Preparing for Marine Corps boot camp?

[Jessica Craver]

I'm having a difficult time figuring out just what I need to do to prepare myself for boot camp, both diet wise and physical preperation. I don' ship out until October 13th, so I want to be sure i'm in good shape before I leave.

If it helps any i'm 19, female, about 5'2" and weigh around 125lbs. I'm also a vegetarian(but do eat seafood.)

I did my first IST a couple days ago. I did the 1.5 mile run in 12minutes, 84 crunches in two minutes, and only did the flexed arm hang for 1 minute 10 seconds. I know I can improve on all of them.

I'v also got a gym membership, so I have plenty of access to workout equipment, I just don't know which ones I need to focus most on.

What sort of routine did the rest of you set for yourselfs prior to shipping? Any help would be greatly appreciated

[AmericanWarrior]

Hey Jessica. Dont worry about it. You are above the standards.
Here are the IST requirements for females:
- Flexed Arm Hang - 12 seconds
- 35 Sit Ups (2 Minutes)
- 1 Mile Run - 10:30

You exceed everyone of those, and by such a wide margin that you are more than ready physically. You need to prepare mentally. There is one problem you are going to have to overcome. There are no vegetarians in the military. You eat what they give you and you are definitely going to need the meat at boot camp for precious proteins.

I am shipping out in 6 weeks. My routine is to run every night after work exaclty 1 mile. I only work 1-3 days a week though. In the morning when I wake up I run 2 to 2 and a 1/2 miles. Then every Wednesday I run 3 miles with my recruiter.

I also do 8 sets of 25 push ups throughout the day and 4-6 sets of 2-3 pull ups.

I can barely meet the IST standards right now. But I can do it, unlike when I first joined. (Nearly threw up running 1/5 of a mile.)

Hope I helped.:cool:

[Toogr82h8]

Jessica,

I would not be too concerned with preparing yourself. Physically you seem to be right on target. You will still be broken down physically because that is what is supposed to happen. As far as mentally, well there isnt much you can do there. Boot camp sucks no matter how you cut it. If it was easy more people would do it. Just keep in your mind the reasons you want to be a Marine and you will make it. Never give up and learn as much as you can in those short three months.

Good luck and Semper Fidelis

[CplVelociraptor]

Jessica,

I would not be too concerned with preparing yourself. Physically you seem to be right on target. You will still be broken down physically because that is what is supposed to happen. As far as mentally, well there isnt much you can do there. Boot camp sucks no matter how you cut it. If it was easy more people would do it. Just keep in your mind the reasons you want to be a Marine and you will make it. Never give up and learn as much as you can in those short three months.

Good luck and Semper Fidelis

Couldn't say it better. You'll probably do very well among the other recruits physically. Along with remembering why you are becoming a Marine, I would also recommend that you remember yourself before you leave. Think about who you are as a person, what you are wanting to change, and what you do not want to change. Don't let boot camp modify your personality so much that you become someone totally different. Rather, it should magnify your positives and eliminate the negatives.