Stew - What specifically did you do to help you physically
recover and deal with the pain/soreness at BUD/S? Was it just a
combination of motrin, ice, and stretching?
Thanks for the email question. This is a great one that I talk about
often but I realized I never wrote about it. There are many elements to
recovery that are crucial to your ability to compete and survive the long
months of SEAL training. Here is a list of what I did to prepare as well as
actively aid in my recovery:
First of all, getting ready for BUD/S requires months, if not years, (like
in my case) of
preparation.
Playing team sports, working out year round with running, swimming,
calisthenics, some weights as well is first and foremost how you can prepare
yourself for the long days and nights of SEAL training. See ideas at
www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/navysealarticles.htm
Second, being 22 years old helped tremendously. Both physically and
mentally at that age I was mature enough to handle the stress as well as had
a natural ability of a late-teen / early twenty year old to recover
quickly. As we age we lose the ability to quickly recover from stress -
mentally or physically.
Third, you have to rest and lick your wounds. Most days are quite normal
and they start at 0600 and end after evening chow at 1800. When you do not
have a night training op, get to sleep! Sleep is our number one
recovery mechanism. When given the opportunity to get six or more
hours of sleep - take it. Weekends are yours to continue to rest and
recover. Take a few naps during the weekend after big meals. Try to limit
your late nights and when away from the BUD/S chow hall, eat well - not junk
or fast food.
Fourth, you have to stay hydrated and keep the electrolytes flowing. If you
spent the day sweating, breathing hard, wearing wet suits, on top of running
and PT, you need to be hydrated before, during and after the day. I always
made sure I drank a gallon of water a day.
Fifth, that takes me into
nutrition. BUD/S chow is not that bad
actually. You will eat there three times a day and I recommend eating as
much as you can each time you are there. Most guys at BUD/S actually lose
weight even though they eat 5000-6000 + calories a day. To aid in the above
electrolyte issues, add in sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium rich
foods. I used to make beans and rice snacks and peanut butter and banana
sandwiches for extra calories and salts as well as carbs and proteins.
Sixth, as far as the pain of the day goes, yes you have to stretch
afterwards. I found that a 15 minute static stretch after a long day at
BUD/S helped break up some soreness. Then in the next morning before your
day gets started, do some dynamic stretching to warm-up like jumping jacks,
butt kickers, high kicks, torso twists for a few minutes. Now, if I were at
BUD/S as a student I would buy a foam roller and roll out my legs, hips, and
back. Pretty much anything that is sore can be rolled out - see
www.stewsmith.com/linkpages/MFR.htm
There are many things I did to aid in
recovery and many things I wish I had
known twenty years ago that would have helped. The foam roller is a
God-send to my training. You can actually have some mild tendonitis stay
mild and gradually dissipate and not have to stop running using the foam
roller. Sure motrin and other anti-inflammatory meds are OK if you have a
problem with an injury but try not to use those too much or too often.
Using some omega 3 fish oils or flax seed oil caplets will also help with
inflammation. Or eat tuna and nuts since supplements / vitamins are not
allowed at BUD/S. But when in doubt -
go to sleep.