While female firefighters don t make up a large percentage of the firefighter population, their numbers are growing. Across the country, they represent about 5 per cent of all firefighters. I advise all firefighters, and civilians to strength train . This can be with weights such as barbells and dumbbells or simply your own body weight, such as in a pushup or modified pushup. Very simply put, strength training builds muscle, not the kind of muscle mass a body builder would achieve, but toned and lean muscle.
Muscle burns fat.
The more you have, the more fat you burn just sitting there. Of course we d combine any strength routine with an intelligent aerobic and flexibility program, but lifting weights will burn fat and sculpt your body like nothing else. Most people who lift weights will not bulk up unless they go to extreme lengths to do so. The Firefighter Workout Book is not about taking those kind of drastic measures, but it is about getting strong, lean and healthy. If you strength train two or three times a week for twenty or thirty minutes, using a moderate resistance, and combine that with your aerobic training you will not bulk up.