You’re a first responder. You’re busy. You want to be a little lighter, a little fitter.

How do you do it?

Fortunately, fitness doesn’t have to be that complex.

Realistically, being fitter is based on two simple rules:

1) Get your body moving on a regular basis; and

2) Eat real, whole foods – and less junk food

Sticking to these 2 rules will help you get you to where you want to be. For some of us, that’s having our pants fit a little looser or perhaps just a general feeling of being ‘more comfortable’ in our clothes. For others, it might be feeling less tired at the end of a work shift or more energetic throughout the day.

So, how can you do this?

1) This is the hardest part – it takes a commitment.
Real change takes some effort. That might mean bypassing late night snacks or getting up earlier to go for a short run. But once you start making these changes, even if they’re a little difficult at first, they become easier with time and consistency. Seeing small levels of improvement is also a great motivator too.

2) Focusing on a specific goal is a good approach.
Trying to focus on overall health or fitness is too nebulous, but having a concrete goal is a better plan. Working on losing 5 pounds over 2 months is achievable. Working toward running 2 miles in under 25 minutes is achievable. Small goals can equal large improvement and keep you headed in the right direction.

3) Get moving.
Trying to get in some physical activity everyday will help. That can be yardwork a dog walk or a football throwing session with your son. It doesn’t always have to be a scheduled jog or bike ride or swimming laps session. Keeping it simple – and enjoyable – helps.

4. Just a few exercises.
If you’re exercising in a gym (or event the garage or basement), keep the exercises simple. Stick to a few core exercises until you start to see improvement or get into a routine. You can always add or change exercises later when you want to mix things up.

5. Eat real foods.
Trade the pop tarts for eggs, the chips for carrots. It’s not easy of course, but making these changes will impact your waist line, your blood sugar and cholesterol levels and affect your overall health. After a month of eating ‘better’ you will show results. Adding water will help as well. Vegetables, fruits, lean meats, dairy, nuts, beans, whole grains, eggs, seeds are what you need to be focusing on.

6. Eat less.
Most people eat too much, and eat too much of the wrong food. Eventually that will catch up with you. To lose weight, you need to eat less. Again though, take small steps. Trying to go completely healthy from day one is something most people won’t be able to do. Start by phasing out high calorie, easily identifiable junk food. Skip the late night snacks or cut back on fast food visits. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference that makes.

Making the effort is the key to success. Give it time, keep the commitment to your own health and you’ll be seeing improvement before you know it.

Figuring out a way to extend the life of your gear is not only the smart thing to do, but it’s also quite often the economical approach as well.

Let’s face it, gear can be expensive. Also, you end up really liking a pair of tactical boots or a favorite pair of BDU’s.

So, how do you make sure your gear lasts as long as you’d like it to?

Here are some quick tips to extending the life of your gear:

1) First, buy quality clothing and gear to begin with if possible.
Although potentially a little more expensive upfront, better quality gear is designed to last longer and hold up under more extreme conditions.

2) This is obvious, but taking care of gear and clothing will help it last longer.
This means keeping it free of dirt and debris (like duty boots or your weapon). It also means cleaning items, keeping them dry (or drying them off when wet) and storing items properly. A pair of sunglasses will last longer if put back in their hard case after use – or, for example – cleaning and sharpening your tactical knife regularly.

3) If you like a piece of gear or item of clothing, buy a second one.
Having a back up of something you really like – a comfortable pair of boots for example – is great to have when the original finally gets worn out.

4) For articles of clothing, how you wash is key

• Use the right kind of laundry detergents
• Skip the dryer when possible
• Only wash when necessary
• Take care of stains immediately

Taking care of your gear is the best way to extend the life of your gear. It’s not always easy, especially when you’re an active first responder, but doing so could save money and inconvenience in the future.

To shop for high quality tactical gear and clothing for police, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, visit Galls.com today!

When training or running, don’t let your shoes slow you down

With the Under Armour Men’s Tactical Mirage Shoe, you can run on the track or scale rough terrains with ease and confidence. This pair of tactical shoesare light, engineered with a cushion system and designed to give you stability in every step!

Check out the shoes’ features…

Ortholite sockliner lined with HeatGear® to keep you cool, dry and feeling light
Cartilage® Precision Handling™ absorbs initial impact and reduces shearing force

And these features…

Directional Cushioning Engineering® (DCE) system provides integrated cushioning, stabilization and propulsion
ArmourLastic® absorbs shock at critical impact zones in the heel and forefoot for maximum protection
ArmourGuide® ensures efficient foot-strike guidance from impact to propulsion

And even more features…

ArmourBound® gives maximum responsive cushioning
Ventilated FootSleeve® snugly hugs the foot to eliminate sliding and extra bulk

See more at Galls.com – Under Armour Men’s Tactical Mirage Shoe

Are there benefits to cops working out and lifting weights?

The simple answer is – yes, of course!
And while we can’t cover all the health and work benefits that come with working out, here are a few quick things to consider:

Is there an advantage to working out, being big in law enforcement? 

Yes – you could be at a real advantage when placing someone under arrest, especially if that person is resisting arrest.

Yes – when serving a search warrant on a violent offender who’s willing to fight you, it’s good to know you’re stronger than them. It provides a great deal of confidence that you can do your  job without hesitation.

Yes – a bigger, bulkier look can ward off potential threats.

Yes – for a variety of long-term health reasons.

Yes – sometimes you get instant respect from those around you.

Yes – it’s good to know that you would be physically prepared to fight and fight hard of needed (though muscles are not the only thing you’ll need – training, experience and the right strategy are highly important as well).

Top Dawg is Top Dog!

And while comfort and styling are important, there are other factors that play into the choosing of  a new pair of boots for work. 

What do first responders expect from a tactical boot?

In a perfect world, first responders look for boots that combine the comfort and flexibility of athletic footwear with the toughness and durability of a good old-fashioned work boot.

Law enforcement and rescue personnel also look for boots specifically designed  to be extremely lightweight, flexible and dependable.

What to look for…

A good pair of boots will be ones you can wear right out of the box! A tough yet flexible boot shape that allows for a full range of motion while still maintaining support is super important. Why? Because first responders who are constantly stepping, jogging and running on all types of ground conditions.

You also want complete protection for your foot. Look for boots that are puncture and laceration resistant. This is vital when walking on dirt and concrete surfaces covered with glass, metal and other debris.

Also look for cushioned support and gripping sole for more steadiness on unsturdy or downhill surfaces.

And consider the overall customized fit of the boot – your goal is to buy a comfortable tactical boot for extended everyday wear.

What other benefits should you consider?

• Combination of comfort, support and athletic flexibility
• Genuine leather footbed is durable, flexible and comfortable
• Designed for exceptional traction and natural range of motion
• Ventilated to keep feet cool and allow the boot to breathe
• Quick drying materials that work to wick away sweat and moisture

What are 3 good Tactical Boot options at Galls?

1 – the Nike SF Boot – a real performance boot!

2 – the Under Armour SpeedFreek 7 inch Waterproof Boot – a high end tactical boot!

3 – the Galls 8 inch Zipper Duty Boot – a great value duty boot!

For a complete selection of tactical boots from Galls, visit the Gall.com.

At 2 Days Only, you’ll need to act quick on Galls’ 20% off deals on Duty Gear, Bags and Organizers.

Need more incentive to act fast? Get FREE SHIPPING on any order of $149 or more. Or, get $5 SHIPPING on and order of $129 or more.

Click here to view our selection of Duty Gear.

Click here to view our selection of Bags and Organizers.

In doing a quick Google search for “what kind of gear do cops need” you’ll find all sorts of insight and opinions, most from them from the police officers themselves who know best what kind of gear they need to perform their duties well.

Other than issued gear, what do cops need (or want) while on duty?

Here is one recommendation from an officer in Georgia:

Gear like this – tactical gear that can be used day in and day out while on duty (and even off duty) is the kind of gear Galls specializes in.

Check out these great options:

Tactical flashlight:
Streamlight ProTac HL – this tactical flashlight fits well in one hand and can be operated with one hand. Its strong, long beam and high quality construction is a good choice to keep in your vehicle.

Sweat-wicking t-shirt:
5.11 Tactical Professional T – moisture wicking, fade and wrinkle resistant and with extra length so it can stay tucked, this base layer t-shirt is a great option for any police officer.

Duty bag:
The Galls Field Equipment Bag holds all your gear. Rough and well-designed, it’s perfect for heavy duty use and carrying all the valuable gear you carry in your vehicle, the office, the gym or during travel. Learn more about the bag here.

Pen:
Fisher Military Cap O Matic Space Pen – this practical pen is all you’ll need. Every Space Pen is guaranteed to perform in temperatures from -30 to 250 degrees F, underwater, in zero gravity, at any angle  even upside down and over grease.

Good knife:
The SOG Escape Knife is perfect to have on hand. Sharp looking and definitely tactical in design, this versatile knife is features a line cutter with extra blades in the handle (perfect for cutting cord, string, seatbelts, etc.) and a glass breaker for extreme emergencies.

Form more gear for police, cops and other law enforcement needs, visit Galls.com today.

Did you know that Galls offers gear and apparel to Military and Federal customers as well?

Not only is Galls a leader in quality, public safety equipment and apparel – for police, fire and EMS services – we also help support the Federal government, its agency and military personnel with the same great quality gear that’s specific to their needs.

Galls is committed to serving the needs of our U.S. Military and Federal Agency customers.

We provide equipment and apparel that are necessary to help you complete your mission from top brands like Blackhawk, Safariland, London Bridge Training and others.

We also offer over 400 products on GSA – Galls contract #GS-07F-0157M.

Galls carries a huge selection of:

• Casual clothing
• Uniforms
• Badges
• Duty gear
• Flashlights
• Footwear / boots
• Organizers for gear
• Body armor
• Restraints
• Training equipment
• Knives
• Surveillance equipment
• Vehicle equipment
• Communications gear
• Medical supplies
• and much, much more…

To shop directly at Galls.com for Military and Federal agency gear, click here.

To sign up for email alerts and special offers, click here.

Did you know that Galls offer Downloadable and Printable Forms so that you can:

• Order items faster
• Return items easier
• Order custom badges
• Create a customer account by fax or email
• Fill out and submit an automatic knife compliance form
• Fill out and submit a medical device authorization form online

It’s our way of making the order process easier, faster and accurate for our thousands of individual and agency customers. Our goal is to provide with the tools you need. Remember, you can always contact customer service as well for any help.

Contact information is:

Phone: 1-800-477-7766

Email: help-desk@galls.com

For Downloadable and Printable Forms go to the bottom of the Galls.com homepage. Under GALLS HELP CENTER, click on DOWNLOADABLE FORMS.

The next page will be the DOWNLOADABLE FORMS page (see below):

You can also click directly to each from this blog post (click each one below).

Printable Return Label

Printable Return Form

Printable Order Form

Printable Custom Badges Order Form

Printable Open Account Application Form

Printable Automatic Knife Compliance Form

Medical Device Authorization Form