Help!! Hydration + Diet Prep for Fire Academy PAT this Saturday

Mylexon20s · 05-05-2009, 10:20 PM

Hey everybody,
I have my Physical Ability Test for fire academy coming up this Saturday. Obviously by looking at my bodyspace, i'm not in the best shape, HOWEVER, I have to make it through Saturday and then i've got 17 weeks between Saturday and first day of Academy to prepare myself mentally, and physically. I am asking for a little help here.

I want to make sure I have plenty of energy and endurance to make it through my PAT. The PAT itself has to be completed in under 8 minutes. I am wondering what I can do diet wise to prepare myself .What meals do I eat leading up to Saturday? What do I drink, and how much am I drinking?

I would GREATLY appreciate any advice or info offered!
-Matt

FatWombat · 05-06-2009, 05:42 AM

Mate it's too late. If you knew this was coming up you really should have prepared as soon as you found out. Months ago.

Anyway, I'll try and help you out as much as possible. With only a couple of days you're not going to make any physical changes. This late in the game your only option is to make sure you are prepared for Saturday with good energy and plenty of rest. I would recommend no alcohol whatsoever, plenty of water, no sugary foods and plenty of good carbohydrates. Protein and fat is just going to make you feel full and lethargic, so don't go nuts with those things. Also, you don't want sugary foods. You don't want to be spiking your blood sugar all over the place apart from right before you start the test.

So in short, in the days leading up, plenty of water and good, low-GI carbs, definitely no alcohol, not even one beer, and plenty of sleep. Two hours before have some pasta or some other high-carb meal, but don't make it something fatty. Right before you go in have a mars bar or something.

That's my 2c anyway and I reckon it's about as good as you can expect. Don't bother doing any training or trying to lose weight. It's way too late for any of that now and it will just have you feeling burned-out for the test.

Good luck. And don't leave it to the last minute next time.

Mylexon20s · 05-06-2009, 06:19 AM

Wombat, I just found out that about the Physical ability test yesterday. The actual academy isn't untill August 27. So I'm giving myself 17 weeks to prepare.

FatWombat · 05-06-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylexon20s

Wombat, I just found out that about the Physical ability test yesterday. The actual academy isn't untill August 27. So I'm giving myself 17 weeks to prepare.

Fair enough mate. Sorry if I sounded like I was telling you how to suck eggs.

In any case, I reckon the advice I gave is pretty sound in order to ensure you're in the best possible condition given only a couple of days notice.

Good luck.