the Singapore problem
Author: Jonathan Wong, Singapore Personal Trainer And Performance Expert
What makes the IPPT such a burden for many Singaporeans (Yes, men more so than women..)?
Here is my attempt to summarize it.
Firstly I believe that almost all of us, assuming we have no previous health problems, are able to do fairly well (at least pass) the IPPT during our time serving the country. “Die Die” they will make us pass when we are in national service full time!
Then we go out and start work and start families. Most of our jobs and daily activities are sedentary. And let’s face it, physical decline happens pretty quickly.
I know some friends who where guys running 9 minute 2.4s but within a year after leaving NS they have gained 9kg and would be lucky to run a 2.4 without stopping for a rest.
Then out first reservist IPPT comes and we start training.
We use the same methods that our instructors taught in the army.
The results are NOT the same.
Here is what happens…
During the army we are stuck in camp. We have almost unlimited training time especially as a “trainee” in Basic Military Training or other military training intuitions. With such a luxury, success is almost guaranteed no matter how we train!
In the army we do large group training aimed at the “average” soldier. This is not the SAF’s fault, they have to train thousands of men! The program simply can’t be individualized.
The lack of individualized training is made up for by shear volume of training. 15 hours or more per week of physical training and activity will certainly help many people lose weight get rather fit. And yes. Pass the IPPT as well.
But once we are out in the
“real world” things pile up. Work is stressful. We have social, work and family
commitments. Short of our national athletes, there is just about NOBODY who can
spare 15 hours per week for physical training.
Even for myself who owns a private fitness coaching facility, anything more than 5-6 hours or training per week is almost a fairytale amount.
As the IPPT nears we try 2 hours per week of the same stuff that we used in the army.
But this is far less that what is required to get the same results.
In addition our poor dietary habits in our food loving country have left us with a larger than desired waistline that forces us to lug 10 or more kilos of unproductive “fat” around for each of the IPPT stations.
Sad but true. This is the state of the vast majority.
Of course, if you are a lean fit IPPT Gold MACHINE who spends 10 hours a week training to maintain this state, I really do congratulate you. But for everybody else, that’s why I wrote this website.
This manual is an “in the trenches”, real life look at practical IPPT training for the real Singapore man/woman.
Remember, just like all those exams we took as kids (and even as adults now…) the IPPT is a TEST and TESTS can be studied for.
This manual is like having the answer sheet to a test. You really have no reason not to do excellently! Just follow the sheet and fill in the blanks.
Yes it will take time, effort and discipline. But the formula is there. It’s up to you to make it happen.
We can study smart or we can study long, we can do consistent work, or we can do last minute work. But just like all the academic tests, consistent smart work is the best way to do it and this manual will show you how.
The great thing is that as you “study” for this test, your entire being and health improves to a level that makes preparation infinitely more valuable than just doing well in the test alone.
Nature VS Nurture
Before we go on, I will say openly that some people are more gifted than others when it comes to physical performance. We know people who have great difficulty losing fat, others who have great difficulty gaining muscles and some who stay lean and gain muscles and run fast and jump high “naturally” with little effort or training.
The IPPT standards, even the “gold” standards are not so high as to be unachievable. In fact the “pass” standards are exceedingly easy. With the right program. Anybody can do it with just a few hours of training per week.
If you don’t even have a few hours per week to maintain your health and physical conditioning, you really do need to prioritize your life. Health can never be bought back with wealth. Training consistently for the IPPT is not just a way to avoid remedial training, but rather a way to secure your future well being.
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