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Is P90X a Good Workout for Firefighters?
It’s often said that any movement is better than no movement at all. I personally have to agree with that statement, I think its imperative that everyone (especially FireRescue Athletes) are active. The big question milling about in the Fire Rescue field is what is the most effective type of activity for firefighters? Ideally, we should be performing movements that support, enable, and enhance our physical skills and add to the quality of life. Our exercises should make us stronger, faster, and more capable of accomplishing just about any physical feat a “job” throws at us. One of the more popular programs floating around firehouses these days is P90X. P90X is the extensive fitness program from Beach Body fitness created by Tony Horton that claims it can get you “ripped in 90 days….guaranteed.” Does it work? Maybe, but as Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics we need to be more than just “ripped”…
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FRF Exercise Upgrade- The Row
This exercise changes the traditional row to integrate more core and balance. We, as Firefighters, emts and paramedics are constantly required to lift loads in very awkward positions. In order to prepare for these scenarios fire rescue athletes must focus their workouts on training not only on and in stable positions (machines) but unstable as well. Here is a great row exercise upgrade to engage more stabilizing and core muscles. Please note that this exercise requires a lot of core strength and shoulder stability, lower your weights until you feel comfortable with the exercise. Remember to focus on your form and posture. For more exercise upgrade idea, please continue to check back to www.firerescuefitness.com. For a great workout program that incorporates exercise upgrades for Fire Rescue Athletes, get great results, just like Will Bitting, with the FRF Ultimate Fire Athlete Workout (click here for special bonus pricing on the…
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The 2015 FRF Fit for Duty Champion is…
Last January Fire Rescue Fitness launched the first FRF Fit for Duty Challenge with the hopes of promoting health and fitness within the fire service. The goal of the Challenge was to motivate Fire Rescue Athletes to treat their health like “athletes” do, to workout and eat to better perform the duties of the job. After all, we owe it to our crew members, our families and those that we serve to perform our jobs to the best of our ability. I would like to thank the over 100 Fire Rescue Athletes that entered their results and inspiring testimonials on how the Fire Rescue Fitness Workouts helped them get Fit for Duty. I am so proud to announce that Doug Franklin is the 2015 FRF Fit for Duty Champion. Congratulations to Doug and the other winners of the Challenge! 1. Doug Franklin 2. Will Bitting 3. Reiley Grasshoff 4.…
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Vote for the 2015 FRF Fit for Duty Challenge Top 5.
Congratulations too all the 2015 FRF Fit for Duty Challenge participants! The first annual contest had over 100 Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics enter their results. There were many, many great and inspiring results and stories showing how the Fire Rescue Fitness Workouts have changed their lives and careers. Most importantly, these results will help motivate more fire rescue athletes to join the FRF nation and change the fitness culture of the fire service. Please read and share these awesome transformation stories. And, please comment with your thoughts on the winner, 2 through 5 places and most inspiring. Winners (final spots) will be announced May 26th. Here are the Top 6 (vote for 5) entries (listed in random order) in the 2015 FRF Fit for Duty Challenge. Doug Franklin Fire Department or Employer Name: Trenton Fire Department, Trenton, MO FRF Program(s) used: FRF Ultimate Fire Rescue Athlete Doug’s FRF Story Last…
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A Great Fire House Workout Option…
I get a lot of requests for workouts that can be performed on duty with equipment at the firehouse. Today 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. 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 are android phone apps for this). Make sure you perform an active warm-up before beginning (click here for ideas). Beginners can modify the intervals by decreasing…
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Goblet Squat for more Fire-ground Strength…
I often get emails and questions about ways to improve leg strength and recovery while in firefighting gear. We all know that stairs and climbing are major fire rescue movements performed on the fire ground so… improve your leg strength and you could improve your performance on the fire ground. One exercise in particular is very good at doing just that….the goblet squat. The goblet squat is a multi-joint lower body exercise that fires up (no pun intended) the glutes, quads, and hamstrings. Unlike the traditional back squat, the goblet squat is executed by keeping the body in an upright position, which results in less strain on the lower lumbar and spine and places an increased demand on your upper back and core. It is a great exercise for adding volume to build work capacity or conditioning in circuits. Goblet squats also help improve mobility in the hip, thus helping you…
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Firefighter Cardio Interval Workout for Fat Loss
I have had a of of requests for quick workouts that can be done with minimal equipment. Here is a re-post of one of my more popular cardio interval workouts I created for a firefighter/medic that has no equipment and only some stairs and a parking lot. This can be used as a cardio interval training workout day (for those following the FRF Rapid Fat Loss or FRF Ultimate fire Rescue Athlete Workout Programs) and/or as a good workout to get the blood flowing. Give it a shot! This is a great interval to perform at the firehouse, it doesn’t require a lot of equipment and is very short in duration yet effective. The work intervals can be adjusted to your level of fitness. Beginners should perform 20 seconds of work followed by 40 seconds of rest for each exercise. Intermediates should perform 30 seconds of work followed by 30 seconds…
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The FRF (Fire Rescue Fit) Body Weight 500- Rep Workout
It can be very difficult to try to stay “fit for duty” on vacation or if you don’t have access to a lot of equipment. This workout will help you stay FRF (fire rescue fit) on vacation or when you are at a firehouse that doesn’t have any fitness equipment. I actually performed this workout a couple times on vacation in a small condo with only a towel and a little floor space. The objective of the workout is to complete all the assigned reps of each exercise for a total of 500 reps. **You can substitute out any of the exercises if you would like. Beginners can bounce around from exercise to exercise until all reps are completed. For a more challenging workout you should try to complete all the reps of one exercise before moving to the next. Perform a couple of minutes of active warm-up movements first…
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5 Reasons to Eat Bacon in the Firehouse…
Before you go Hog wild (sorry, had to say it) on bacon please read the following disclaimer. Let me state up front that saying bacon is “healthy” does not mean it’s healthy to eat it in huge quantities nor does it mean it’s healthy to eat large amounts seven days a week. Try to stick to small servings, blot extra bacon grease off to lower fat intake, and avoid adding extra salt or other high sodium seasonings. I suggest to consume only 2 or 3 slices and only once a week. Also, let me state that as a fire rescue athlete you should try to plan your meals like you plan your Fire Rescue Fitness workouts (click here for the best firefighter workouts). If you are eating bacon, keep the fat levels that you consume in “check” the rest of the day. **Please note that the…
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