Height and Weight Standards- Taping out

[PigzFly]

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for passing the tape out for those who are not within standards. I am awaiting the review of my application package by the May board, everything looks good other than my height and weight. I am 5' 9" and currently 220. I played college football and am built big. I understand that there is a "tape out" process because I am not within the standard of 181 lbs. I have been working to lose weight and have lost 30 lbs since January. The problem is that my neck is losing size faster than my waist (used to tape out). Is there anything anyone knows of that causes more isolated fat loss? I do push ups and sit ups and run (trying to better my PRT) and have stopped lifting weights. I still do neck exercises to try and maintain my neck circumference, but I have lost almost two inches. I am hovering right around 21-22 inch difference between my waist and my neck (22" is max tape out difference for my height). However, I would like to go into MEPS knowing I can tape out. If I am selected by the board I only have 30 days to do so. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Until then I will keep pounding the pavement and pushing deck.


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[JD81]

I was in a similar boat before I went to MEPS, but I was only about 10 pounds over. The easiest thing to do is lose the weight I think, as compared to trying to 'buff' up your neck. It was easiest for me to just cut the weight, there isn't really any secrets to beating the rope and choke, at least none that I know of, HTH.

J

 

[PigzFly]

I understand it isnt wise to stop lifting weights. I guess I phrased that wrong. I have stopped lifting the way I have previously done so. I lift roughly two times a week. Just basic circuit stuff. Light weights, higher reps. More of a maintenance workout. I have been focusing more on prt exercises. I have really changed my diet quite a bit. I am eating a lot more fruits and vegetable and trying to stay away from fats and sugars. I try to eat a number of small meals a day, instead of 3 large meals. I guess I do still take in a decent amount of carbs. I have a hard time not eating though. My biggest problem is that I go to eat when I am bored or when im studying or doing school work. I have tried chewing cum and eating sunflower seeds, it helps but I still have the urge to eat when I am not truly hungry.

-Thanks for the input. I will look into the supplements you suggested. Do you know if any of them would raise a red flag during MEPS? I do not want to do anything that can hinder my chances of passing medical. I used ephedrine (stacker 2) 5 or 6 years ago before it was banned. It worked great. Is it still available?

Thanks again

 

[PigzFly]

Thanks again for the info. I will look into it.

-The gum/seeds thing is just that it seems I am less likely to want to snack if I have gum in my mouth. May be an odd idea, it was just recommended by an instructor I had in a nutrition class.

 

[PigzFly]

Your profile says you are in MN and that you are still in school. Where at? Just curious. I went to UMM for a couple of years before transferring back home to get finished as quick as possible.

 

[Tyler]

+1 what tyga said.

Also, with regards to your metabolism, it is best to eat meals 0.5-2.5 hours AFTER your workouts. I got on a kick for a while where I replaced supper with a protein smoothie from Smoothie King.

When I got an urge to eat out of schedule, I would run instead. Nothing like panting to ruin a good appetite!

Good luck, btw. Hopefully my packet will get to the May board also. I sent it off today.

 

[feddoc]

GMFG.....so much misinformation here. I need to put on my thought screen helmet to keep these impure thoughts from eating my brain.

(ALIEN ABDUCTEE FROM KENTUCKY WEARING A THOUGHT SCREEN HELMET)
http://www.stopabductions.com/

PigzFly, what is your goal...to avoid being measured or to be within body fat standards?

I realize that low carb diets can cause a person to lose weight...however, starving your muscles of the very thing which fuels them is not wise. Additionally, fat takes about 2.5X more energy to burn than does either protein or carbohydrates. Soooo, that low carb diet, while enabling some weight loss, will also starve your muscels of their energy source and force you to work harder to lose fat. If you're gonna lose weight, do it smartly.


Supplements.....tyga, what proof...professional studies, that sort of thing, causes you to say that the supplements you suggest work? Maybe they do, maybe they don't. My vote is don't, but, I am open to suggestions. "Also remember that you gotta eat fat to lose fat." Huh?

Also, I don't know what MEPS rules are WRT supplements, but, your chosen career field has a very, very narrow list of approved supplements. OP, I suggest you formulate your goal and use what will be available to you when you reach the Aviation portion of your career.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

If you need a tool to calculate your body fat using the tape measure head on over to 550cord.com. It's an Army site but it has a body fat calculator and I'm nearly positive they tape exactly the same.

I'd focus on building up your neck more. They'll measure at the adam's apple.

Bouncing off what the guy said above I've also heard shrugs help a lot. You also might want to consider running a lot more since it sounds to me like you're a lifter. Running good mileage should help you trim down if you do enough of it.
As far as eating while bored...a lot of people tend to mistake hunger for thirst. So drink more water. Like lots. I mean like no less than a gallon a day.

 

[IKE]

http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/body-fat-percentage-calculator.php

The above website uses the formulae developed by the Navy for estimating body fat percentage. In case you're wondering, the navy uses this system, not because it's accurate, but because it's cheap and fast, and has the fewest false failures of any cheap/fast method.

If I remember right, the max body fat percentage for men is 22 (when I enlisted it was 23 max for shipping to boot camp, 22 to graduate, but I'd guess that's only for enlisted folks).

I've never done it or known someone who's done it, but there is supposed to be a process for someone who fails the body fat measurement to be tested in a more accurate way by medical staff. There was a story in Navy Times a few years ago about a first class PO who couldn't make the chiefs' board because he was out of body fat limits, even though he scored 300 on his last 2-3 PRTs.

You'll have to figure out what works best for you for weight loss, but I found aerobic exercise did more good than unusual diets/supplements. I went from 254+ to 215 in under 3 months by doing 20-30 mins of cardio on a stationary bike, followed by 30 mins or so of high rep/low weight lifting, then another 20 mins on a bike, 3 times a week.

Good luck.

 

[D_Rob]

I'd focus on building up your neck more. They'll measure at the adam's apple.

According to OPNAVINST 6110.1H "Measure neck circumference at a point just below larynx (Adam’s Apple) ... Do not place tape measure over the Adam’s Apple."

 

[feddoc]

Uhhhhhhh

Low carb diets force your body to not only work harder, but to burn fat as fuel instead of carbs. That is the entire purpose of the low carb diets. Low carb diets are also safe, not dangerous. Often times they help lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. So does any good dietAdditionally, almost every nutritional article and book I've ever read all agree that eating a good amount of mono-sat fats is imperative for losing body fat.

The anabolic diet and keto diet are both hugely popular in the fitness world because they are both so successful for a variety of goals. Nope, not really. But, I suppose that is just my own experience with college/pro teams.
Info on anabolic diet
http://stronglifts.com/anabolic-diet/

Info on low carb diet
http://nutrition.stanford.edu/pdfs/AZ_press.pdf

As for the supplements, I don't really want to sit here and link studies for each individual ingredient. Because there aren't that many For some reason I don't think you would believe them/me anyways. Depends on the study and how it was conducted. stonglifts dot com is not a study, even in the loosest formBut, it probably is a good idea that the OP check any lists that prohibit certain substances.

Op, keep lifting weights. Circuits like you mentioned are a great way to shed some poundage. Also don't completely drain yourself on the treadmill, you don't want your body going into starvation mode and putting on more fat. Have you used a bmr calculator to determine your maintenance calorie level?

 

[Herc_Dude]

I dabbled with the low-carb stuff for a while to see just how lean I could get and I was surprised with some of the results, but it was just not realistic. I saw a drop in endurance when in the gym and especially while running. While I lost some body fat (or water) I was unable to make any consistent gains in the gym and on run time.

After I quit and went back to a normal diet I felt like a bloated fat ass for about a week while my body got used to normal carbs again. After that I got back to myself when working out and was essentially right where I left off before I stopped. I am still not sure if it was really body fat or just loss of water that made me think it might have been fat - it does drop weight initially.

I still find the only consistent, healthy and NOMI legal way to do things is to eat a well balance diet, maybe cut a few calories and/or increase your PT if you want to lean up.

I also found the eating part to be a royal pain in the ass. You have to make lots of trips to the store to keep the meat stocked up and there is just about nowhere out in town to get food. It might work for the average joe who doesn't have to worry about keeping upper body strength or run times down.

 

[PigzFly]

Thanks for all of the input from everyone. Like I said before, I have been working my ass off to drop weight. I have lost 30 lbs since January (which I think is pretty good.) I run between 2 and 4 miles a day and also add in some time on the elliptical if I can get my lazy ass out of bed early enough. Part of the reason I dont lift as much as before is because I go to school all day, come home, barely have enough time to run for a half hour or forty minutes, then head to work and spend another eight hours there. I am taking 21 credits trying to finish school and work full time. My goal is to pass medical, whether by taping out or being within standards. I would like to be as light as possible as Im sure it will make OCS easier. I drink a lot of water. I dont drink sodas or beer or anything else. I really only drink water. Probably more than most people. I carry a nalgene bottle around with me and usually fill it up between each class (4-5 classes a day) and keep drinking when I am at home and at work. I try to cross train a bit also, riding a bike, swimming, and time on the elliptical. I have considered the low carb diet, and pretty much everything else. I will just have to keep busting ass and get rid of as much fat mass as possible. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Kycntryboy]

I understand it isnt wise to stop lifting weights. I guess I phrased that wrong. I have stopped lifting the way I have previously done so. I lift roughly two times a week. Just basic circuit stuff. Light weights, higher reps. More of a maintenance workout. I have been focusing more on prt exercises. I have really changed my diet quite a bit.
Thanks again

I'll field this one... 6'1'' Same shoes, played college football as well lost 20 pounds during the offseason just to apply (245-225)(haven't gone one PRT evolution where I didn't have to tape myself). I had to explain to the BDCP board why I was over standards, recruiter had say at 225 I was at my heighest because of football, when it was my lowest. Lifting will keep building your muscles, I literally had to stop lifting on my legs 2-3 years to break down some of my muscle. Before OCS all I did was run (break it down)(managed to get to 208) lowest I have been. ...(gained it back in candio-phase). If you lift your f'n yourself, the only thing I would lift is my neck to keep those inches there. Good luck big guy.

 

[Schnugg]

...After I quit and went back to a normal diet I felt like a bloated fat ass for about a week while my body got used to normal carbs again.

This only lasted a week for you...lucky you...