Posted by Nicholas DiNubile, M.D. [via yahoo health]
Do you ever feel that life could be easier? That each day is a little harder? Life can, at times, be that way.
There is a Navy SEAL saying (from their training programs) that goes “the only easy day was yeaterday.”
Although most of us do not want to become Navy SEALS, nor could we even if we tried, there are some lessons to be learned from them about training and conditioning the human body (and mind), and the role of adaptation.
Becoming a Navy SEAL, one of the true military physical and mental elites, takes over six months of specialized training. They push their bodies to the breakpoint on a daily basis, and it’s even tougher on their minds and emotions. The dropout rate is extremely high, but those who survive are transformed forever.
There are no easy days or easy weeks. “Hell week” is one of the toughest make-or-break periods. During those five days, the SEALS in training are subjected to extreme conditions, constant physical and mental challenges. Amongst the highlights, five days with about four hours sleep – total.
The waking hours are spent sandy and wet, constantly carrying heavy loads, or being immersed in icy water till hypothermia starts to set in – then back to breakneck calisthenics and physical activity to “warm back up.”
They emerge from Hell week, and the even tougher weeks and months to follow, amongst the fittest, toughest human beings on the planet. The only “easy” days are the ones behind them.
The so-called BUD/S training provides great lessons in adaptation. Some break down, some get stronger, and many experience both simultaneously. What does this mean for you?
Are your workouts hard enough? Do you challenge yourself, or have you gotten into a bit of a lull? Have you hit a plateau? In my next blog entry I’ll talk about the adaptation process and how you can make it work for you.
