This is a loaded question, with many possible answers because everyone has their own opinions on fitness. There are, however, a few exercise tips that are nearly always true, especially with firefighters and law enforcement officers. First, the best exercise is one you will do regularly. We can give you the best fitness program in the universe but if you quit doing it a few weeks or months into it then it isn’t good enough. Find an exercise you enjoy, or one you at least don’t hate and can do consistently. If you love jazzercise, we won’t judge you and will applaud you if you do it regularly. Whatever you do will always work better than what you intend to do but don’t. Second, for fat burning and building endurance, low to moderate intensity exercise is usually beneficial in a fitness program, so we often emphasize rucking, brisk walking, or light cycling. It’s known for improving depression and anxiety as well. Third, strength is important for physically demanding jobs, and strength training as little as twice per week has been shown to improve weight loss, so we promote incorporating strength programming in your fitness program, either initially or over time. Finally, high intensity cardio improves cardiovascular fitness, metabolism, blood sugar, and stress levels so this type of exercise is beneficial as well. To sum it up, a fitness program that includes varied intensity in cardio and strength training is going to be most beneficial, and we work with clients to build a routine that will work for their goals and preferences.
