Firefighter Fitness is a Family Affair

Juliet Draper has been a firefighter for the 14 years we've been together, first in the U.S. Army and now with the CSFD. During that time I've been her training partner for various competitions many of which she has won or at least came in second.

Starting this online magazine got me researching all aspects of firefighter health and wellness. I came across information that scared me about my firefighter and it should scare you enough to begin making preparations to avoid some of the pitfalls of this occupation.

Along with the obvious risks inherent to the job, like being burned or crushed, there are environmental risks such as chemical and smoke exposure. Lets not forget about the less glamorous health risks like lack of sleep and the constant coursing of adrenaline through the body. These occupational hazards lead to higher rates of heart disease and cancer.

I’ve also observed how much firefighters love to talk about their SRAs, ICMAs, and other retirement plans. But it makes no sense to focus so intensely on retirement if we are not taking the necessary steps to insure our health during those retirement years. We must make daily investments in our personal fitness plan.

Juliet was definitely making an investment in her fitness plan and I was along for the ride cooking her heart healthy gourmet food, but going to fast food restaurants as soon as she went to work. I used food in the evening when darkness began to fall and I heard the squeaks and cracks in the house. On November 11, 2004 I had my ‘last straw moment,’ when I decided that I know what to eat but needed support to eat it. I joined Weight Watchers, turned it up a notch in the gym, and dropped 40 lbs which I've been maintaining for over a year.

The combination of Weights and Weight Watchers are the bomb!!

Now when Juliet trains for a competition I go along with her instead of resenting the time apart. We go places where she can get the intensity she needs and I can go at a slower pace but we are there to support and push each other. We’ve decided to have less stuff so I can be home to prep and cook those healthy but very tasty meals.

Studies have shown that people with workout partners have a 90% success rate. That number drops to 50% without a partner. Here is an opportunity for you to spend positive time with your firefighter, get and keep yourself in shape, and help your firefighter alleviate stress, strengthen their heart and remain injury free on the job and beyond.

I grew up in a family of athletes, beginning with my mother who at 17 years old was the high jump champion in Jamaica, WI. My siblings have won scholarships to college for soccer and basketball. At 72 years old my mother still belongs to a fitness club, and walks on the treadmill after dinner for at least thirty minutes. You could say that I come by my interest in health and wellness genetically.

Like my parents before me, I've always had a membership to a gym. However, I was not and still do not consider myself an athlete. I was more of a bookworm and didn't discover my sport until 39 years old when I lifted my first free weight. Until I met Juliet I was afraid of doing weights because I was obsessed with the scale and I didn't want to appear big or fat.

Now at 49 years old, I've been exercising consistently for 31 years.Of course, there have been times in my twenties when I used to stop and not start again for a few months, but that hasn't happened in 15 years. Hanging out with Juliet, doing 10% of what she does has me becoming stronger, faster and healthier as I get older. Maintaining a high level of fitness is my insurance policy.

My commitment to firefighter fitness is about my own self-preservation. The fitter you are, the better you do your job, the safer she is.