PFT tips I've picked up

I know there are a lot of us on here either about to go to officer training (ME!!! YAY!!!), working towards going to officer training, or want to start applying for officer training. I was going to post this as a reply to another post and I thought, no, I'll just stick it in another thread.

I'm not in horrendous shape - I take ice skating lessons and skate probably three to four times a week (hard skating - I break a good sweat and end up on the ice in a tank top), and I sort of half-heartedly did free weights three times a week. But like the rest of us, I've now got to pass a PT test when I get to COT (or at least a diagnostic - my goal is to be able to pass the thing when I get there).

Might I recommend the websites 100 Pushups and 200 Situps? I wasn't in the worst of shape when I started - - but these sites have been invaluable for me! I can really tell a difference. If you have an iPhone, there are even apps you can get for $1.99 each from the App Store that coincide with the websites, and coach you through the workouts and allow you to log your progress.

ALSO - on iTunes - which you don't need an iPod to use - they sell ENTIRE ALBUMS of military cadences to run by. If you're prior service, you well remember these; if not, think "Full Metal Jacket" or "An Officer and a Gentleman" - when the cadets/trainees are running, the drill instructor calls out "songs" which the folks in formation repeat. While some of the ones in these movies are NOT ones you'd want to repeat in polite company (!!!), the ones on these albums are much more appropriate.

When I started running, I found I missed the cadences. You'd get lost in the words - a lot of them are very motivational, which is the whole point. And then I found these albums on iTunes, and what a difference! The other thing about them, besides being motivational, is they almost FORCE you to keep your pace UP, which is half the battle (esp for me!), and they definitely force you to keep a steady pace. Now I actually don't mind the run - sort of...

They have ones for each branch - and there's even a whole album of women Marines. You can buy them either by the album (which is actually cheaper) or by the track for 99 cents each.

My personal plan is to max out the pushups and situps, and make up the difference with the run (the AF goes on points for each part of the test). I suck at running, and I know that once I get there, I'll have less trouble pushing myself when I have a whole flight to keep up with. All I want when I get down there is to at least PASS the thing on the diagnostic one, or come disgustingly close.

Anyway, I know this is not really nursing related, but it IS related to what we're all working on, and I thought I'd share what I've come up with so far. For you younger folks - if I can do it, you can do it. And for the ladies closer to my age, IF I CAN DO IT, AND DARA TORRES CAN WIN A GOLD, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!! (In other words, get out your knee brace - like me! - and hit the pavement!)