Fueling the Fire

Photo © Damon Wee

I had committed to the idea of becoming a firefighter, but I was 267 pounds. I couldn't fit in my clothes, I could barely climb the single flight of stairs in my house without being winded, and I was definitely not fit for the fire service. If I was going to get serious about serving my community I needed to keep my fire lit with the right fuel.

One of the first things we learned in Fire Academy were the risks to firefighters. According to the U.S. Fire Administration 47.2% of all fatal injuries to firefighters are heart attacks. Fitness plays a major part in the health and life of firefighters and must be taken seriously.

I didn't know how to start my fitness routine. I only knew I needed to exercise and eat right.  My road to fitness began when I won a spot in a radio contest. There were 8 contestants, each given 40 days of weight-loss pre-packaged food and 40 days at a Local Gym with a personal trainer consultation and body analysis. I lost about 35 pounds and won the contest. Sadly, within 6 months, I put on 45 pounds because I had not learned how to eat for myself - which is why I will never support weight loss supplements or packaged food programs. They cost too much, the foods are not good for you, and the programs do not teach you how to feed your body correctly.

One day, I simply could not button my pants. I had also received a speeding ticket with my picture featuring my large posterior that had grown so large that both sides could be seen around the seat-rest of my motorcycle. I also broke my father-in-law's guitar stool. I was done being a fat guy with no purpose.

Thankfully my church class had been raising money for a worthy cause, to help a couple take a healthy eating course called Coronary Health Improvement Program (C.H.I.P.). The couple had declined to use the program and I was asked to accept the scholarship.

I struggled with accepting the scholarship to the program until I realized that my company's Healthy Living Reimbursement Program would pay the difference - essentially making C.H.I.P. free for me. I gratefully accepted and began the road to healthy vegan living. In 12 weeks I dropped 40 pounds and went from pre-diabetic/high blood pressure to normal healthy ranges! If you want to learn how to eat properly, reverse diabetes and heart disease, lose weight and feel healthy then get into a C.H.I.P.! Ask me how!

My training program began with walking. A walk to the front door. A walk around the block. A walk to the store. Then light jogging, half a mile, a full mile. I still felt self-conscious about my weight so when running at my office gym I would wait until everyone was at lunch or had gone back to their desk so no one would see me run. I was embarrassed to run in public or for anyone to see me exercise. At that time I struggled to do 10 sit-ups or 10 push-ups. However, I was resolute with my fitness goal. I worked at it 3 days a week. 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 1 mile. Until it was easy. Then I added more push-ups, more sit-ups, and ran faster. Then I ran farther, faster, and lifted weights. I also added stretching and eventually Yoga. I will tell you Yoga is amazing. The low-impact fitness benefits and natural weight resistance training is really all you need to get yourself in shape - forget the gym membership - do Yoga at home and go far a walk around the block!

After a while I was running a 5k - 3.1 miles, doing 3 sets of 20 push-ups and sit-ups, lifting weights, and doing Yoga on the Wii Fit - and loving it!

After I literally had to have 5 inches cut from my belt I knew I was ready to submit my application for Fire Academy. In order to qualify for the Fire Academy I needed to pass the Candidate Physical Abilities Test.

Next time I'll talk about what it took to get myself ready for the toughest 10 minutes and 20 seconds of my life - the CPAT!

Are you a firefighter? How do you train for the fire service?