Weight/Diet

[CHPwannaBE]

To all of the CHPs what does your weight training program consist of? I am sure that all of you have your routines by now so what is your diet like? I work with a firefighter who is a hardcore lifter and really buff. Are you guys just as hardcore/gung ho about your physical fitness? I love to lift and do it 5 days a week. Do the CHP offices have gyms or do you have bowflexs or something at home? Thanks.

[dw]

Clearly, you haven't seen many Chippies from Northern Division. ;) -- Just kidding. No doubt, though, some of us are not in as good of shape as when we graduated the Academy. I've just started weights again using equipment at home. Most offices have gyms financed by the local Squad Club. The equipment varies from very good to being stuffed in a storage closet. As with anything else, some guys are really into fitness and others are not. Compared to the general population, I think Chippies, for the most part, are in pretty good shape.

The emphasis in the Academy is on cardiovascular fitness. (It would be great if someone with PT staff experience could chime in here...) I know it wasn't specifically asked, but to prepare for the Academy one really should focus on running and circuit-training. Pure weight training can hurt more than help because you'll end up shedding any unnecessary bulk in the Academy.

Diet on this job can be difficult. Especially when you're new, working a busy area, and aren't as efficient as more senior officers. Many days there won't be time to eat lunch. Lunch may consist of what you can get down driving from call to call. Bringing your lunch is the best option, but I've never been able to prepare that far ahead. There's a lot of fast & deli-type food. You can't really sit down anywhere because Murphy will step in just as you've ordered and send you a call. Additionally, the whole shift-work things throws off any semblance of a normal eating schedule.

[Nellie]

I've been running, lifting weights, and swimming...but when I come home and my daughter is baking a big ol' batch of chocolate chip cookies (like tonight) from scratch, it's difficult not to submit to the temptation.