I have a new goal in my head. I came up with it yesterday, although it has been bouncing around between my ears for several months, I think. Anyone know what the APFT is?
I never passed the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) during basic training, so I failed. Before they could make me take it again, I got out because of a medical issue. It was during the first Gulf War. I was actually in basic training at Ft. Dix, N.J. the day Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. My tenure in the Army Reserve, during my first year of college, basically consisted of weekend duty each month, where they didn't know what to do with me, and eventually a waiting period before being given an honorable discharge. The whole thing was a mess from day one, and represents the first major failure in my life. I loved the military but hated my failure, so I began to look upon myself with disgust. I had always had weight issues which, for a brief time before I joined the USAR, had been conquered, but it wasn't long before I was big again. Drinking became an issue, and after a few years I felt compelled to drop out of college, even though my grades were not failing. Thus began my descent into alcoholism.
I don't know exactly what Army basic training standards are for a 19-year-old male in push-ups, sit-ups, and the two-mile run. They're less than those of a fully-trained soldier. At the time, I could pass push-ups and barely missed the run time; it was push-ups I could not come close to hitting the mark on.
What I want to do is pass the APFT to at least the minimum standards of a trained, 19-year-old male soldier. That means being able to complete 42 or more push-ups in two minutes, do 53 or more sit-ups in two minutes, and finish a two-mile run in 15:54 or less. I do not know how long it will take me to get there, and I do not plan on training for that specifically for a few months at least--I have other fish to fry.
I'd like to not only beat it, but destroy it. Being 40 or 41 years old and meeting the US Army minimum standards for basic physical fitness for a 19-year-old would help me lay to rest one of the most disappointing periods in my life. I think that's a worthy goal--scary but exciting.
Maybe someday I'll be able to climb a rope and do real pull-ups, too.
Menu:
Breakfast (3 blocks)
- 165g sweet potatoes, 3 oz. chicken, 1 tsp. butter
Snack (3 blocks)
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 2/3 tsp. coconut oil, 5g chopped nuts
- 1/2 cup blackberries, 1 tbsp. c-raisins
Snack (2 blocks)
- 1 block 72% dark chocolate, 1 tsp. almond butter, 2 oz. cheddar cheese, 1 clementine
Lunch (5 blocks)
- 2 cups zucchini spaghetti , 1 cup Chan chili, 1/2 cup sauce, 4 Tricia meatballs
- 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 2/3 tsp. olive oil
Dinner (4 blocks)
- 1-1/4 cup cauliflower, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup fry mix, 1 tbsp. c-raisins, 4.5 oz. shrimp, 1 egg
- 1 tsp. butter, 5g chopped nuts
Total water consumption: 8+ quarts throughout the day, including coffee and tea
I feel like I'm back. Friday's WOD, here I come. Based on the rules and all that, my total points for the day: 0
Total points so far: 6
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