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3 Exercises to Reduce Firefighter Injuries and Improve Posture…
There are certain parts of the body that we, as fire rescue athletes, are more likely to injure. If you look at the statistics of firefighter injuries you would see that they most commonly effect the back, the shoulders, and the knees. Also, as society continues to become more sedentary and be glued to TVs and mobile devices our posture continues to diminish. This poor posture can also lead to frequent injury and pain to the shoulders and back. We can all agree that sometimes injuries cannot be avoided, we work in some taxing environments and injuries will happen. But, there are some things (exercises) that you can do to help minimize your chances of injury and improve your posture. So, today I wanted to introduce you to the stick up, thoracic rotations and the single leg bridge. These exercises may be a little unusual but can really help your…
Read MoreFirefighter Challenge Workout to Honor Veterans…
Today I have a special Firefighter Challenge Workout to honor America’s true heroes….our Veterans. Thank you for your service and sacrifice! This workout is 11 minutes of strength exercises followed by an 11 minute cardio interval (11-11 for Veterans Day). The exercises can be changed based on available equipment and level of fitness. Of course, make sure you thoroughly and actively warm-up before starting the workout. Active Warm-up (perform the suggested reps for 2 rounds) Chops (10x) Inverted Hamstrings (5 ea) Spidermans (5 ea) Knees side to side (5 ea) X-overs (5 ea) Perform 2 rounds or circuits then progress to the 11 minute strength portion. Click below for an overview of the FRF 11-11 Veterans Day Workout The strength portion of the workout consist of 4 exercises performed for 2 minutes (as many reps as possible) with 1 minute of rest between them. Today in honor of…
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Firefighter Metabolic Workout
Baseball season is now over. Congrats to the Chicago Cubs for FINALLY breaking their streak. I hope you enjoyed the game, the stress eating, the cocktails and treats that with this epic World Series. I do not hope you carry the extra weight and lethargy that can occur after an epic victory and party… We all have a tendency to overindulge in celebrations and workouts seem to take second place because of it. So, don’t let the Cubs “streak breaking” performance break the streak of getting your workouts done (like how I did that…). In honor of the Cubs victory I created this FRF Metabolic Workout… 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…
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Simple Rules for Firefighter Fat Loss…
Firefighters, EMTs and Medics (Fire Rescue Athletes)…. Would you agree that a leaner athlete is a better athlete? I know this is a “loaded” question. A lot of the answer has to deal with the sport in which the athlete is participating. One thing that research shows is that a leaner athlete is a “more efficient” athlete. When it comes to firefighters, this is a valid finding. Efficiency in general terms, describes the extent to which time, effort or cost is well used for the intended task or purpose. So, a more efficient Fire Rescue Athlete will be able to do more work with less physical effort. This is especially important since most of our “more intense” work as Fire Rescue Athletes comes when breathing air via an SCBA. The Fall (football season) can be a challenging time to keep your weight in-check. Here are 10 (actually 11) great tips to help you…
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Firefighter Interval Workout Options…
I get a lot of requests for workouts that can be performed on duty with equipment found at the firehouse. The other day, my crew and I performed this intensive 30 minute interval workout. This workout will get your heart racing, challenge your core and work your muscles. You can change the variables (times, weights and effort) based on your level of fitness and whether your on-shift or not. The workout consists of three, 10 minute intervals each with a different focus. The first 10 minutes focuses on anaerobic recovery, the second ten minutes on full body strength and the last ten minutes on fire ground related movements. The only equipment needed for the intervals are a 50 feet bundle of fire hose (2 1/2 inch works best), some stairs if you got them (or a jump rope), a place to do body rows (pull up bar) and an interval timer (there…
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Healthy Snack Ideas for Firefighters…
Everyone (especially around the firehouse) loves a good snack. But what actually is a “good” snack for firefighters. If you ask some firefighters, they will define a good snack as something that tastes great(usually with lots of sugar) but doesn’t fill you up like a meal. If your stomach starts rumbling and lunch is still two hours away, you’re going to need a snack to make it through the day. As a fire rescue athlete you must remember that the foods you eat at snack time can make a big difference in your energy level, decision making, performance, and overall health. Choose the wrong snack, and you’ll feel dragged down, tired and cloudy. Choose wisely, and you’ll get the boost and performance you need. Choose your snacks wisely, you never know when you will need the extra energy. Before your next snack break, think twice about what you are about to…
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Firefighter Fitness- 5 Ways to Reduce Workout Injuries…
Some people know exactly when it happened. They may have heard a pop in their shoulder, or felt like someone slapped them hard across the back of their leg. For others, it wasn’t a sudden snap that sidelined their workouts; it was just gradual overuse that caused joints or muscles to wear down and eventually start to fail. No matter what or where it happens, firefighters are getting injured working out. If you’ve injured yourself during a weight lifting workout, you first thought it “what did I do wrong” followed by some “expletives.” There is some irony getting injured in the weight room, especially as a fire rescue athlete. After all, your working out to avoid injuries (or at least you should be). In today’s post I wanted to give you five easy ways to avoid injuries during your next workout. Please take note of these, they can may help…
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The FRF Ultimate 9/11 Tribute Challenge Workout
Every year around September 11th I like to take a moment and reflect on the significance of the day and honor those that sacrificed (and continue to sacrifice to this day). I truly believe that one of the best ways to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice is to put forth the effort to be the “best” we can be at our profession. Training to be our best, not only physically but mentally as well… I created this workout to help motivate me (and other fire rescue athletes) to stay in shape. I encourage you to do this workout, share your results and challenge others to do the same, at least once a year (on September 11th). This “tribute” workout is difficult but has a great significance to September 11th. There are previous versions of the workout, you can see them by clicking here. This workout challenges you…
Read MoreTry This Challenging Firefighter Core Exercise…
I love a good challenge. Lately around the firehouse I’ve been challenging my crew with new workouts and exercises. One exercise that is fairly difficult has become a crew favorite. The 4-point Opposite Arm/ Leg Raise is a great exercise to strengthen the core, the shoulders and help develop better balance and coordination. Check out the video below and Give it a try! I like to perform this exercise during my active warm-ups at least 2x per week. For more suggestions on how to use this exercise in a Firefighter Workout Program click here. Stay safe and Get FRF! Aaron Zamzow
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