those who were outside yet "above" the H/W standards and not held to the standard. When we tried to reel them in, we got nowhere fast.

Ultimately, the PT program belongs to the commander and apparently, though he did try, he couldn't push his concerns upon "some"of the higher ranking personnel in his company with success. Some of us bitched about this double standard but were shot down. Appearently, one must choose his battles wisely sometimes and choose carefully upon which confrontation one decides to fall on their sword over. I think the company commander ultimately chose wisely under that specific environment....jd

[1stindoor]

Originally Posted by Chip.B

With all the activity in the Army I do not see how one can become fat if they push themselves in the manner that they are supposed to. I was about 5% bodyfat when I served..

Really...5%? Were you a professional bodybuilder and kept yourself in a nearly dehydrated state?

[EX-Gold Falcon]

I caannot help but wonder if this might be an MOS, age and current duty station issue.

As an earlier twenties young buck abn infman in the 82nd, keeping the weight on was more a problem then worring about being overweight. At the time I weighed in around 165-170 and 5 8', with a size 32 waist and VERY little fat. Between PT and going out in the field, I seem to remember being hungry all the time. Heck, one week in the field guarrented losing 5-7 pounds. More then a week and it would begin to fall even faster.

Now pick up a copy of Time/Newsweek/NY Times, etc and if there are any pics of servicemembers downrange in Iraq or Afghan. Fat or overweight can rarely be used to describe them. They all have that thin, wiry almost gaunt look about them. Combat thins a man (and woman!) down faster then meth.

Yeah, I'm guessing this is more of an MOS and age issue.


T.

[uplink5]

Originally Posted by EX-Gold Falcon

I caannot help but wonder if this might be an MOS, age and current duty station issue.

T.

And service...

Though we have our share, Air Force and Navy are going to be our biggest violaters as a percentage of the entire force. If you've ever been to a joint command I'm sure you've seen the evidence....jd

[J8127]

Originally Posted by uplink5

And service...

Though we have our share, Air Force and Navy are going to be our biggest violaters as a percentage of the entire force. If you've ever been to a joint command I'm sure you've seen the evidence....jd

Service is irrelevant in today's joint fight. There are those who pull triggers and hump up mountains and those who do not.

[Richard]

I knew 'fat' solders who could not perform and 'fat' soldiers who struggled with the Ht/Wt/PT standards but could put on a 120# of equipment and walk you @$$ in the ground in the mountains, swamps, etc.

I also knew soldiers who looked extremely fit and had high PT scores but were worn out after a few days in the woods humping that ruck.

Looks ain't everything when it comes to performance.

Richard

[x SF med]

Even though I've been out for a good while, my weight hasn't 'balloned' - I got out at 175#, I'm currently ~190, and the highest I ever got was 215.

I haven't had a BMI done in a while, but I've seen photos of young soldiers who should be kicked in the head because they make the uniform look like crap.

I remember being involved in some stuff at Natick, and they did hydrostatic testing for BMI, the doctors thought there was something wrong since all the participants (SF) were in the 8-12% range at the beginning. There wasn't a lot of change in total after - but there were 2 groups, one went up slightly, one went down...

[Dusty]

Training for the Rocky Raccoon run keeps my lard volume below "obese", at least.

(My Daisy's got a wii.)

[MackallResident]

I agree with the above post. Of course I can do a quick two mile, and pushups/situps, but that doesn't tell me shit about how physically fit I am, or any Soldiers around me.

Now if we do a ton of core-focused exercises and then go for a run, and throughout the rest of the week, continue to endure both cardiovascular bouts, and humping heavy stuff around for the rest of said week, the ones standing at the end still going strong, or at least still going, are the ones that are more than likely in great over all shape. Just my opinion though.

Now, as far as FAT Soldiers are concerned, that aggravates me. It hits on a personal note with me because I had to lose a little over 100lbs in order to join the Army. I was huge before, and I learned that all you need to do push back from the table, do extra PT, DO PT, DO MORE PT, and don't complain about some genetic mumbo jumbo. There are a lot of lard asses in my family, and they all overeat, so I could possibly call it genetic, or I could just say that they make bad health choices by being obese and eating unhealthy foods.

You don't put 87 octane in a Ferrari, nor do you take it to get groceries. SO why the hell would anyone only put shit-food in their bodies, and never go outside, or at least to a gym and work out? And if you are a Soldier, then that is even more reason to be in great shape. I don't give a damn how you look, but by God, if you are a medic on the ground, trying to load my(future) aircraft with patients, and you are fat and out of shape, you put everything at risk.

I feel that a lot of folks do not look at it like that. The ones that sandbag during PT, or fall out of ruck march because there are no perceived repercussions. THERE ARE ALWAYS REPERCUSSIONS, we just have to instill the fight in our Soldiers so that on the battlefield, they are giving 200% at all times, not for themselves, but to the men and women on their left and right! It is about them, not me!

As far as the NCO's go, I feel that most give a good try to keep their squads in shape, but now that I am new to the Officer community, no one does it for you. I have seen so many fat young warrant officers running around here it is ridiculous. I am not saying that I don't often enjoy an unhealthy amount of beer, but I ensure that I absolutely destroy myself at PT every freaking day so that I am always ready to go.

Man, I could go on forever, but I know that I am probably preaching to the choir here, so I guess I will /rant.

[GrumpyMedic]

Has/does anyone else suffer from decreased metabolism after having been to hooah high? I went to Ranger School at a lean 170 lbs and graduated at 148 lbs back in '01.
To this day I still carry an extra 10-15 lbs around my middle and struggle to make weight. I've tried all kinds of diets (paleo, ect.). The only time I don't have a problem is when I increase cardio to an insane amount, running 50+ miles a week.

[Masochist]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

IMO I'd think the Army PT test is poor indicator of how well one can perform physically as a soldier. Being able to do lots of pushups, situps, and a fast two-mile run means you are skilled in one area of physical fitness (endurance, cardiovascular and muscular).

You could be able to do loads of pushups, pullups, situps, flutter kicks, a fast run, and so forth, that doesn't mean you'll at all be capable of say having to lift very heavy objects and carry them or hump a heavy ruck.

Then you get the guys who are BIG, where if they tried to do things like pullups or pushups even, and situps, etc...they'd flounder completely, but they can do things like lift extremely heavy objects all day long and hump a heavy ruck pretty well.

To be truly fit, one should strive for a decent capability in both.

Systems such as the Ranger Athlete Warrior program are starting to address things like this. 3rd Bat brought in a well-known powerlifter to help address the large numbers of Rangers physically breaking down from training and combat.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n56406753/

How long until we see this Army-wide, with a drastic change in how we gauge soldiers' fitness levels is to be seen. PT is already changing from PU/SU/run, run, run to more combat-related exercises. It's a matter of finding tests that are cost effective and easy to implement (much the same argument with the tape test).

[Masochist]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

Another thing to also watch is the kinds of carbs you take in.

+1

This link isn't working.

Works fine from here.

I find it very interesting how he focused on the lower-back and hamstrings, as those are some of the prime areas people (in general) ignore. Keeping the whole backside strong (back, lower back, and hamstrings) can go a long way towards preventing injuries.

This caught me by surprise as well, in a good way. And a reason I found validity in it and looked into it further. So many people focus on the (front) shoulders, chest, abs and quads, causing muscle imbalance and high potential for injury. Paraphrasing what someone on here once said, if you're inclined to do biceps at the gym, do legs twice. You're not going to be asked to curl your rucksack.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Chip.B

I worked out most of my spare time. I ate very clean. I was a 158lbs and I could bench press 360lbs. I'm not kidding.

Answer your cellphone, Bro; the UFC is trying to get up with you...



Seriously, as 1stindoor inferred, the fatboy program's been around since soldiers stopped having to forage.

We had a medic in the 80's who was an habitual violator and had to cut 40-50 pounds off with furosemide EVERY weigh-in. Very bad for you.

He told me his whole family had the same problem, e.g. if they peeked in the icebox for a snack and saw a pie, they'd eat the whole pie.

Outstanding medic, but I think he finally got fatboy'd out.