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 U.S. soldier assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade powers through a bench-press attempt during the Castle Week powerlifting competition at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Best Strategies to Recover from a Heavy Weightlifting Training Cycle

When training specifically to improve your performance, especially in the strength and power components of fitness, it can be...

U.S. Army battalion commanders from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, use resistance bands to complete a leg exercise at a special physical training session at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

6 Tips to Improve Your Fitness and Save Money

Many people assume their fitness journey must include pricey gym memberships or high-cost home equipment, but establishing a...

A U.S. Marine with Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command, performs a pull-up during the Murph Challenge at Camp Elmore, Norfolk, Virginia.

The Full-Body Military Fitness Workout Adaptable to Any Situation

Whether you have full or limited equipment, this full-body circuit offers a time-efficient workout.

Should You Drink Milk Before Going to Bed?

While billions of people do not drink milk at all, billions do or consume dairy products, providing another option to obtain...

(U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Natasha Ninete)

How Prolonged Sitting Undermines Your Health and What You Can Do About It

Research indicates that doing nothing will reduce blood flow and oxygen levels to the brain, negatively impacting cognitive...

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard test their swimming confidence and survivability in water during the Combat Water Survival Test while attending the Ranger and Sapper Assessment Program at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. (U.S. Army/Maj. Travis Mueller)

Beginner Workouts for Passing Military Swimming Tests

For land athletes new to the water, passing and exceeding the standards for swimming require a combination of technique...

Stairmaster Workouts for Military Prep

Stairmasters can be an excellent tool for helping prepare the lungs and legs for the durability and strain of military...

5 Common Mistakes People Make When Starting a New Fitness Program and How to Avoid Them

When jumping into a training program that is not personally designed for your starting abilities, you may end up nursing...

Army ROTC cadets from Norwich University in Vermont complete the final steps of the SKEDCO drag carry during the Northern Warfare Challenge on Feb. 25 at Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wis.

3 Tips for Developing a Tougher Mindset While Working Out

By pushing outside of your comfort zone, you can slowly redefine your physical and mental resilience by making things a...

Poolees with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station Raleigh in North Carolina participate in an initial strength test (IST) during a state-side pool function on May 13, 2023.

How a Non-Athletic Person Should Prepare to Join the Military

Countless people who worked on farms or other manual labor jobs throughout their formative years have a natural toughness...

Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Clark performs a Romanian deadlift in the Camp Krutke Seabee Gym at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

Can Service Members Develop Mental Toughness?

Mental toughness has been a long-standing topic for generations, both within and outside the military.

Staff Sgt. Elyse Bailey, a U.S. Army Reserve military police soldier representing the 200th Military Police Command, recovers after running the 2-mile Army Combat Fitness Test during the 2020 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

The Best Running Workouts to Improve Your Time on Military Fitness Tests

If you want to ace a timed run over the 1.5- to three-mile distances used in most military running tests, the pacing strategy...

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is said to help individuals process and resolve traumatic memories and other distressing experiences.

How Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Can Help Trauma Patients

If you have experienced trauma and aren't achieving the desired outcomes with your current treatment, you might consider...

Soldiers assigned to the 190th Engineer Battalion, 101st Troop Command, Puerto Rico Army National Guard, ruck with their night-vision goggle equipment during annual training at Camp Santiago Joint Training Center, Salinas, Puerto Rico.

Why the Time of Day You Work Out Matters

Recent insights, including from a Nature Portfolio study, reveal essential strategies to enhance recovery through effective...

Sleep is critical for heart health. Poor sleep habits have been linked to high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. (Jason W. Edwards/Department of Defense photo)

9 Self-Care Tips to Take Care of Yourself in 10 Minutes

Here is a list of self-care tips that take only minutes a day and can make a difference between truly taking care of yourself...

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Most Popular Military News

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade use hot towels to warm their faces during a shaving clinic

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Latest Military Videos

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Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

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Army News

After Offer of Back Pay, Only 13 COVID Vaccine Refusers Returned to Military Service

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Syracuse University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps commissioning ceremony

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Oath of Enlistment at Joint Base Andrews

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Space Force News

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Marine Corps News

A Marine stands guard outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles.

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Coast Guard News

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