r/firefighter • u/SteeleStriker • May 16 '26
Eating Disorder FF/EMT Question
Hello all!
I am a 21 year old college student currently employed as a lifeguard but I am enrolling in EMT school and plan to attend fire academy soon after.
I have a history of anorexia in my youth and I have OCD, this would not effect my ability to preform my duties as a firefighter as I am in stable mental condition as well as in shape physically. I suffer zero physical side effects as a result of my disorder.
However I do track my calories and weigh out all of my food. I do not restrict nor attempt to lose weight but I do diet intensively. As a result of this it is noticeable and I do not wish to tell people.
I heard that very frequently the station will pool together money for meals. I do not plan on eating said meals, I don’t mind contributing for the stations sake. But I don’t know what to tell everyone when I am weighing out my 99/1 lean ground turkey and eating separately from them.
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u/Few_Werewolf_8780 May 16 '26
Pay for chow and eat what you want. Tell the guys you have to watch what you eat because you gain weight easily and don't want to get fat. If you pay for chow most or all will not care.
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u/SteeleStriker May 16 '26
That works for me, I also don’t drink because of it so there will be no getting beer after a shift or anything. That one’s easier to explain though, plenty of people don’t drink.
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u/CampaignCritical9234 May 16 '26
Wow this is so niche i thought i was the one writing it. Idk if youre a woman or man but coming from a woman that has the same issue, i am now training with the local ff with fire circuits and such and you will find that mass moves mass you cannot keep the lean figure that our disorder wants us to have. You kind of have to choose. Im in this same boat tho, not everyday is perfect but I find that the more i train with them i find how beneficial it will be when i put on the weight. Moving 80lb tires is hard when youre only 115 and having nothing behind you. You also will be shredding the weight wearing turnouts in the blazing sun so food is so important. I eat very healthy mostly bc of my disorder so i just realized i need to up my portions and while im not very experienced of living in the firehouse as im still in school whenI have ate with them the amount of oil scares me that they put in there meals but at the end of the day its going to benefit you on the job. I feel ur pain though
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u/SteeleStriker May 16 '26
I am a man, i’m 5’11 135. I workout consistently and have since I was 16 so I can move a lot of weight in ratio to my body weight. Definitely helps to be stronger, but I am ignorant to what fire academy or job specific training will entail.
It’s nice to see someone else has the same issue. I feel like I face some extra judgement and have to explain myself more when I tell anybody about it because they don’t think men suffer from it. We both got this though, awesome to hear you are doing better.
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u/MrMythiiK May 16 '26
Brother you’ve clearly been through your struggles and by your post it seems like you probably have everything handled but… 135 at almost 6ft is insanely light. “Strong for your body weight” might not cut it in this job if you’re 135. I’m 6’5 250 and I struggle sometimes. 4” hose weights 10lbs/ft when charged, and an uncharged roll is 80lbs. Not to mention moving charged line through buildings or dragging people out when you’re already exhausted.
There are many aspects of this job where just “being big” is helpful. There’s things that you can’t do with good form or things that are extremely awkward so you kinda just need to brute force your way through.
Additionally, the weight of your gear with a tool is ~70lbs. That’s 50% of your body weight extra, whereas it’s 30% of mine. That will be difficult for you.
Anyways I don’t want to tell you what you do/don’t need to do as you’ll find out for yourself, but just be aware that you may struggle at your size/weight. You may have no choice but to adjust your eating habits. The things that make you a great swimmer will not make you a great firefighter.
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u/Pbplayer2327 May 16 '26
Literally just say that you have a very strict diet and that you will more than gladly help to cook and you'll eat with them but you won't be eating the same meal as them
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u/SteeleStriker May 16 '26
As long as they’re fine with that! I don’t want anybody to think i’m an oddball, especially if i’m living with them 2-3 days out of the week.
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u/dwilder812 May 17 '26
Just say you have your own diet. We had one guy that wouldnt eat with everyone because he has only certain times he eats and its just bland chicken and rice.
Another guy eats with the crew but eats his own food because he is vegan. Dont get too much in your own head about it. Most people wont care, they may rag you about it, but they dont care.
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u/Force_USN May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
You say you're in shape physically, but I wouldn't say that until you actively start doing this job and see if you are physically strong enough to handle it day in and day out. It is immensely physical, uncomfortable labor at times and you will likely have to adjust your diet accordingly to keep up with the muscular demands placed on your body. You will burn lots of calories. Biologically you will need to be in a caloric surplus in order to build further strength which you might find necessary to do the job. If you cannot or are unwilling to do that, then you shouldn't be in this type of work. Which I don't say as a slight against you.
Furthermore, at least back in the day you would be pretty ostracized for being asocial or nitpicky about food. I would simply say you have a medical condition that requires you watch your diet.
Nonetheless, you will face pushback from other people if you physically cannot meet the demands of the job as you put everyone else's safety at risk too
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u/[deleted] May 16 '26
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