Author and veteran firefighter Ryan Vacek understands the daily demands placed on firefighters. He has firsthand knowledge of what makes fire fighting among the most stressful--and dangerous--occupations in the world. Now, with "The Fire Athlete Fitness Program," Ryan Vacek aims to significantly reduce firefighter injury and help "fire athletes" achieve robust physical health and stamina. Vacek's program focuses on movements similar to those used while fighting fires, and it uses firefighting equipment, primarily a standard bundle of hose. He takes firefighters through easy-to-follow steps for each workout (enhanced with photographs) and indicates the intensity and duration of each exercise, including resting times and the particular strength that results from the exercises. Being in peak physical shape is imperative, not only for firefighters to work effectively but to safeguard their health and lives. With "The Fire Athlete Fitness Program," they can do just that.

Firefighter are modern icons of fitness and courage. Women love them. Men want to be like them. This book gives every man that chance. It offers a complete fitness and nutrition program to get in fireman shape. It presents the perfect goal to motivate anyone to get in shape.

Offers thirty-minute workout routines that cover strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility training, and includes information on nutrition and techniques used by firefighters to stay fit for their physically demanding work.

The Ladder 2 Workout was developed to give Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics (FireRescue Athletes) a revolutionary new fitness system that will reduce the risk of injury, increase strength, decrease body fat and insure that you are always "fit for duty." This program is 15 years in the making and is endorsed by hundreds of firefighters, paramedics, and elite trainers. The Ladder 2 Workout contains all of the information you need to get "fit for duty." It includes specifically designed strength/power workouts, cardiovascular interval workouts, fitness tips, exercise descriptions and pictures, along with eating guidelines. If you've been training sparingly or need to get back into shape, this program is for you. If you've been doing the traditional bodybuilding/ body part training (which doesn't really apply to firefighting skills), then this program is for you. Maybe you've been following other fitness programs and have noticed that your efforts haven't transferred to the fireground, then...this program is for you. Essentially this program is for any FireRescue Athlete that wants to improve their level of fitness, reduce chances of injury (especially shoulder and back), get stronger and get leaner.

Each day, firefighters throughout the country use numerous tools. Without the knowledge of how and when to use these tools. Without the knowledge of how and when to use these tools, they become ineffective and a waste of space on the apparatus. Contents: Introduction Cutting tools Prying tools Striking tools Pole Personal tools Several-in-one tools Tools Maintenance Tool combinations Tool on fire apparatus.

Firefighter Functional Fitness is the essential guide to optimal firefighter performance and longevity. It provides all firefighters with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to:Maximize their fire ground performance Reduce their risk of injury and experiencing a line-of-duty deathLive a long, healthy career and retirementDesigned for firefighters by firefighters, this book shares the The 4 Pillars of Firefighter Functional Fitness: Physical FitnessRecovery and RestHydrationNutrition and LifestyleIt also reveals the The Big 8 concept, which includes over 100 photos and descriptions of functional exercises, movements, and stretches that are specifically designed to enhance firefighter performance. The Workout Programming chapter gives firefighters numerous options for putting The Big 8 into action, taking into account all levels of fitness. Additionally, each chapter provides practical action steps for both immediate improvement and long-term success.Must-read bonus chapters include:The Importance of Annual Medical EvaluationsAn Analysis of the Fire Service's Cardiovascular EpidemicFirefighter Physical Agility AssessmentsAddressing Organizational Barriers to FitnessFrequently Asked QuestionsAlarmingly, over the past 10 years, the fire service has suffered more than 1,000 line-of-duty deaths. Unfortunately, over 50% of these LODDs were attributed to heart attacks, strokes, and other medical causes. Firefighter Functional Fitness attacks these statistics by providing all firefighters with the tools needed to combat this epidemic.Firefighter Functional Fitness brings together the authors' combined 40+ years of fire service experience and decades of utilizing functional fitness principles. The result is an invaluable resource with the vital tools and knowledge that firefighters desperately need to not only enjoy a healthy and productive career, but also benefit with a healthy retirement.

Noted sports performance expert and bestselling author of Core Performance, Verstegen reveals the training program he uses with elite athletes and U.S. Special Operations Forces. As founder and president of EXOS, Mark Verstegen has trained the world’s top athletes in sports including the NFL, Major League Baseball, and worldwide soccer powers, along with the most elite “tactical athletes”—U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel. More than a decade ago, Verstegen’s groundbreaking book Core Performance revolutionized the fitness industry and made core conditioning and functional training mainstream. In his new book, Verstegen presents his most hardcore program yet: a demanding system that challenges readers to perform at the highest level. Borrowing heavily from his regimens used by the military and NFL-combine hopefuls, Verstegen breaks the system down into tough but easy-to-follow workouts that help readers become faster, more explosive, and more powerful while moving with greater efficiency and with far less potential for injury. If you’ve ever wanted to perform like the top sports champions or elite fighting forces, this is the book for you.

Lose weight, lower cholesterol, significantly reduce the risk of disease, and become physically fit--in just 4 weeks. Professional athlete-turned-firefighter Rip Esselstyn is used to responding to emergencies. So, when he learned that some of his fellow Engine 2 firefighters in Austin, TX, were in dire physical condition-several had dangerously high cholesterol levels (the highest was 344!)-he sprang into action and created a life-saving plan for the firehouse. By following Rip's program, everyone lost weight (some more than 20 lbs.), lowered their cholesterol (Mr. 344's dropped to 196), and improved their overall health. Now, Rip outlines his proven plan in this book. With Rip as your expert coach and motivator, you'll transform your body and lifestyle in a month. His plant-powered eating plan is based on a diet of whole foods, including whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. This invaluable guide features: Dozens of easy, mouthwatering recipes-from pancakes to pizza, Tex-Mex favorites to knockout chocolate desserts-that will keep you looking forward to every bite Pantry-stocking tips will take the panic out of inevitable cravings and on-the-fly meals Guidelines on menu choices that will allow you to eat out, wherever and whenever you want Rip's simple, firefighter-inspired exercise program that will boost your metabolism and melt your fat away. Medically approved, easy-to-follow, and amazingly effective, this diet is designed for anyone who wants to make heroic strides in his or her health, weight, and well-being-all without heroic effort. "Want to be as strong as a Texas firefighter? Or as healthy as a professional triathlete? Then follow the wonderful advice of Rip Esselstyn, who is both. His book can save your life--whether you're a man or a woman. Highly recommended!" -Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Clinical Professor of Medicine, U of California, SF, author, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease

Insomnia? Gone. Anxiety? Gone. All without medication. Unpleasant side effects from blood pressure pills? Gone. A cheap and effective way to combat cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, obesity, and GI disorders? Yes. Sounds too good to be true? Believe it. Contemporary science confirms what generations of healers have observed through centuries of practice: Breath awareness can turn on the body’s natural abilities to prevent and cure illness. The mental and physical stresses of modern life, such as anxiety, frustration, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, high blood pressure, digestive woes, and immune dysfunction can all be addressed through conscious control of your breath. In addition, it can increase energy, accelerate healing, improve cognitive skills, and enhance mental balance. Yet most of us stopped breathing in the anatomically “right” way, the way to take advantage of these benefits, when we were four or five years old. We now mostly breathe in a way that is anatomically incongruous and makes for more illness. Dr. Vranich shows readers how to turn back the tide of stress and illness, and improve the overall quality of their life through a daily breathing workout. In a fascinating, straightforward, jargon-free exploration of how our bodies were meant to breathe, Dr. Belisa Vranich delves into the ins and outs of proper breathing. By combining both anatomy and fitness with psychology and mindfulness, Dr. Vranich gives readers a way of solving health problems at the crux and healing themselves from the inside out. BREATHE is an easy-to-follow guide to breathing exercises that will increase energy, help lose weight, and make readers feel calmer and happier.

Fitness Illustratedis a visual, straightforward approach to core fitness concepts, exercise programming, nutrition, and weight management. Photos, illustrations, and explanations depict how a body changes through aerobic and strength training so you can customize routines to maximize benefits and address specific needs and goals.