How do You Prepare For a Week in Hell?

Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) Coach, Bassim Yaghi took on the mentally and physically gruelling challenge that is SAS selection. It was, he says, unlike anything he has ever experienced. Here’s why.

SAS Australia’s ‘Hell Week’ just finished airing on Channel 7. It presented an unimaginably challenging experience in which everyday Aussies were pushed to their absolute limits in a series of physical and psychological tests derived from the actual SAS (Special Air Service) selection process.

Testing limits

Those who watched the series might have wondered ‘why on earth would you choose to put yourself through those challenges?!’ but for Bass it was as simple as testing his physical and psychological boundaries. “I’m a firm believer in getting outside of my comfort zone every once in a while. I firmly believed that SAS Australia would provide ample opportunities to do so. I wasn’t wrong.”

The prep

The bodybuilder and AIF Coach says he trained hard ahead of appearing on the reality TV show, but that you could never be 100% prepared for the course: “I received an approximate guideline for SAS Australia training, which mainly consisted of bodyweight press ups, pull ups, sit ups, squats, shoulder presses and lunges. Including High Intensity Interval Training, Fartlek (speed play) training, low intensity long duration marches in the boots to acclimatise myself to the demands imposed during the course. I also purchased a 15kg weighted vest to wear while doing the marches, to simulate the bergen (backpacks) we would have to be wearing when undergoing specific tasks”.

A word to the wise

Although Bass did not make it to the end of the selection process, he says the experience was a complete honour, he has no regrets and that it is something he would do again in a heartbeat.

He does, however, have some advice for those tempted to apply for any future seasons of SAS; “I would stress the importance of not only preparing your body physically for the tasks demanded, but more importantly mentally preparing to cope under pressure in environments which are outside your comfort zone. Being comfortable with the uncomfortable is what the experience will entail, so to anyone considering applying I highly urge you to learn to be happy outside your comfort zone. You don’t need to be the fittest nor the strongest person, but you’ll have to be willing to take on feedback and use it to your advantage – and more importantly, learn from the process.”

We are so happy to have Bass back safe and sound to continue teaching the next generation of personal trainers through the AIF; no doubt the students missed his energy and will want to hear all about his experience on SAS Australia.