For the first time in a long time I didn't need to be taped according to the Army's height/weight regulations. The last time this happened, I was a Cadet in the BYU-Idaho ROTC program attending the Advanced Camp or Warrior Forge in Fort Lewis WA. Prior to heading off to Fort Lewis I was running anywhere from 3-12 miles a day and training to pass the Army's physical fitness test known as the APFT. If you don't know what this test consists of, it's a series of events including 2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups and a 2 mile run. Typically when you take the APFT you also have the pleasure of being measured for your height and weight, where you fall into a certain bracket or range according to how tall you are compared to how round you are, plus age has a part in it.
To break this down for you, my recent height weight was;
Height: 72 inches (this is very significant)
Weight: 203.4 (haven't seen this in a while either)
Age: 40 (this is new)
The bracket I fell into requires me to be within the following measurements.
So let me explain the significance of 72 inches vs 71. For the past 14 years of service I've always measured 71 inches, but the last two measurements in a row (without cheating) I've been measured by two different people on two separate rulers. Each time I've measured at 72 inches placing me into the next bracket you see highlighted above. Granted I recently celebrated my 40th birthday which helps tremendously, but the thing I can't get over is how I (grew) just enough to place me into the next bracket. There are a few explanations that may be valid, but I'm going to give you what I think happened.
For the last several years I've been working hard to strengthen my core and work on my posture while sitting, standing, and even moving. My untested theory is by exercising so much and working on my flexibility and core strength, I've managed to help my spine lengthen by just enough to break the threshold and land myself into the next bracket, making all the difference. It also helps that the .4lbs gets rounded down to 203.
Far fetched? Maybe. Did I need to be taped? Nope, and I couldn't be more happy! There are not too many things in life that will take your pride away than standing in front of a few Sergeants who are questionably qualified to wrap their arms around you for tape placement while having your shirt off. You know who you guys are!
Now all of this alone is not the sole reason for passing. As I mentioned, I've been working my tail end off exercising. I've been using a combination of P90X2, Body Beast, running and playing large amounts of soccer with my boys. Nutrition has also played a huge role in my weight loss! I've been really working hard to stay in the 80/20 guidelines when it comes to deciding what to eat. It's tough for sure but I can do it, you can too! My diet consists of a balance of proteins and carbs, not to get into a nutrition discussion of what ratio is best, but that's what's been working for me. I've also been using Shakeology regularly which has been great for me to substitute a meal every now and then, but more like a snack to help supplement all the extra working out I've been doing. Speaking of supplements, the only thing I've been using on a regular basis is the Beachbody Energy and Endurance (pre-workout) and the P90X Results and Recovery Formula (post workout). That's it. Anything else I've been eating, I've been trying to eat smaller portions and keep a mental note of about how many calories I've consumed. I'm not too big into tracking each and every calorie, but I am trying to do the simple math and burn off more than I take in. Or at least do enough to help keep my metabolism a little higher throughout the day.
So this is how I recently beat the Army's height weight program. A combination of hard work, discipline and the skin on my teeth or just pure luck! Keep up the hard work with your own health and fitness journey and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I'll help you get where you want to be.
