Fitness Interview – Former Navy SEAL Stew Smith

I am pleased to post the interview I conducted with Stew Smith. Stew Smith is a Naval Academy graduate and former Navy SEAL. He has worked in the military fitness area helping people to become Navy SEALs for over 15 years. He has also trained athletes in College, Olympians, and Professional Sports. Stew is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).

FROM STEW SMITH CSCS, FORMER NAVY SEAL, FITNESS AUTHOR FOUNDER OF STEWSMITH.COM, MYCUSTOMWORKOUT.COM, AND IS CONSIDERED THE PERSONAL TRAINER TO THE HEROES OF TOMORROW.

1. Could you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started in fitness?

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FITNESS SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID TRYING TO GET BIGGER / FASTER FOR YOUTH SPORTS (SINCE 12 YRS OLD)

PLAYED FIVE SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, GOT ACCEPTED TO THE US NAVAL ACADEMY – PLAYED SOME FOOTBALL AND THEN RUGBY / SWIMMING – GRADUATED AND WENT INTO THE SEAL TEAMS FOR THE FOLLOWING SEVEN YEARS. SINCE 1999 – I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TRAINING PEOPLE, GETTING CERTIFIED AS A CSCS THROUGH THE NATIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT AND WRITING ABOUT FITNESS FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS NOW AND PUBLISHED SIX FITNESS BOOKS, SWIMMING DVD, AND MORE THAN 35 EBOOKS THAT FOCUS ON MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FITNESS TESTING PREPARATION.

SEE COMPLETE LIST AT WWW.STEWSMITH.COM/SITEMAP.HTM

2. Describe your current training program?

I WORKOUT SIX DAYS A WEEK. I RUN 3-4 MILES 5 DAYS A WEEK, SWIM 1000m-2000m 4-5 DAYS A WEEK, AND MIX IN WEIGHTS AND CALISTHENICS 3 DAYS A WEEK OF UPPERBODY EXERCISES AND TWO DAYS A WEEK OF LEGS / SPRINTS…

3. How would you describe your nutrition program?

COMPLETELY NATURAL – NO SUPPLEMENTS OTHER THAN A MULTI-VITAMIN. AT LEAST ONE SALAD A DAY – MOST DAYS TWO A DAY COMPLETE WITH GREEN LEAFY LETTUCE, TOMATOES, BROCOLLI, MUSHROOMS, NUTS, STRAWBERRIES ETC…THEN LEAN MEATS / WHOLE GRAIN BREAD / PASTA NUTS TO BALANCE OUT CARB / FATS / FIBER / PROTEIN….

4. What role do you feel supplements play in getting fit?

NOT A BIG FAN OF SUPPLEMENTS – I EAT REALLY WELL. ONE THING I TRY TO DO IS FIND WHAT THE SUPPLEMENTS ARE SELLING (INGREDIENTS) AND THEN FIND THE FOODS THAT NATURALLY HAVE THOSE COMPONENTS IN THEM. YOU WOULD BE SUPRISED THAT BY JUST EATING MANY VEGETABLES, LEAN MEATS, NUTS, BERRIES, FRUITS HAS EVERY THING YOU NEED.

5. How does your approach to training differ from most personal trainers?

I DO EVERYTHING WITH MY STUDENTS – SO I AM MORE OF A WORKOUT PARTNER – RUNNING, SWIMMING, CALISTHENICS ETC… I USED TO TRAIN PEOPLE MUCH MORE THAN NOW – RIGHT NOW I AM IN A WRITING MODE OF CREATING BOOKS, EBOOKS, ETC THAT I DEVELOPED THROUGH YEARS OF TRAINING PEOPLE. YOU CAN SEE MY LIST OF BOOKS, EBOOKS, ARTICLES AT
WWW.STEWSMITH.COM/SITEMAP.HTM

6. What do you do to stay motivated?

WORKOUT WITH FRIENDS AND OTHER LIKE MINDED PEOPLE. IT IS EASIER GETTING UP KNOWING THAT YOU WILL LET PEOPLE DOWN IF YOU STAYED ASLEEP FOR AN EARLY AM WORKOUT. ALSO – PLACE IT IN YOUR DAILY PLAN – IF IT IS NOT IN YOUR SCHEDULE – FITNESS DOES NOT EXIST.

7. Is there a fitness myth that you would like to debunk?

SWEATING WATER IN SAUNA, SWEAT SUITS IS GOING TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT. WRONG – IF YOU ARE RETAINING WATER THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS TO DRINK MORE WATER SO YOUR BODY WILL NATURALLY EXCRETE IT THROUGH THE KIDNEYS. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE LOSE 20 LBS OF WEIGHT IN ONE WEEK BY ONLY ADDING WATER TO THEIR DIET. NOW THEY WERE EXTREMELY DEHYDRATED / BLOATED FROM NOT DRINKING WATER / HIGH SODIUM DIET. JUST ADD WATER IS THE ANSWER.

8. What do you think is the biggest obstacle for people trying to get in shape?

STARTING! ONCE THEY GET GOING FOR ABOUT 1-2 WEEKS THEY TYPICALLY DO QUITE WELL AND START TO SEE / FEEL THE RESULTS OF THEIR LABOR. ONCE FITNESS BECOMES A HABIT – IT IS EASIER TO GET OVER TEH DAILY OBSTACLES, OCCASIONAL PLATEAUS ETC…

9. Now that summer is approaching, are there any tips you can provide to workout safely in hot weather?

STAY HYDRATED. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER DURING THE DAY WHEN NOT WORKING OUT – 6-8 OZ AN HOUR WHILE AWAKE. DURING HOT EXERCISE – HYDRATE EVERY 10-15 MINUTES WITH SIPS OF GATORADE OR ANOTHER ELECTROLYTE REPLACEMENT DRINK. ALSO END YOUR WORKOUT WITH A SWIM TO DROP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE IF HEATED FROM WORKOUT.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

MY NEW HEROES OF TOMORROW FITNESS CENTER IS OPEN AT WWW.STEWSMITH.COM WHERE YOU CAN FIND TONS OF INFO ABOUT EVERY MILITARY / LAW ENFORCEMENT / FIRE FIGHTER PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER GOODIES…

ALSO – OPENING MYCUSTOMWORKOUT.COM – CHECK IT OUT! IT IS A GREAT SITE FOR ANY FITNESS LEVEL.

Thank you so much Stew! You can learn more about Stew Smith by visiting his web site: www.stewsmith.com