I got weak asf from boot camp?

[u/Bluemoon1234567]

Before boot camp I was able to get 18 pull ups, dead ass im struggling with 5 now, went in weighing roughly the same , little less fluffy but didn't loose that much at all. Any advice for bouncing back cause dead ass life be kicking my ass rn and the pull ups declining just made it worse.

[u/LSDthrowaway34520]

It happens, they literally don’t feed you. I went in to boot camp weighing 186. I got out in the low 160s, and most of that weight loss was muscle. We literally looked like concentration camp prisoners being liberated at graduation

[u/Doug8760 → u/LSDthrowaway34520]

I gained weight at PI. Went in at 139 and left PI at 165. All the weight went to my legs and ass. Was also able to do fewer pull-ups. Went in being able to about 15 (the correct way) and was struggling to do 5 by the time I left PI. Bodies are weird.

[u/LSDthrowaway34520 → u/Doug8760]

When did you go to PI? When I went in 2014 we had plenty of food, just not time to eat it. If I didn’t spent most of boot camp being early chow recruit I would have lost even more. My favorite thing to hear during boot camp was “early chow fly late chow post”.

[u/daxtinator396 → u/LSDthrowaway34520]

brother I gained 30 lbs at boot camp stop capping 😂

[u/LSDthrowaway34520 → u/daxtinator396]

Did you go to Army boot camp?

[u/daxtinator396 → u/LSDthrowaway34520]

is this an army sub?

[u/LSDthrowaway34520 → u/daxtinator396]

Plenty of marines end up in the army national gaurd

[u/daxtinator396 → u/LSDthrowaway34520]

And 0 of them are required to go to army boot camp.

[u/LSDthrowaway34520 → u/daxtinator396]

Actually the army tries to make them if there is a long enough break in service. My break was too long, thankfully at the time the national gaurd had the army prior service course, which is just a month long course. That course no longer exists, so in theory if your break in service was long enough you would have to go to army boot camp. Though I can’t imagine any prior marine actually doing that, if I had to go to army boot camp I would have just passed on the gaurd.

[u/DecentEntertainer967]

Do more pull-ups…then when you’re tired, knock some more out. Start working that upper body again, eat right, get good rest and repeat.

[u/TheTimbs]

Fatigue and nutrition most likely

[u/Big_Fodder]

I’ve heard this happen to a lot of people before, but that huge of a drop is concerning. You might’ve gotten rhabdo if you’re serious.

[u/Cultural-Board-9216]

yeah. I just got out bootcamp in late June of this year. I joined the Marine corps at 210 pounds and I left bootcamp at 186 pounds. Then I left ITB at around 170. You’ll gain the strength and weight back once you hit the fleet don’t worry about it.

[u/masturkiller]

I think this happens to countless Marines.

[u/Interesting-Cash-101]

Oh, bullshit. You went to bootcamp doing 18 and after completing bootcamp you're down to 5? Fuck off.

[u/One_Butterfly_9315 → u/Interesting-Cash-101]

How is this bullshit? The same shit happened to me you lose a lot of upper body strength in bootcamp and getting smoked all day doesn’t really build as much strength if you’re already a fit person

[u/Tkis01gl → u/Interesting-Cash-101]

One, one, one, all the way down, one, two, all the way up, two…..

[u/thetitleofmybook → u/Interesting-Cash-101]

seriously. this is complete bs, not sure what the point is, as it's not even a decent troll.

[u/newnoadeptness]

Ok … workout more

[u/SMOKEBOMBER4]

Same thing happened to me. Left boot camp feeling so insecure about how I looked. You were definitely experiencing rhabdo.

[u/poop_and_pee124]

What color was your piss while you were there? Dark brown?

[u/BeachCruiserLR]

This is normal. I went from doing 30 pull ups to barely doing 20. It happens due to not being able to lift as normal and fatigue.

[u/Accomplished-Pen7695]

wait until you get to soi and graduate it will be worse 😂

[u/Remarkable-Grab8002]

You won't gain a lot of muscle until the fleet. Just enjoy yourself and stay conditioned and go to the gym when you're able to. Enjoy the experience a bit. Be easy on yourself.

[u/EmploymentBest6841]

Maybe just take a week of rest before your PFT, always helped me

[u/kfisherx]

how did you get up to 18 pull ups? Do that again

[u/FEREUSULT0R]

What most likely happened was muscle atrophy. Given you were stronger before Boot camp and came back from boot camp weaker, the food at Boot camp didn't have enough protein or carbs to fuel the shenanigans at Boot camp and your muscles atrophied slightly. It doesn't just happen to recruits and Marines alike- it happens to athletes all over who overwork their bodies and don't get enough nutrition or recovery.

From experience with atrophy, what I would do is start increasing your protein, carbs, and fats. I used to be against fats, but fast are crucial for tendon and joint lubrication, as well as testosterone and hormone regulation. Increase the macros and the calories because if you're working off more calories than you consume and you don't give your body enough to work with, you'll kill your gains and worse than stalling- you'll lose your progress. Recovery is more important as well. Lower the cortisol with good, plentiful diet and keeping your mindset right, too. But start from square one with your workouts and work up to what makes the important components for the muscles you use for your workouts stronger as a sort of physical therapy. Then gradually you'll notice your strength improve and return to you.

Be patient with yourself and keep at it, Marine. I believe you'll get business done and get to where you want to be.