Firemen on Juice..input....

[TurboLifter]

Well it may sound like a very stupid fucking question, but I was wondering if there is any firefighters on here. I'm on my way there now, in EMT school but the Fire Academy starts in 3 months for me. Naturally I'm into bodybuilding, and Id love to jump on a cycle soon, but frankly..I'm scared. I know they give polygraph tests and shit, and God forbid they ask if you have used illegal drugs, anabolic steroids, bla bla.....

What do you guys think? Im so worried I may have to wait til I'm through and employed to even start on another cycle.

 

[GymLift]

Well, if they do a polygraph, then I don't suspect they are going to ask you if you had a Big Mac for lunch. Sounds like you need to make a choice: firefighter or gear. To me, the appropriate answer is obvious.

 

[Thoms]

Take valium and trick the polygraph

 

[jes131]

Take valium and trick the polygraph

During a polygraph you're usually asked if you did or took anything that day in order to affect the readings of the polygraph. Knowing a little bit about them goes a long way in getting past - there's a reason why they aren't admissible in court. I wouldn't worry about that too much. Plenty of cops are on gear - just wait til after the academy and then with all the down time you have you'll be able to get huge.

 

[China_Wall]

bro, I went through the process myself. During the physical the Doc was doing the cough test and must have noticed my balls had shrunken to the size of peanuts. He said to me, "you've used steroids in the past?". So I answered yes and it didn't affect me getting hired.

 

[GymLift]

I think if they ask him during the polygraph "have you used Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) in the past" and he says 'yes', then he'll probably be okay. But if they ask 'are you using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) right now' and they discover he is currently using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) ... well then, that might be a problem.

 

[Suareezay]

if anything, a fireman on gear would be an asset. Firemen definatly need strength and overall fitness, and gear done properly can only help that. It seems like gear would kinda go over with a wink and a nod in your profession. Guess not though.

 

[Trevdog]

I wasn't given a polygraph, so the issue didn't come up. However, I learned that I am a better firefighter at 200 lbs. than I was at 215. I was stronger when I was heavier, but the extra weight didn't help when I had to run and do other endurance stuff during the academy.

Also, it is rare that you're going to need your highest 1 rep kind of strength when fighting structure fires. It is more common to be required to work at a high level of intensity for a relatively short period under brutal conditions, and be able to keep your wits about you. Greater size and strength isn't exactly what prepares you for that. Interval training, sprints, running stairs, things like that help.

I was on when I went through my academy. If I could do it again, I probably wouldn't be on.

I think you might be better served by waiting until after you've finished your academy before running anything.

 

[GymLift]

Shit, if Trevdog says to hold off on the gear, then that's what you should do. I don't see him say that very often.

 

[MENTZER]

I wasn't given a polygraph, so the issue didn't come up. However, I learned that I am a better firefighter at 200 lbs. than I was at 215. I was stronger when I was heavier, but the extra weight didn't help when I had to run and do other endurance stuff during the academy.

Also, it is rare that you're going to need your highest 1 rep kind of strength when fighting structure fires. It is more common to be required to work at a high level of intensity for a relatively short period under brutal conditions, and be able to keep your wits about you. Greater size and strength isn't exactly what prepares you for that. Interval training, sprints, running stairs, things like that help.

I was on when I went through my academy. If I could do it again, I probably wouldn't be on.

I think you might be better served by waiting until after you've finished your academy before running anything.

Well said bro

 

[Suareezay]

Also, it is rare that you're going to need your highest 1 rep kind of strength when fighting structure fires. It is more common to be required to work at a high level of intensity for a relatively short period under brutal conditions, and be able to keep your wits about you. Greater size and strength isn't exactly what prepares you for that. Interval training, sprints, running stairs, things like that help.

so gear only increases your 1 rep max, basically?

 

[Trevdog]

so gear only increases your 1 rep max, basically?

No, it does much more than that.

I didn't explain my point all that well. I was just saying that I've found that a better firefighting weight for me is 200 lbs. vs. 215. At 200, I have pretty much all the strength I'm going to need for firefighting. AND I have a pretty good ability to handle the work that is required to fight structure fires. At 215, I am stronger, but I don't last as long fighting structure fires, because I'm carrying around extra weight. Also, the shape that my cardiovascular system is in when I weigh 200 is better for firefighting than it is at 215 lbs.

There are plenty of firefighters out there whose performance would benefit from extra strength and size. However, for a decently muscular guy, I think you have to balance the burden of extra size and weight against the benefit you would get from it.

This varies from individual to individual. There was one guy in my academy, a former college football player and wrestler. He weighed about 250. I could bench about as much as he could, since he didn't lift through the academy. However, that guy had more functional strength, muscular endurance (meaning for example he could hit something hard with an axe more times in a minute than I could), and cardio endurance - he could run my ass into the ground. He handled his weight well. I couldn't reach 250 without being obese, and if I was that heavy I'd be one sorry ass firefighter.

 

[Suareezay]

yea definatly, ronnie coleman wouldnt make a good firefighter lol