The Firefighter's Workout Book: The 30 Minute a Day Train-for-Life Program for Men and Women
Talk about performing under pressure! New York City firefighter Michael  Stefano describes wrestling with a 2.5-inch-thick high-pressure hose gushing  water at over 200 gallons per minute, raising and climbing heavy ladders,  operating superpowerful saws, and rappelling down the sides of multistory  buildings--all while weighted down with bulky protective equipment, and often  while soaking wet ("where there's fire, there's water"). Endurance, strength,  and vigor are not only necessary for peak performance--they are lifesavers.The point ofThe Firefighter's Workout Bookis not to make you a  firefighter, but to help you transform your personal physical-fitness level, in  a program that takes four hours a week. Stefano explains the basics about  exercise and gives guidelines for cardiovascular exercise, strength training,  and flexibility. Explanations are clear and accurate. He also gives nutritional  guidelines for losing fat without sacrificing muscle, but his dietary  recommendations are curiously outdated: he relies on the old "four food groups,"  which have been replaced by the American Dietetic Association's food pyramid.Thirty-one strength-training exercises are well illustrated with photographs,  and each step is clearly explained, with "trainer's notes" giving modifications  to increase intensity. Most use dumbbells and barbells, though some use just  body weight. Thirteen stretches are also illustrated and described. Stefano  gives examples of different routines--full body, split, circuit training,  pyramid training, and slow-motion training. Firefighting stories spice up every  chapter, giving you a good read as well as a good fitness program.--Joan  Price--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.