Stew Smith, CSCS®

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. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle, check out his Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive on Military.com. Contact Stew with your comments and questions at stew@stewsmith.com.

Latest Articles

A woman participates in a ‘Boot Camp Cycle’ class at Mitchell Stout Physical Fitness Center at Fort Bliss, Texas.

7 Ways to Maintain Your Fitness Level as You Age

Most people focus on fitness to begin a new habit or seek improvements in health and wellness. This largely requires...

Maj. Bart Brimhall, the deputy product manager for missile field development, executes a weighted deadlift at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

How to Decide the Order of Exercises in Your Fitness Workout

When designing a workout plan that involves three or four sections on the days you exercise, their order matters and depends...

Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant (CSOJTF-L) service members perform lunges during group physical training.

The Best Leg Exercise to Improve at Running and Rucking

Incorporating lunges into your leg day routine has numerous benefits, setting the stage for increased performance in military...

Lance Cpl. Amber Martinez executes a ‘side stroke’ during the testing portion of the Advanced Swim Qualification Course at Ramer Hall, Quantico, Virginia.

How to Improve Your Combat Side Stroke for Military Fitness Tests

The swimming test in the Navy Physical Screening Test (PST) can require an underwater recovery stroke using the side stroke...

(Airman 1st Class Dillon J. Audit/U.S. Air Force photo)

The Best Way to Become Motivated to Stick to a Fitness Routine

At some point in the beginning, there must be a straightforward evolutionary process from motivation to discipline.

A soldier assigned to the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne) competes in the Strongman Contest in Fort Liberty, N.C.

Core, Grip Strength and Cardio: This Farmer’s Walk Workout Covers It All

The farmer’s walk is the ultimate complementary exercise, working the arm muscles, shoulders, back and legs while focusing on...

Master Sgt. Jamion Speed, 7th Wing Staff Agencies first sergeant, exercises using ‘battle ropes’ during an Alpha Warrior course demonstration at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

How to Build the Mental Toughness Required of Special Operations Selections

Most people, even scientists studying physiology and psychology, are puzzled by the mind-body connection.

(U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Dillon J. Audit)

6 Game-Changing Workout Strategies for Beginners or Anyone Restarting Their Fitness Journey

Many people new to fitness or experiencing prolonged absences wonder how often they should work out as beginners and what...

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Micah Malala swims during his Physical Screening Test on Naval Air Station North Island.

4 Reasons to Remove the ‘Pullout’ from Military Swim Fitness Tests

When taking military swimming tests that require the breaststroke or the side stroke (also known as the combat side stroke...

A soldier assigned to the 1st Infantry Division performs barbell biceps curls during their morning physical training session at Leonard Fitness Center on Fort Riley, Kansas.

5 Rules for Adding Workouts to Your Military Unit's Daily PT Sessions

Adding workouts for your group at your military unit's morning PT sessions each week is one of the more difficult things to...

A U.S. Army soldier from the 25th Infantry Division performs a deadlift during the annual Tropic Lightning Week weightlifting competition on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

How the Tactical Athlete Benefits from Cardio Exercises After Leg Workouts

For most athletes, leg days and cardio challenge the body and mind, but for tactical athletes, topping off leg days with...

Army Reserve Pfc. Akjla Webb stretches before going out onto an obstacle course on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

How to Add Stretching and Breathing Exercises into Your Daily Fitness Training

Since breathing is the first and last thing we do on this Earth, it makes sense to be good at it for all our breaths in...

(Airman Dennis Spain/U.S. Air Force photo)

5 Important Questions 50- to 60-Year-Olds Should Ask to Start Building for Longevity

As people transition into their 50s, 60s and beyond, the importance of health and wellness becomes increasingly evident.

U.S. Marines Corps Sgt. Barry Newhart conducts agility drills during the High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) Small Unit Leaders course at Gunners’ Gym on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.

How to Add Old-School Speed and Agility Drills to Your Military Fitness Training

The military's need for speed and agility has proven helpful for various tasks, especially among ground fighters.

Coast Guard recruits prepare to jump from a platform into the pool below and begin their swim assessment aboard Training Center Cape May, N.J.

The Most Common Military Service Fitness Training Errors

Many people are doing the wrong workouts that lack the specific requirements of military testing, basic training and special...

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TFR 217 - Jason McCarthy (Army SF) & GoRuck.com Founder

Jason and Stew discuss the importance of moving more, socialization, and becoming a better person by getting out of...

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Brian Smith, president and CEO of the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, stands next to a refurbished PT13 at the Coleman A. Young International Airport.

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smoke rises from cargo vessel Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska

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