Tactical Fitness Report with Stew Smith Podcast

What books should you read prior to joining the Special Operations groups in the military? What open source publications are solid for up to date information? Check out this podcast and live QA session with Navy SEAL Stew Smith for some ideas as you get smarter with a potential career choice.  See https://www.stewsmithfitness.com for more information on the topic. 

Today, Nick Barringer, PhD, discusses nutrition and the use of stimulants for alertness and physical/academic performance. Common uses of caffeine, nicotine, and others in energy drinks (good or bad?), gum, and other foods and drinks.  Check out https://www.salvogum.com for Nick's new product, which he has created for both alertness and cognitive performance (and minty breath)! Use the STEW10 coup...

Some weeks are just perfect, the end of this cycle and the start of a new Spring Training cycle always hits perfectly EVEN during the week of SPRING FORWARD day light savings time when early mornings hit a little different  Check this out: This is especially helpful for those of you who like to get your workouts done first thing in the morning. Here are some lessons I learned from previous years a...

Does everyone appreciate the term "Tactical Athlete" like I do? Maybe not. Maybe most think of being too "tacti-cool" with the idea of placing tactical in front of a term to sell more gear? But I think of it as a useful genre.   I got this idea from Modern Athlete Strength Systems (https://www.instagram.com/modernathletestrength) on a recent newsletter. I was on their podcast a few months ago and...

You can follow Nick Allen at https://www.lesserknownoperators.com/ and listen to his awesome podcasts with former operators you may have never heard of.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesserknownoperators/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@LesserKnownOperators Check out other videos of combat swimmer stroke, workouts, and other spec ops related training.  See http://www.stewsmithfitness.co...

How many of you wake up in the morning and feel like staying in bed? Most of us feel like sleeping in BUT we get up any way. Why? Because we have created a habit or some discipline to do something you do not feel like doing. Whether you have to do it or you want to do it - you get i done anyway.  These are the scoops of mental toughness you get daily and with some consistency you become mentally t...

Stew Smith and Jack McFarland (retired DEA) discuss Jack's journey as he prepared for a career in the DEA, including his DEA training, missions, and the process of becoming a DEA agent.  Check out https://www. JackMcFarlandDEA.com for more information on contacting Jack McFarland - Supervisory Special Agent at U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Retired, Keynote Motivational...

Jim Edwards is a highly successful entrepreneur with an internet marketing business for over 30 years. His resilience was born out of childhood illness and gritty choices throughout his life. From being bankrupt, living in a trailer park to a multi-millionaire marketer, Jim Edwards has a story for all of those who are struggling with that side gig, working a job they do not like.  For more about J...

Today, Nutritionist (Army Ranger), PhD Nick Barringer helps me understand creatine, especially as I age, and the benefits that are undeniable. Check out Nick Barringer at https://drnickbarringer.com/ and his very educational Instagram page -  @nickbarringer.phd.rdn  Creatine monohydrate is among the most popular and widely researched dietary supplements globally. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts,...

How to Handle Missed Tasks and Keep Moving Forward - see full article - https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/missed-workout-to-do-list-bumping-your-schedule-to-the-right-navigating-life-s-disruptions Life is unpredictable. Even the most meticulously planned schedules can be upended by unexpected events, last-minute changes, or simply the need for a break. Whether you’re aiming to fit in a w...

Stew Smith and Jeff Nichols discuss coaching those who are untrained, aging past the age waiver, and preparing to serve in some fashion.  Check out this knowledge drop from two former Navy SEAL Tactical Fitness Coaches.  Check out other videos of combat swimmer stroke, workouts, and other spec ops related training.  See http://www.stewsmithfitness.com for more information about military, law enfor...

As discussed in the Never Quit Mindset book and video course, https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/products/the-never-quit-mindset-book - the ability to fail and learn and improve is what makes success a Never Quit Mindset Journey.  This week we are sharing the story of Colonel Harland Sanders. Yes THE Colonel Sanders known as a figure of perseverance, founding Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) late in his...

Building a Never Quit Mindset is Possible… https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/products/the-never-quit-mindset-book With this action plan, you'll learn to understand the growth process required for physical and mental toughness. You'll enjoy the liberation from the fear of failure and the freedom to move forward and through obstacles, setting you on a path whereby your growth knows no limits.  Defeat...

Exploring the Relentless Spirit Behind Human Flight and Space Exploration The "Never Quit Mindset with Human Innovation Since Wright Brothers" podcast takes listeners on an exhilarating journey through the history and future of human flight. We quickly discuss the pivotal moments that have shaped our ability to soar, from the Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk to the age of supersonic jet...

Thomas Edison's "Never Quit" story is a legendary example of perseverance and turning failure into success. Throughout his career, Edison faced numerous challenges, particularly in his pursuit of inventing the practical incandescent light bulb. He famously conducted thousands of experiments, each failure bringing him closer to his goal.  When asked about his repeated failures, Edison is quoted as...

Time to finish strong with the last month of summer. Can you progress into higher mileage, higher reps, faster times (run, ruck, swim)? That is our plan for the last month of summer - THEN once we peak, we will do a week of mobility days. It is going to be awesome! Summer peak - https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/summer-training-plans-by-stew-smith-stfp-system Mobility day - https://www.s...

This is our first Never Quit Mindset Show, where we explore some of the incredible stories of people who embody the "never quit mindset" to such an extent that we feel compelled to share and learn from them.  After the quick story, you can jump on to share more comments about the person or ask a related/unrelated question if you prefer. Cliff Young was a 61 year old potato farmer who set the endur...

I realized I half answered this question about faster 4 mile timed runs yesterday. When I stated you need to run more 4 miles timed runs to get better at running 4 mile timed runs - that is true. BUT I left out the other runs of the week you should also do: Hill runs, sprints, should be a training day. Goal pace 400m 800m and  mile repeats should be a training day Beach running (if available) shou...

The old saying is that if you want to get big, you must eat big and lift big. The science behind this agrees, but it is more complicated than simply eating more. It does matter what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, and how you exercise. It is not as simple as just getting on the SEE-food diet. Recent research shows that even with a calorie surplus and resistance training, mainly gaining le...

So I decided to start a new podcast and make it a LIVE QA session on top of discussing The Never Quit Mindset. With guests and without focused on those important moments in our lives when we decided to get tougher and not quit. Standby for more information, but I wanted to get a quick discussion on another potential change that is occuring within Air Force Special Warfare.  For more info on AFSW t...

Stew Smith and Nick Barringer PhD (nutrition) discuss eating to gain weight for the "hard gainer". We define the term plus discuss training and eating options that best put on lean muscle mass.  We also share a post from his instragram page: https://www.instagram.com/nickbarringer.phd.rdn/ I highly recommend following Nick if you want to get smarter with training, nutrition, recovery, and even coo...

Don't get beat down by the heat and humidity whether you work or work out outside this summer. Prepare your bag for hydration, electrolytes, cooling, and change of clothes options. If you do this right, you may find yourself tougher, more resilient to the extreme temps (over time) and still improve performance. It all comes down to body heat - Half of your fatigue is due to body heat.  Cool down =...

Retired Army Lt. Col. Nick Barringer, PhD, helps us break down some of the recent science behind training, testing, nutrition, and what makes a good spec ops candidate.  Check out his Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nickbarringer.phd.rdn We also did the following podcasts topics in the past: TFR 212 - Talking Nutrition Optimal Performance / Longevity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVKBMEaBh...

Spec Ops Swimming Tests: Learning the CSS to get TO and THROUGH Spec Ops Selection - https://www.stewsmithfitness.com/blogs/news/css-help-series-quick-fix-to-crushing-the-swim The RULES: First, the 500yd Navy Physical Screening Test (PST) allows for the elementary side stroke, the breaststroke, or the modified side stroke nick-named the Combat Swimmer Stroke. The general theme is that these stroke...

If you have never heard of EMDR - listen up: Dan walks us through his career and calling to serve and many of the things he has learned in the last 40 years of serving his community and now his fellow officers. EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a form of psychotherapy designed to assist individuals in processing and coping with traumatic memories and other distress...