That's Fit

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name: Frank Kinsey

Age: 29

Heroic Occupation: Deputy Sheriff

How often do you exercise? Two to three times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I lift weights, run and play basketball.

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name:

Age:

Heroic occupation:

If you're in the military...where are you?

How often do you exercise?

What type of exercise do you do?

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name: Erik J. Fritz

Age: 19

Occupation: Bulk Fuel Specialist at the Marine Corps and Navy Reserves Unit

If you're in the military...where are you? Green Bay, WI,

How often do you exercise? Almost every day

What type of exercise do you do? Running outside and on the treadmill, lifting weights, and a lot of push-ups.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Knowing that I have to stay in good shape to pass my PT.

I just stumbled upon an interesting, if controversial, article released by the Associated Press back in 2005 titled "Are U.S. Troops Too Fat to Fight?" The most ironic part of discovering this article was that I came across it while researching fitness regimens on the Military.com website. Despite the grueling physical and mental training many men and women in the service undergo, our soldiers, on average, carry more body fat than they ever have before.

Does this mean that the U.S. military has gone soft on recruits? It's just the opposite, actually; many recruits have gone soft on the U.S. military. The country, as a whole, is fatter than its ever been, and many new enlistees are going into basic training already carrying too much weight.

According to a related article on Military.com, 20 percent of all male recruits and 40 percent of female recruits are too heavy to enter into the military ranks. As a result, some are failing out for not meeting minimal fitness standards, and others are just barely squeezing by (and, by their own volition, using extreme and dangerous methods to bring about rapid weight loss -- i.e. skipping meals, fasting, taking laxatives, etc.). In turn, recruits who barely make it through boot camp are still called upon to perform the same duties and tasks as their fitter counterparts, though they may not be physically able to keep up.

Think you've got the physical stamina to make it in the British army? You can find out. Just check out this 16-week fitness program, developed by the Army Physical Training Corps, and follow it faithfully. Make it to the end and you will have passed the same test recruits must pass to graduate from basic training.

For those of you serious enough to jump on this fitness challenge, instructional wall charts are available here. And for some inspiration, you might want to check in on Rachel Dixon as she journals her own 16-week endeavor.

At the beginning of her journey, Dixon writes: "I tackle day one's exercises after work. I manage to jog for the prescribed 20 minutes, albeit quite slowly. I'm slightly stiff from yesterday's exertions, so have to stop to stretch once or twice. This minor discomfort is nothing compared to the excruciating agony of performing another 44 press-ups and 66 sit-ups when I get home, though."

Ready to join Dixon and the other trainees out there? If so, please drop us a line and let us know how you fare under soldier-like conditions, won't you?