Getting fit..?

[Dreamz12x]

Hello. I'm 9 months away from completing my 2yr Criminal Justice degree. After the 2 yr degree I plan on attending the Academy for Law Enforcement. I've slowly been working on obtaining better life style habits to get in a shape. However, the time is getting closer then it was 2 years ago.

I'm already pretty strong compared to other females. But certain parts of my muscles need work. I need to know how to go about strengthing the parts needed to be physical fit to attend the Academy. I can lift a heavy weight but have trouble even doing 1 push up or pull up. It's weird because I can lift a lot at my current job. If there is any advice you guys could give me I'd really appriciate it. I also used to run track and have quit smoking for almost a year now. So I'm working on getting my cardio activity up to par. I'm 5'7 and 150pds (even though everyone thinks I weigh 120 max). I just don't look my weight. Sigh. Any advice would be great food wise too. Thanks everyone!

[Switchback]

First of all, keep in mind that strength is one thing and endurance is another. To some extent, you need one to have the other. However, YOu can be really strong with poor endurance and you can have great endurance while being very weak.

Push-ups require a little strength and a lot of endurance. If you want to do push-ups and sit-ups (or anything, for that matter), you need to do them. A good example is pull-ups or ring-dips. There are some really strong people who cannot do many of these exercises.

If you are having difficulty doing push-ups, scale them and work yoru way up to regularl ones. For example, start going from your knees, doing as many as youc an for a minute. Rest a minute and repeat for a total of 3x. Once you can't do them from your knees, just do the negative portion, slowly lowering yoruself to the ground. The key is to keep the movement.

Once yous tart doing this routine, bump it up to normal push-ups, from your toes. Do as many of these in the routine as you can and then go to your knees.

[Dreamz12x]

Thank you very much. I will start that right away. One thing I've noticed is that the Academy requires/prepares you to be pretty fit. However, does one as a Law Enforcement Officer ever get re-tested for their physical aspects? I look around at a lot of the Officers in my area of FL and some of them I'd be shocked if they could do half the stuff still required in the Academy. I just always thought it would be important to keep yourself in great shape.

[Nole795]

Thank you very much. I will start that right away. One thing I've noticed is that the Academy requires/prepares you to be pretty fit. However, does one as a Law Enforcement Officer ever get re-tested for their physical aspects? I look around at a lot of the Officers in my area of FL and some of them I'd be shocked if they could do half the stuff still required in the Academy. I just always thought it would be important to keep yourself in great shape.

It should be and hopefully you will keep that mindset throughout your life as you come into this career (or any other). The job is rough, working nights, long hours, and with it comes bad eating habits, and a complacent lifestyle. Don't fall into that trap.

The departments I see in Florida don't have a mandatory fitness. There are some that offer financial incentives to stay in shape which is judged by the time you can finish a PAT Test or run a 1 1/2 mile. Regardless, you should stay in shape for the mere aspect of living a long, and healthy life.

[BJJVad]

Think of it as a flight of stairs.

Today, 1 push up. Tomorrow, 2..

When you get stuck, keep doing it tell you are no longer stuck.

[Switchback]

Mos tdepartments don't have mandatory fit unless you are on SWAT/SRT/ERT. There are a few out there that do, however. My agency requires everyone take a fit test every 6 months. You do not need to pass, though. I will say that we do have some POS fat people, but not too many.

[retdetsgt]

Ours doesn't have continuing physical testing, but if you're smart you will do what you can to stay in decent shape.

I always worked out a few times a week in the gym. Not to bulk up, but so my heart wouldn't explode the next time I had to put out a lot of exertion. I worked primarily on muscle tone and some endurance. I never cared for running much so I did what I could in the confines of a gym.

Even in my early 50's, I had to take some guy down now and then and you ALWAYS want to win those.

[Dreamz12x]

Thank you all so much for your responses. I enjoyed reading them. I can understand how the job gets demanding and you lose track of healty foods and finding time to stay in shape or even worry about that kind of stuff. I hear so many people look down on Cops and that's kind of a scary thought. I try not to let that bring me down. And I appiciate the effort you guys make every day to make the streets/areas safer.