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Stretches that will Improve Firefighter Performance.
Stretching and flexibility are often taken for granted. The older I get (over 50), the more I realize how valuable the flexibility and mobility components of a workout are. Often skipped, I believe that a solid flexibility program (active warm-up, stretching, and foam rolling) can greatly improve your performance on and off the fire ground. Today I wanted to give you a 5 Simple Exercises that can improve your performance. These exercises can be performed after a workout or a shift or even during your shift. You want to hold each stretch for at least 15 seconds, if not 30 seconds. Repeat the circuit as many times as possible. Remember to breathe and maintain good posture throughout each stretch, and don’t force the stretch. Ease into each position and if it hurts…stop. Here is a video overview of the stretches. Here are the individual Stretches. Downward Dog– Push your…
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Functional Firefighter Crew Workout Option…
I get a lot of emails asking for good workout options for the firehouse when on-shift. Working out on-shift is a major concern, you want to make sure you keep your body in good “fit for duty” condition but also want to make sure you have enough “left in the tank” to respond and perform in an actual response. Over the last couple of years I have toyed with various workouts on shift; high intensity, heavy lifting, stretching only, and even some yoga. I have found that interval workouts are not only the most effective but a great way to incorporate fireground movements (steps, crawls, sledges, drags, lifts, carries, and some core). Here is an example of a on-shift workout that I did with my crew. Active Warm-up Perform 2 circuits. Set an interval timer for 35 seconds of movement with 5 seconds between to transition (click the red link below…
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Josh Fulk lost over 100 pounds with FRF…
Heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes are all huge health issues facing the fire service. Depending on which report you read, the fire service is facing epidemic levels of these issues. I do feel that there is progress being made on combating these issues and the fire service in general is becoming more health conscious. The mission of Fire Rescue Fitness is to help members of the fire service get more fit and healthy by providing resources and support. Over the past year, FRF has sponsored the Fit for Duty Challenges where we provide motivation, prizes and guidance to help firefighters, EMTs and medics lose weight, tone up and gain strength to ultimately get more “fit for duty.” One individual has used these challenges and workouts to transform his health. Josh Fulk has lost over 100 pounds and is now motivating other in the fire service. Please click the video below…
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Intermittent Fasting for Firefighters
FRF (Fire Rescue Fitness) was created to help transform, motivate, and educate firefighters, emts and medics to get “fit for duty.” One of the things I truly enjoy is researching creative ways to do this! Along with researching about fitness, I am also a firefighter (like you) so. I understand how difficult it can be to workout regularly and eat healthy on our schedule and with the fire service culture. One thing I have been experimenting and researching lately is a new eating pattern that I think can have some great benefit to fire rescue athletes. Have you heard of intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting (IF) is a term for an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It is an eating pattern and does not address which foods you should eat, but rather when you should eat them. In this respect, it is not a “diet” in the conventional sense. It…
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How to Reduce Obesity in Firefighters…
This is scary…We need to change. Rates of overweight and obese individuals in the fire service are higher than those found in the general public, according to a new study. Researchers looked at the body composition of both career and volunteer firefighters across the nation, with overweight and obesity rates ranging from 73 percent to 88 percent. About two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese on a general, national level. The research demonstrates that a large percentage of firefighters do not meet minimal standards of physical fitness, according to the study conducted by the NVFC National Volunteer Fire Council– “Addressing the Epidemic of Obesity in the United States Fire Service” looks at the impact of obesity, the scope of obesity in the fire service, and why obesity has become an epidemic. The report also adds that “as firefighters gain more weight, research has found that cardio respiratory fitness plummets and the…
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How do you Define Your Why?
Why do you workout? Why do you, or should you make healthy choices? The answers to this question are different for different people. For me, personally, I workout and stay fit because I never want to tell my crew, my family or my department that; “I was not fit enough to accomplish my task.” I like to take pride in my work and want to do everything I can to be ready to serve… this includes staying fit. I started Fire Rescue Fitness because I really wasn’t in good shape (for firefighting) and was training improperly. You can learn more about that story by clicking the video below. How did Fire Rescue Fitness begin? Click below to find out. Sometimes, we may lose track of “why” we should stay fit. Sometimes, we may lack motivation to workout. Personally, when I am lacking motivation I like to assess my current situation,…
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Get Ready for Summer with this Metabolic Firefighter Workout…
Its now almost Summer (I hope). Time to get into your summer uniform. I hope it still fits… I do not hope you carry the extra weight and lethargy that can occur after a long winter. We all have a tendency tendency to overindulge throughout the winter and workouts seem to take second place during the colder and darker days. To combat the accumulation of post-winter pounds and feelings of sluggishness, I created this FRF Metabolic Workout. It will help burn some extra calories… This workout requires minimal time, maximal effort and will give you an extreme calorie burn (throughout the day). Intermediate/ Advanced athletes should use weights that they can handle for 15 reps (even though you will only be performing 10 reps) while beginners will use body-weight for each exercise. Each rep should be performed with control (safety first) and good form. You must perform 2 circuits of the warm-up. …
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Firefighters Do this Everyday- Your Daily Fitness Checkoff List.
Be Physically Ready for Duty- Your Daily Fitness Checkoffs. At the beginning of each and every shift firefighters, EMTs and medic meticulously go through and check their gear (or at least they should be) to make sure that it is ready for the challenges of the day. Our equipment must be functioning properly and our rigs must be fueled and ready to go. The question that I also want you to think about is whether or not your physical equipment- brain, body, muscles are ready to go? Are you fit? Are you fueled? Here are three quick and easy things that fit firefighters do at the beginning of the shift that will help insure they are “fit for duty.” 1. Drink some water. Around most firehouses (and offices) the day and the shift starts with some coffee. We all need a pick-me-up from time to time but before you reach…
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Add this Exercise to Improve Firefighter Performance…
We as fire rescue athletes are generally moving in unbalanced positions. Whether its climbing a ladder, pulling hose, or ventilating, we are usually in an unbalanced, split stance. Therefore, one area of focus should be targeting in our workouts are the deep balancing muscles of the core. These muscles play an important role in holding and stiffening the pelvis to prevent it from bending and can be challenging to train in normal bi-lateral lifting and pulling exercises. In addition, we as fire rescue athletes are routinely required to carry heavy loads and equipment. The farmers carry (and other carry variations) address these issues; they engage the core, improve balance and at the same time improve grip strength. Carries are simple movements, just grab some fairly heavy objects, engage the core by bracing your abs and slowly walk (chest up, good posture). The longer and heavier you go the more you…
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