Product Description

The British Army is the fittest in the world, employing tried-and-tested training programmes that are guaranteed to build the levels of stamina, strength and flexibility that every soldier needs. In this official guide, developed with the Army Physical Training Corps, you can discover the exercises and activities that the Army uses and follow specially designed programmes to get yourself to the peak of physical fitness. This book contains three carefully planned twelve-week programmes; simple to follow illustrations that show you how to get the most out of each activity; and, assessment tests to help you track your progress. Whether you're a complete beginner who simply wants to be a bit healthier or a weekend warrior looking for the next challenge, this easy-to-use book will help take your fitness to the next level.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1484 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
The perfect Credit Crunch-defying fitness plan
--Sport, 27 February 2009

From the Back Cover
Get fighting fit with The Official British Army Fitness Guide.
The British Army is the fittest in the world, employing tried-and-tested training programmes that are guaranteed to build the levels of stamina, strength and flexibility that every soldier needs.
In this official guide - developed with the Army Phyiscal Training Corps - you can discover the exercises and activities that the Army uses and follow specially designed programmes to get yourself to the peak of physical fitness.
- Three carefully planned twelve-week programmes
- Simple-to-follow illustrations that show you how to get the most out of each activity
- Assessment tests to help you track your progress
Whether you're a complete beginner who simply wants to be healthier or a weekend warrior looking for the next challenge, this easy-to-use book will help take your fitness to the next level.

About the Author
Sam Murphy is a leading health and fitness writer with a weekly column in the Guardian. She has written six fitness books, including Marathon: From Start to Finish and The Real Woman's Personal Trainer. The Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) are the British Army's fitness experts and healthy lifestyle advisors. They have delivered physical training to the Army for almost 150 years, ensuring the British soldier is 'Fit for Life and Fit to Fight' at all times.

Customer Reviews

Be the best - Simple tried and tested fitness guide
I bought this because I've become so unfit since leaving uni and starting a desk job...

First of all, this book is all about the basics. The army has tried and tested methods of getting their recruits fit. There's no gimmicks, no tricks, no shortcuts; the army has no product to sell. There's no secret to getting fit - you just need to put in the effort and commitment.

Don't be put off by the fact it is an army book - it doesn't expect you to run for hours with bricks in your burgen or have you crawling through ditches! Everything in this book is do-able, and the programs build your fitness up progressively over time.

All-round fitness comes through three components - Cardiovascular exercise, Strength training and Flexibility. This book has sections for all of these with large pictures detailing each of the exercises included in the training programe. It also has helpful little tips to get the most out of your time and effort. Also there are warm up/cool down exercises. My only word of warning is that this guide focuses on running for it's main staple of cadio activity. So bear in mind you WILL be running!

The middle part of the book details the full itinarary of exercise programs over 36 weeks -3 progressively harder stages, each 12 weeks long. By the time you get to the end of 36 weeks you will be army fit.

It also has a 4 week conditioning routine for people who haven't run in years - this prepares you for the first stage of the program.

There is a helpful section detailing targets to aim for - run times, healthy body weights, BMI, fat levels, the 'talk test' (refering to how hard you are exercising).

At the end of the book there is information on how to have a healthy diet. As you know, this is just as important as the exercises themselelves - too much or too little of certain food types mean you won't see results.

At the end of the day this book tells you what you probably already know. Exercise + Healthy diet = Fitness. It makes sense. There is no quick fix and being fit and healthy is a way of life; not a fad diet or brutal (unsustainable) exercise regime. This guide provides all the information required to attain a healthy lifestyle. As i said, no secret, no short cuts, no gimmicks. Put in the time and effort and you will get fit, also find an active hobby you enjoy doing in conjunction with this guide, as you're more likely to maintain and continue your fitness once you've completed the book.

I would recommend this book.

Excellent
An excellent book - 3 start points (Levels 1, 2 and 3), plus an additional beginner level for both aerobic and strength exercises - ideal for those who haven't run or done a pressup for years.

Each level is a 12 week programme that gradually increases in intensity, and is customisable.

Buy it, use it, get fit.

British Army Fitness Guide
This book helps you find out how unfit you are. It then puts you back together again by having an easy user friendly layout that helps you develop your own exercise scheme.