The largest health mistake individuals make when attempting to get in form, based on an ex-Navy health chief and bodybuilder

• Austen Alexander is an ex-Navy health chief and bodybuilder.
• The largest mistake individuals make when attempting to get match is overwhelming themselves, he stated. 
• Taking issues at some point at a time is “much more processable,” Alexander stated.

When resolving to get match or shed some pounds, it is comprehensible to wish to learn and digest as a lot info as you presumably can earlier than beginning.

However this may be an mistake, based on a former US Navy health chief and bodybuilder who has been understanding persistently for over a decade.

Austen Alexander, 31, who was within the US Navy for seven years, competed in a bodybuilding present, and now runs his personal health enterprise, instructed Insider that logging on and studying too many conflicting items of recommendation can go away you feeling overwhelmed.

That may then make getting lively or consuming healthily appear daunting and in the end put individuals off making optimistic way of life modifications.

As an alternative, individuals ought to get their info from one trusted supply and begin with small, easy steps, corresponding to attempting to eat extra greens or protein, or hitting 8,000 steps a day.

“The second half is, while you really begin implementing these issues, don’t be concerned about six months down the road, don’t be concerned about three months down the road, solely fear about what you want to do this day,” Alexander instructed Insider.

Taking issues at some point at a time is “much more processable,” Alexander stated.

Alexander joined the Navy to flee his small house city

Alexander grew up within the small city of Florence, Alabama, the place he stated only a few individuals left or traveled. “Not lots of people aspired to one thing higher,” he stated.

After graduating highschool, Alexander discovered himself reducing grass and making pizza, however nonetheless relying on his dad and mom. He realized it wasn’t the life he needed to stay.

“I went to the Navy workplace and stated, ‘Get me out of right here, signal me up, let me be a part of the Navy,'” Alexander stated.

Whereas making ready for his coaching, Alexander determined to get match for the primary time. “I dropped numerous weight and began to really feel higher,” he stated. “It was the primary time I used to be really pursuing one thing that took some self-discipline, and it simply gave me such a very good feeling.”

He principally labored on enhancing his push-ups, pull-ups, swimming, and operating.

Being within the navy doesn’t suggest you are match

Alexander ended up working in naval safety and went to Bahrain for 2 years between 2014 and 2016, earlier than becoming a member of a strike fighter squadron connected to an plane provider primarily based round Asia.

Whereas within the Navy, Alexander was shocked by how unfit nearly all of sailors seemed to be.

“Everybody thinks guys within the navy are match and loopy robust, however not all people is like that,” Alexander stated. 

Lately, bodily necessities and requirements within the US Navy have been lowered in a bid to spice up recruitment and retention. In a single change that got here into play in early 2023, sailors who beforehand failed a bodily evaluation could be given a clear slate so they may stay in service, Navy Instances reported.

Beforehand, if sailors failed two health checks — which assess push-ups, sit-ups, operating, and physique fats — inside three years, they had been compelled to go away the US Navy.

Wanting to assist his colleagues, Alexander began encouraging them to affix him for runs and exercises, interesting to their aggressive natures.

Earlier than lengthy there was a gaggle of 500-600 sailors all operating and understanding collectively in Bahrain, he stated. 

This led to Alexander qualifying as an authorized command health chief within the Navy, which means that serving to individuals get and keep match turned a part of his job.

“I simply beloved it, it was the best feeling ever and so fulfilling for me to assist individuals and see their progress,” Alexander stated.

Alexander left the Navy to concentrate on his YouTube channel

Whereas in his last job in 2018, working at Naval Weapons Station Seal Seashore, California, Alexander competed in a bodybuilding present.

On the similar time, he began creating health movies designed to assist individuals, say, improve their pull-ups, and uploaded them to YouTube.

Alexander’s on-line presence grew and, when his lively service led to 2020, he determined to not reenlist so he may pursue content material creation and dealing in health outdoors the Navy. He now has 1.28 million subscribers on YouTube.

“I inform individuals on a regular basis that becoming a member of the Navy is the perfect factor I’ve ever finished,” Alexander stated. “And getting out is the second smartest thing.”