Prenatal Training Packet - Mountain Tactical Institute

Description

Academic Research has found that women who trained through pregnancy have been found to have healthier outcomes for both mother and child.

In doing our research prior we were unable to find professionally designed, prenatal programming designed for tactical athletes, mountain professionals, and other fit women experienced in functional fitness.

As part of our research, we reached out to current female Tactical Athletes and Mountain Professionals with specific questions surrounding prenatal and postpartum training experiences and input. Below are the highlights from the responses we received from military officers, professional mountain guides, etc:

Most don’t know they are pregnant until Week 6 – so start the programming at week six and go through week 40
Training cycles/programming should generally align with pregnancy trimesters in terms of volume, intensity, and exercise selection
Daily programming needs daily scalability – especially early in the pregnancy when training is often interrupted or shorted due to morning sickness, and later in the pregnancy when training is affected by fatigue and discomfort.
Most continued to strength train using free weights (dumbbells, barbells, etc.) throughout the pregnancy – even into the third trimester. However, exercises were avoided later because of belly size/discomfort – i.e. no barbell power cleans at 8 months
A few ran through all 40 weeks of pregnancy, but in the later weeks, most pulled back on running because of discomfort.
All avoided super intense max effort work capacity, strength, and endurance work after learning they were expecting. Other than avoiding max efforts, first-trimester training was little changed.
Most engaged in yoga or stretching for flexibility during pregnancy, but did this outside fitness training but didn’t want that included in fitness programming.
Most engaged in Kegel and other pelvic floor work during pregnancy, but not as part of their daily fitness training and recommended any work in this area not be included in fitness programming.
Most trained / were active every day of the week, but gym-based daily training duration generally decreased as the pregnancy advanced. All wanted a daily training scheduled 7 days/week.
Focused and consistent postpartum training for most began 6-8 weeks after delivery. Programming needs to start easy, and progress in difficulty.

MTI’s Prenatal and Postpartum programming incorporates this feedback.

MTI’s Prenatal Programming

The 34 weeks of Prenatal programming is broken into seven training plans, each 4-6 weeks long. Programming Highlights:

Programming intensity and volume, and training session duration, decrease as the pregnancy advances
Programming is 7 days/week. Weekend work is endurance.
Each individual training session includes an option to scale down based on how pregnancy is impacting the athlete that day. We call this the “Not feeling it” Flex.
Max efforts are avoided across all fitness attributes – strength, work capacity, endurance, chassis integrity
Strength, work capacity, endurance, and chassis integrity are all trained throughout the pregnancy
Programmed endurance modes include running, spinning, and rucking
Chassis Integrity programming has a slight low back/extension emphasis
Postpartum Programming begins at 6 weeks after childbirth and is gradually progressive in intensity and volume

This is Version 1 of this Training Packet, build in February 2021.

Below is a chart showing the training plans in this packet in order.

Click the links below to see specifics including required equipment, weekly schedule, and sample training, from each training plan.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Sandbag …. weight depends on the individual plan
Squat Rack, Barbell, Plates, Dumbbells and Kettlebells
Backpack and Filler for Rucking (load depends on the individual plan)
Pull Up Bar
8-16″ box or bench for step ups and/or hippity hops
Foam Roller

COMMON QUESTIONS

How long will sessions last?
Gym-based training sessions are specifically designed to be completed in 35-60 minutes. Endurance sessions take 45-90 minutes.

Can I see sample training?
Yes – click on each individual training plan above, then click the “Sample Training” tab at the plan product page to see sample training.

How do I know if I’m fit enough to begin this programming?
Click the “Sample Training” tab for each individual plan to see the entire first week of programming. Try it and see how you do. If you can’t complete it, email coach@mtntactical.com for a programming suggestion.

Do I need to start this packet at the beginning of my pregnancy?
No – the plans scale to where the mother is at her pregnancy, and to her individual fitness – so you can jump in at the appropriate week wherever you are in your pregnancy.

Do I need to purchase the entire packet?
No … you can purchase each individual plan.

How do I access the plan?
Access is online, via username and password. You can log in either through our website or through our app (Mtn Tactical Fitness) available for IOS and Android.

Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.

More Questions? Email: coach@mtntactical.com

DISCLAIMER
Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. Physical training contains inherent risks including, but not limited to, muscle strains, tears, physical and bodily injury up to and including death. This training program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. If you are unable to assume these risks then you should not engage in this training program. No liability is assumed by Mountain Tactical Institute, Inc, its owners or employees, and you train at your own risk. Mountain Tactical Institute makes no warranty, express or implied, of any kind in connection with this training program.

Required Equipment

Sandbag .... weight depends on the individual plan
Squat Rack, Barbell, Plates, Dumbbells and Kettlebells
Backpack and Filler for Rucking (load depends on the individual plan)
Pull Up Bar
8-16" box or bench for step ups and/or hippity hops
Foam Roller

Testimonials

I've used MTI's programing off and on throughout my military career with great success whenever I had a fitness test or major endurance event coming up. So when I got pregnant and saw they had put together a prenatal program, I got very excited. Most gyms are, frankly, terrified of recommending any workout program to pregnant women other than very, very light activity, so it was refreshing to see a program that was designed to keep including strength and endurance throughout the pregnancy. As an active duty Army officer, I not only wanted to be able to keep training, but needed to in order to be able to pass the Army's new and more demanding fitness test (the ACFT) within a year of giving birth, and staying in shape through the pregnancy enabled that. MTI's programming is well researched, thoroughly thought through and treats the pregnant women who do this program as athletes rather than every other program I've seen, which treats us as invalids for the duration of pregnancy. Thank you so much to Rob and the MTI team for creating this program. Thanks to this program, and the Body Weight Foundations and ACFT program I did successively postpartum, I was able to not only pass, but get a high score on the ACFT at 11 months postpartum.

*******************************

Sorry for the delay - happy to send detailed feedback. I should preface by saying I'm generally a runner who was post marathon training and lifting about two days a week when I found out I was expecting. I've had an incredibly easy and uncomplicated pregnancy with zero nausea and really minimal aches and pains. (I can count on one hand the amount of times I've had to change my routine because of being pregnant over the last 41 weeks).

Before your program I started with a "pregnancy lifting plan" that bored me to actual tears. It was gym-based compound lift training plan by a certified pre-natal and post-partum coach. While the content was accurate and well researched I just felt very stiff with movement, like the whole plan was geared towards prepping my body for child birth (which just wasn't that interesting to me over a period of 8-9 months), and that I really missed dynamic movements and breaking a sweat especially since running was limited.

Parts of the program that I really enjoyed were still being able to do the grind sessions which I've followed in previous MTI programs, and the fact that two days a week were circuit based and not just body building style lifts in the gym.

For the cardio sessions I would run 80% of the time, this became run/walk as I got more pregnant in order to keep my heart rate a little lower and mitigate stiffness. I also substituted the bike, hiking, incline walks, and step ups for some of the cardio sessions and would cut the time short when I needed to.

I really enjoyed the "max rep test" days. It felt like I was able to challenge myself and measure progress which is generally important for me when training.

I did consistently substitute founders and back stability for any clean and jerk style exercises and kettlebell swings. This was mostly because of having looser joints/muscles because of Relaxin and tweaking my back a couple of times after month four of pregnancy while doing these exercises. All back tweaks were fine in two to three days and didn't hinder training for more than a day.

I ran until 35 weeks and then switched to walking for cardio. I used a maternity belt from 5 months on, it helped a lot, but stopped fitting around 35 weeks. I also noticed I was getting very stiff after running so I made the decision to stick to the gym based training and walking/hiking at that time.

I've gained about 30lbs overall. I'm 5'10 and usually sit between 162 and 165 and am weighing in around 194 right now.

I'm very pleased with the program and am stoked to get back into running and regular routine. If you have any specific questions you'd like me to answer I'm happy to do so.

Why MTI?

1) Mission Direct

Gym numbers mean nothing. All that matters is mission performance.

To this end, MTI’s fitness solutions and programming are not boxed in by convention, tradition, orthodoxy, public opinion or any other artificial constraint driven by inside or outside forces.

We begin with the raw fitness demands of the mission and build a fitness solution which directly prepares the athlete for those demands.

2) Fitness Solutions Built from the Ground Up

MTI’s programming is not “re-tread” bodybuilding, football, CrossFit, kettlebell, strength or general fitness programming. We’ve built our fitness programming for mountain and tactical athletes from the ground up.

The Fluid Periodization methodology we deploy to concurrently train multiple fitness attributes is completely original and has continued to evolve and improve over the years.

Our mid-section training methodology, Chassis Integrity, is also original, as is our endurance programming, 7 strength training progressions, tactical agility, and work capacity programming.

Our mountain sports pre-season training plans, tactical PFT, selection, school, course, and fitness improvement training plans across military, LE and Fire Rescue are MTI-developed, tested and athlete-proven.

Over the years hundreds of athletes and coaches have taken our advanced programming and unit fitness leader programming courses and MTI is widely recognized within the mountain and tactical professions and fitness media as a thought leader in fitness programming for military and tactical athletes.

3) The MTI Method

→ Research: MTI begins program design with extensive research of the fitness demands of the mission, sport or event, identifies the exercises and progressions which sport-specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the training plan.

→ Deploy & Assess: We deploy the training plan “Lab Rats” at our Wyoming facility. Training session and cycle issues are identified and fixed as we work through the training plan. Post cycle we assess the programming’s effectiveness and efficiency. We keep the stuff that works, and fix or toss the stuff that doesn’t.

→ Publish & Assess Again: Plan is published for purchase as an individual training plan and made available to our subscribers. Feedback/results are assessed.

→ Iterate: We take what we learn from lab rats and athletes, re-visit, update and improve already published training plans. Several of our individual training plans are on their 4th or 5th version.

4) Mission-Direct Research

MTI exists to “Improve Mountain and Tactical Athletes mission performance and keep them safe.” To that end, we have developed a unique research methodology aimed at identifying real world areas of improvement and identifying immediately deployable mission-direct solutions. Click HERE to learn more about MTI’s Mission-Direct Research methodology, and Here to read about just few of our research efforts.

5) Field Proven

Our stuff works. Weekly we receive unsolicited reviews of our programming and testimonials to its effectiveness.

6) Programming Breadth

MTI’s library of 200+ sport-specific fitness plans for mountain and tactical athletes is unmatched. Resources range from specific programming for tactical special forces selections, to specific plans for climbing Rainier and Denali, to general fitness solutions such as running improvement, to post-rehab from injury.

Over the past decade, MTI has partnered with hundreds of athletes throughout their individual mountain and tactical careers, and provided fitness solutions as they face new mountain objectives, tactical schools, selections, PFTs and deployments, and came back from injury.

7) Worldwide Influence

Our work is not limited to US Athletes.

We’ve developed selection-specific training plans for Canadian, UK, Australian and German Special Forces Selections and worked with individual military personnel from Scandinavia, South, and Central America.

Canadian, Australian, UK and western European law enforcement and fire/rescue athletes have used MTI programming for mission-direct fitness.

On the mountain side, Alpinists from Japan to Slovakia have consulted with MTI and used MTI’s programming to prepare for mountain objectives.

8) Mission Performance beyond Fitness

MTI’s exists is to improve Mission Performance for mountain and tactical athletes and keep them safe.

This focus on “mission direct” solutions, enhancements and improvements drives our work and research and extends beyond fitness solutions to include training, leadership, gear, team culture, and safety.

Fitness is just one area of our work.

Our non-fitness research has included tactical cultures, combat uniforms, and gore-tex performance, and effect of stress on marksmanship.

Our work on defining what it means to be a Quiet Professional has had penetrating influence and driven healthy conversations with both mountain and tactical professionals.

9) Direct, Honest, Clear Answers

Since 2007 we’ve taken and answered dozens of questions weekly from mountain and tactical athletes. We’ve saved these individual Q&A’s and now thousands are archived on our site.

We’re not salesmen, and our answers are noted for their directness, honesty, and clarity. Our stuff isn’t for everyone. If we can help, we’ll let you know. If we can’t, we’ll let you know that, too.

– Rob Shaul, Founder

All of the Above is Backed Up By Our Promise: Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

Our Stuff Works. Guaranteed.

By Rob Shaul

I received notes frequently from athletes hesitant to purchase a subscription or training plans asking me to sell them on why they should make the purchase.

While I understand the question, I’m not a salesman – so I can’t put a hard sale on anyone for our programming.

I can tell them the process we go through to design our programming.

We begin with extensive research on the fitness demands of the event, identify the exercises and progressions which sport specifically meet those demands, chose end-of-cycle goals, and program backward to design the plan.

Then we test the cycle on ourselves and our lab rats here in Wyoming. We document, note what works and doesn’t work, re-assess, and make changes and modifications.

Then we publish the programming in the form of one of our plans or as part of our subscription daily training sessions for tactical and mountain athletes.
We don’t stop there – our daily programming is the “tip of the spear” for our programming evolution. We use these sessions to learn and make continuous improvement.

As we learn more and improve, we go back, and update the sport-specific training plans on the website. For example, we’re currently on Version 5 of our Ruck Based Selection Training Plan and Version 3 of our Dryland Ski Training Plan and Version 4 of our Big Game Back Country Hunting Training Plan.

We understand our programing isn’t cheap, but we believe it’s a great value. The $79 for the Ruck Based Selection Training Plan, and $39 for the Dryland Ski Training Plan reflect the, research, work, innovative theory, iteration, testing and feedback we’ve put in and received to make these plans effective.

All that matters for us is outside performance, and we feel strongly that Our Stuff Works in the real world.

Here’s our guarantee:

1) Individual Training Plan Purchase:
If you purchase an individual training plan, follow it as prescribed before your season/event/pft/selection, and if you don’t feel you were physically ready for your season/event/pft/selection, and/or didn’t see dramatic improvements in your early season performance, we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

2) Athlete’s Subscription
If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

Questions?
Email: rob@mtntactical.com

Common Questions

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Do you have any reviews or testimonials from athletes who have used your Athlete's Subscription
Yes. Click HERE.

Is it true you guarantee your stuff works?
Yes. If you purchase an Athletes’ Subscription, follow the training sessions as prescribed, and are not satisfied with the quality of the programming, notify us within 30 days of purchase, and we’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

How is MTI programming different than CrossFit?
This is a common question. Read our answer HERE.

You have a lot of competitors. Why should I choose MTI?
MTI is driven to improve mountain and tactical athletes' mission performance and keep them safe. This emphasis and focus on mission performance sets us apart. Read about more that sets us apart HERE.

If I purchase a plan or subscription, how do I access the programming?
All of our plans are online, accessible via username and password.
You can log in through our →Website or Mobile App →IOS and Android.

Do you have downloadable .pdf's of the training plans?
No. But you can print the programming, by week, from your browser. You access individual training plans online via a username and password.

Do you have a mobile app?
Yes, we do. Available for IOS and Android.

What is the difference between purchasing an individual training plan, packet of plans or an Athlete's Subscription?

Plan - Like purchasing the DVD of the first Star Wars movie. You own it forever, including any updates we make to the plan.
Packet - Like purchasing the DVD's of all the Star Wars movies. You own them forever, including any updates we make to the plans.
Athlete's Subscription - Like subscribing to Netflix. You get access to all 200+ plan in our library, but lose access if you unsubscribe.

If I purchase an Athletes Subscription Can I cancel on my own, anytime?
Yes.

Do I have to contact MTI to cancel or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself. Instructions HERE.

If I purchase a subscription and have questions about where to start or what plans(s) to use for my goals, will you help?
Yes. We answer dozens of training questions from athletes weekly. Email coach@mtntactical.com.

If you add new plans or update existing plans after I subscribe will I have access to them?
Yes. We are continuously adding training plans and packets (2-5/month) and updating plans. With your subscription you'll have access to all new plans, new courses and plan updates.

What Equipment is Required?
Click the "Required Equipment" tab to find out what equipment is required for the specific plan you are interested in.

Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run and Ruck Calculators are listed as exercises.

What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.

Can I see sample training?
Click the “Sample Training” tab to see the entire first week of programming. You are encouraged to do it before purchasing.

What if I have more questions?
Email rob@mtntactical.com