Stew Smith's Favorite Fitness Offerings

I often get emails from beginners starting to exercise or avid training folks like myself, asking about what are some things I like to use, wear and listen to when exercising. Here are a few of the many things I like to use.

I have been searching the fitness business world for places to put my logo on for customers to wear or use as well as find products/services that I recommend for workouts, nutrition and fitness education. Here are a few of the products, associations and people I have grown to respect for their service, duty and representation of the military, law enforcement, firefighter and EMS communities.

Products

When it comes to the fitness gear I use for my personal workouts, I have found that the following products are perfect for my training programs:

Perfect Pushup: See article on the Perfect Pushup

The TRX: See article on the TRX

Brooks Beast running shoes: Great for 200-pound runners. I get them at www.Bodynsolesports.com and save about 30%-40% off retail.

Other great products that I like but do not endorse a specific company who makes them are jump ropes, medicine balls, Olympic weights, bench press, squat racks, dumbbells, pull-up/dip bars and agility ladders.

Related article:

Extreme Body-Core Temperatures

Fitness Education

No longer will our military, law enforcement, firefighter and Special Operations communities be bound to old models of fitness.

Many groups already are getting involved with new fitness programs that not only enable our public servants to perform better at their professions, but their tactical strength and conditioning programs also may save their lives and our lives one day.

Today, tactical strength and conditioning is a growing section of the fitness industry noted for its importance but also for the need to develop tactical physical training programs.

The future is here and now provides functional fitness training, using a variety of methods and clinical studies. One of the most respected strength, conditioning and fitness certification programs in the world, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), has developed the Tactical Strength and Conditioning (TSAC) Program that is based on the needs and demands from the tactical community. The nonprofit organization develops programs that consist of educational seminars and courses and disseminates the latest scientific research and cutting-edge techniques to members of the NSCA and tactical community.

The program also has its own peer-reviewed newsletter, the TSAC Report (PDF), that is delivered electronically six times per year. The TSAC Report contains articles written by strength and conditioning experts as well as members from the fire/rescue, law enforcement and military communities. Topics range from tactical fitness and tactical nutrition to injury prevention.

I was honored to attend the first symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as humbled to be offered to speak to an audience of military, Special Ops soldiers, firefighters, police and SWAT officers, as well as other trainers in the military fitness business. The team of speakers ranged from active police officers, Ph.D.s in physiology and nutrition, and many other highly qualified trainers. I recommend that your military command, law enforcement or fire department get involved somehow with this organization, as it is the future of physical training for our forces.

I will be speaking for the NSCA this summer in Las Vegas and again in September in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information, contact former Marine Mark Stephenson and current human performance director at the NSCA.

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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