Just a note to reinforce the benefits of strength training one more time. I was just hired by a fire department and we had to go through “physical fitness testing” This consisted of a treadmill test for VO2 Max, push-ups, sit-ups, sit and reach, and grip test. What these have to do with firefighting, I’m still trying to figure out.
But either way, I went off the charts on the VO2 max test and was at the top of the class in everything else. The “personal trainers” who were conducting the tests all gathered around as I was doing my treadmill test and watched in amazement as my heart just held steady. They kept trying to talk to me and other stuff to get my heart rate up!
Afterwards they asked me, “You must run a lot?” To which I replied, “I haven’t run in 2 years!” So they asked what I did and I told them I lifted a lot, and they just couldn’t get over it. So I took this opportunity to explain that this was an example of what a properly designed lifting program could do!
What is sad to me is that these so called “trainers” continue to perpetuate their ignorance on the blind sheep that hire them and put their trust in them to do what is best. Oh well, I’ll keep doing every little bit I can to promote the truth!