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Firefighter Exercise Upgrade- Bicep Training
Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics frequently lift heavy object whether it be a cot, a hose line or a heavy piece of equipment. Lifting heavy objects can take its toll on the body if you are not trained for it. Today’s exercise upgrade addresses this issue, it takes the traditional bicep curl and adds some core and balance work to it. Check it out below. Give this exercise a try and to find a more efficient way to incorporate this exercise into a fire rescue athlete workout program and get my FREE reports, the 10 Best and 5 Worst Exercises for Fire Rescue Athletes. Join the FRF Nation! Please add your thoughts about this exercise and forward this on to another Fire Rescue Athlete. Stay safe and Get FRF, Aaron Zamzow
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4 Rules to Eating Healthy in (and out) of the Firehouse…
What do you need for survival? I’m not talking about your phone, technology, or a certain person; I mean what does your body need to survive? If you said food you would be correct… Food is one of the most important things in our lives but in most cases it is low on our priority list. We usually eat whatever is quick and easy not what is best for us. Look at what we teach our kids in school, we give them a thorough education on topics such as Math, History, Science, Languages, etc, but never give more than a couple hours in their entire 12 years in school about the most important thing in our lives…what to eat. If you think about it, that’s absolutely crazy… One of the single most important aspects of our lives is never really taught to our children in school. And parents don’t generally pick up…
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Fit Firefighters Do This Everyday…
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…
Read MoreFirefighter Exercise Upgrade- Stir the Pot
This is the plank on steroids. The “stir the pot” exercise is similar to the plank except you rotate your arms in a circle while on the stability ball. This exercise will challenge your core and complete shoulder complex. You may want to start this exercise while on your knees then eventually move to the full version. If your having difficulty stabilizing on the ball, just try to hold the position and slowly work in the arm circles. Here is a video demonstrating the exercise. Click Here for a coaching sheet PDF for the Stability Ball Stir the Pot Exercise Try to incorporate this plank version into your next fire rescue fitness workout. Stay safe and healthy, Aaron Zamzow
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Give the Gift of FRF!
Give the Gift of FRF this year! Do you have a friend or loved one that could benefit (or wants) one of the Fire Rescue Fitness Workout Programs for the holidays? From now until December 27th we created a way for you to to email any FRF program as a gift. Purchase any program and receive an email on how to “gift” your purchase. Happy Healthy Holidays! Click Here to See all Eligible Programs Thanks for Trusting FRF with your Fitness! Please let me know if you have any questions. Stay safe and healthy, Aaron Zamzow
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Firefighter Workout Tip- Unilateral Training
Unilateral training (one weight) is very beneficial for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. The fire-ground can be very unstable– icing conditions, high steps, inclines, all create challenges for the fire rescue athlete. To combat these unstable conditions you should be using unilateral training exercises. While training with both sides can be better for the ego by lifting heavy weights, unilateral training will balance your muscles and help you perform better on the fire-ground. Here is a great video explaining how easy it is to incorporate unilateral training into your firefighter workout program. Take a look. A great way to incorporate a functional exercise is to use a foam bucket (filled with water) and carry it for a prescribed distance or up stairs. This unilateral carry with a full bucket really requires some great core stability and balance. Give unilateral training a try, substitute certain traditional exercises with their unilateral counter…
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Firefighter Workout- Post Holiday Edition
Happy post Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed the Holiday and carry the “thankful” attitude through the holiday season. I do not hope you carry the extra weight and lethargy that can occur during the Holidays. Yes, it is that time of the year where we have a tendency to overindulge and workouts seem to take second place to the holiday rush. To combat the accumulation of holiday pounds I created this Fire Rescue 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 exercise. Each rep should be performed with control (safety first) and good form. You must perform 2 circuits of the warm-up. After the warm-up follow the appropriate circuit (beginner or…
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Firefighter Workout- FRF Thanksgiving Edition
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a great “FRF” way to celebrate. This is a little workout that will burn some early morning calories, ignite your metabolism, and make room for some good Thanksgiving food. I always like to do some morning workout or fun run with the family on the Holidays, I find that I feel better all day and don’t eat as much. Please give this a try! Try to do as many circuits as possible in 15 or 20 minutes. Remember to perform an active warm-up before you begin. (Click here for a good active Firefighter workout warm-up routine.) Do the suggested reps of each exercise then proceed to the next, rest as little as possible between exercises. Burpees x 10 reps Pull-ups or Body Rows x 10 reps Prisoner Lunges x 5 reps per leg Squat to Press (around 20% body weight) x 10 reps Feet on Stability Ball…
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Firefighter Fitness Motivation!
Just a little reminder that fires aren’t the number one killer of firefighters….heart attacks and strokes are. Approach your health and fitness like an athlete. Train like a life depends on it….because it does. Enough said. Stay safe and healthy, Aaron Zamzow
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