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Video: Firefighters, stop exercising, start training!

If you’re exercising just for the sake of exercising, you might be selling yourself short

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Monday you’re working your chest, triceps and abs. Tuesday you focus on back and biceps. You take Wednesday off before hitting the treadmill Thursday for a 5K run before some lifts that focus on your shoulders.

Or maybe you’re not a gym rat. You like the open road, logging dozens of miles each week jogging and cycling. You know cardio ability is so important to firefighting, and running works all the muscles anyway—no need for machines.

If either of these approaches sound like you, or if you fall somewhere in between (or behind), this fitness tip is for you.

Exercise in any form is generally a good thing. But firefighters have unique fitness needs. If you’re exercising just for the sake of exercising, you might be selling yourself short.

Aaron Zamzow, a firefighter with Madison (WI) Fire Department and founder of Fire Rescue Fitness, has another workout approach for you to consider:

Aaron Zamzow is a fire lieutenant for the Madison (Wisconsin) Fire Department with 20 years of experience as a fitness trainer and host of the Better Every Shift podcast. He holds a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness as well as a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification. He is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist, an NASM certified personal trainer and an ACE-certified peer fitness trainer. Zamzow is the founder and owner of FireRescueFitness.com and develops programs aimed at getting fire rescue athletes fit for duty. He authored the book “Ladder 2 Workout: A Comprehensive Firefighter Workout Program that will get you ‘Fit for Duty’ in 28 days.” Connect with Zamzow on Twitter or Facebook or via email.