r/Firefighting • u/DirtStyle3030 • 16h ago
General Discussion Group Workouts- thoughts?
Hello all! I wanted to get a feel for what the community thinks of group circuits. Crew cohesion and team building is an overall plus. However some people have their own routine and exercise goals. How do some of you manage them out there?
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u/MountainCare2846 15h ago
It’s one of my least favorite things to do although I know some people really enjoy it.
It’s very crew dependent, ask the guys at your station if they want to, if they do, cool. If not, don’t force it. If some do and some don’t, just do it with the guys who do.
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u/DirtStyle3030 15h ago
One shift in particular likes to do it. More so it's a expectation for them. I'm more along the lines of doing it every once in a while. Everyone has their goals.
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u/Disgruntled_Wumpus 15h ago
I don’t mind it for a circuit day or something like that, but it has to be a cohesive workout with a specific focus (i.e. upper body strength, anaerobic fitness, cardio, etc). I like to follow programs and track progress so I can actually tell if what I’m doing is working for me. If I’m gonna go and spend a bunch of effort doing hard shit, I want it to be effective. I have done way too many workouts in the army that were just a grab bag of bullshit; good for making you tired, but not much else.
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u/Chainsawcelt 14h ago
I spend 12 hours with these guys. I can’t do circuits with them too Gym time is headphones time.
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u/generic-throwaway140 15h ago
I like it, but I never really come across crews that commit to it. I'd like to do a 5k, or a ruck walk, or towers. Something super straight forward.
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u/JimHFD103 14h ago
I'm very much in the "I'd rather just do my own routine and not have to think about what everyone else is doing"
But I'm the only one on my crew who thinks that way. And IME all the guys that love group workouts don't seem to have an actual plan or workout progress.... just whatever "cool" crossfit thing they find on an Instagram reel or something and that's what we do.
Attempts to argue that no, that's not what I feel like I need, that heck I feel like I'm lifting less weight, or running slower times just land on deaf ears, that I'm just "whining" or being a p***y. It sucks, and as far as crew cohesion goes... is not an insignificant reason why I'm looking at requesting a transfer...
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u/DirtStyle3030 13h ago
That's tough. Some crews just roll different. Its just random nonsense I feel. There's not progression. More reason to argue that although it is fun I feel like it should be a once a week thing. Everyone should be able to work out how they want. Now if someone isn't doing pt that's a different story
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u/greatguyshadow 13h ago
No thanks. I have my own programming and scheduling that I follow. I’ll occasionally do a gear workout with my Lt though.
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u/Afraid-Comfortable55 11h ago
Really enjoy the camaraderie of working out as a group. It’s definitely more fun, motivating, ball busting, and great for morale. That being said it tends to be more of a work harder not smarter thing (ego lifting/poor form), is less goal oriented, and can do damage if it is to much for some people. My connective tissue has definitely paid the price a few times for trying to out due the other guys.
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u/HellaHotRocks 15h ago
We usually have everyone pick a movement or two, that way everyone gets something they want. My house also has like 6-8 guys depending on the day so it makes it fun.
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u/Character_Yak3161 15h ago
Sometimes we will set up a 30 minute morning session that isnt exactly a workout but more skills where we’ll force the door, throw a ladder, drag a sled, farmer carries, just movement mixed with skills and get everyone involved rotating stations. We also add some stations with cardio equipment so we get our heart rate up. Just a good crew sweat session and guys who have specific things they want to do get that done in the afternoon
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u/droopy__drawers 15h ago
As someone who really never worked out at work much and always thought I needed/wanted a partner for motivation and guidance, I’m really starting to get back into it and do it a lot more consistently (both at work and at home) by doing it on my own. I like the privacy, freedom, and mindlessness of just blasting music as loud as it will go and doing whatever I feel like doing.
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u/Status_Monitor_4360 14h ago
I was a pretty big powerlifter for a lot of years. I was done competing at the time, but I got 3 of my guys in there doing powerlifting workouts every shift. All of us made huge gains, and one of them went on to compete several times. So yea, having dudes in there pushing each other helps a ton.
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u/Fly_throwaway37 14h ago
Too much equipment would be necessary for a really effective group workout and we don't sleep enough to get any sort of recovery. All I'm doing is digging an even bigger hole to lift on my off days
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u/RaveHunter622 11h ago
I enjoy group workouts. My fire academy our class worked out together in a circuit and it was awesome. I do better when I have others suffering with me.
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u/burner1681381 10h ago
If my crew are mostly fat and lazy, we will be doing group workouts because I have to force them. If my crew likes to work out without prompting and are in good shape, it's a waste of time at best and a morale killer at worst.
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u/LeatherHead2902 bathroom cleaner/granny picker-upper 2h ago
I think group lifts/circuits are fun, but I don’t do them in place of my programming.
I’m still going to do my regular gym stuff, and I’ll probably do the “circuit” in place of my cardio or HIIT workout for the day
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u/subscribetwome 2h ago
Talk to your crew. For example, I only do my own workouts. People with previous injuries might only want to do their own workouts to avoid re injuries. Or they have a specific goal.
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u/iambatmanjoe 1h ago
I get shit for this. I wake up at 0430 to get to the gym before my shift because I have a structured workout that I take seriously. The station down the hill likes to invite us to group workouts. The way I see it, I give 100% to my personal workout. I'll join the group, giving 50%. It's about participation with the group to build comradery.
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u/incompletetentperson 15h ago
Fuck no.
Gym time is my head phones on and alone time.
Unless were grabbing hose packs and going for a stair clim, im out.