Lose or Gain?

[Sampras2]

I will be starting the police academy in June and was wondering if you guys gained or lost weight in your academy? I am 6'2'' and weigh about 180. I am looking to gain some weight in the academy hopefully.

I will be doing the academy in Phoenix in the summer and was wondering if anyone else had gone to a academy in the desert?

Take care guys.

[Sierra]

You are coming from a cold climate to do an academy in the desert?!?!?!?!? Talk about a shock to the system! (Congrats on the hire, BTW)

A buddy of mine did the Mesa academy several years ago. He did it on the latter part of summer and into fall, so his experience will be different. He lost weight with the PT he did, but toned up as far as muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you may manage to gain after the initial drop.

Make damn sure you stay hydrated. If you are fair skinned, wear your sun block.

Good luck.

[Sampras2]

It is going to be hot, but I guess the academy does all of the pt at 5am in the morning. That should help out a bit.

[K-9MALY]

I've done 4 full academies, 2X for K-9, 1X FLETC, 1X SDSO.

I lost weight in all of them, due to daily running and high output vs normal working conditions on the job.

I generally weigh 200lb's or some deviation above or below, but only slight movement. In the SDSO academy, I dropped down to 175lb's due to the intensity of training.

The tendency to put on weight at your height and weight with the amount of cardio your going to be doing is probably not going to happen. That is unless you make eating a priority in your routine.
You won't gain weight unless you eat and put the calories into your body, and in turn put them to work.

I would recommend you drink some high protein drinks early in the morning and after the last physical event of your day. They will put the needed protein into your body as well as extra calories. Remember, you basically need to ingest 1gram of protein for every 1pound you weigh on a daily basis to make substantial gains in muscle or size.

[Switchback]

It really depends on your current body make-up more than anything else (assuming that you eat well & hydrate well, of course).

FWIW, I gained in my basic training for the army. I stayed about the same at FLETC.

[Sampras2]

Before and after every time I lift weights I take a protein shake. I think the problem is I run and mountain bike just about every day so that burns a lot of the protein needed to build muscle. I should increase the amount of good protein. Thanks for the advice guys.