OC3 MEMBER HOTSPOT: NICK WADLER

Wadler at work/play.

Nicholas Wadler is a firefighter, a husband and a father. And he is overweight. Which makes it tough to do his three favorite jobs.

THE REALIZATION THAT SAVING LIVES STARTS WITH YOUR OWN

As a member of Local F292 Rock Island Arsenal Firefighters, Wadler packs a punch into every minute of his day. He attends the 5am CrossFit OC3 class in Davenport, fights fires in and around the Quad Cities and then heads home to his family in Iowa City.

Though, one piece of that daily routine didn’t exist just a few months ago. Not until a couple of his fellow firefighters encouraged him to get in shape. They noticed that Wadler was the only one who did not pass a fitness test last fall. “Everyone on the squad was expected to complete a three mile run wearing a weighted vest in 45 minutes or less in order to qualify for fighting wildfires. He not only didn’t make the 45 minute cap, he failed at 1.5 miles,” said Alex Rechkemmer, coworker and friend. You could tell it crushed him, Rechkemmer recalled.

DNA, YOU ARE NOT THE  BOSS OF ME

Facing potential health threats such as heart issues and diabetes, both of which run in his family, Wadler knew he needed to make a change. He wanted to make a change. He loved his life! He made a conscious choice to not wait until the damage was irreparable. Irreversible. Irrevocable.

ON A NUTRITION MISSION

Rechkemmer was right there to help, introducing him to CrossFit OC3 which then introduced him to nutritious eating habits. It didn’t take long for Wadler to realize that the gains are made in the gym but the losses are made in the kitchen. After participating in an eight-week health challenge – the appropriately named Total Nutrition Takeover – he was thrilled with his results. But he won’t stop there. He has altered his exercise and eating habits for life. Literally, for life. He said,

I strive for greater performance at my job but the best feeling has been just keeping up with my daughter who is almost two. I can lift her with ease, run through the house and chase her down and still not be tired. My job gives me great pride to be able to perform better for the people we serve and the brothers I work with but my family is the overall winner. I feel good knowing I am doing everything I can to prevent a heart attack or diabetes. That I don’t have to just accept defeat. Until the man upstairs chooses my time, I am going to fight like hell!

Colin Pierce, firefighter at Local F292, gave his account of the transformation, “When I met Nick, he was always snacking or eating something. Once we got him to the gym, he was unstoppable. He was getting fit while he slowly started making better nutritional choices. The weight he has lost shows every day in his drive and job performance and capabilities and the numbers are just a sidebar at this point.” Pierce continued,

In February, the Arsenal was called to a mutual aid fire with the Rock Island Fire Department. The fire house was fully involved and Nick was visibly fired up when we arrived on the scene. It was like he was able to be in five different places at once. If something needed to be done, he was right there.

When Nick and I were tasked to go up on the roof, I didn’t worry this time. Watching him go up the ladder in full gear weighing about 60-70 pounds, carrying a tool weighing an additional ten pounds and working like he didn’t have anything holding him back was extremely impressive. Only months after he failed the wildfire test, no less.

Most of the crew was in and out of masks that afternoon, but Wadler remained in full gear the entire two and a half hours on the scene.  He commented, “Since I have put the iron to the fire, so to speak, my work capacity has gone through the roof. My recovery time from hard, physical work has decreased and my stamina and my confidence have increased.”

IF WADLER HAD BEEN AN INMATE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS ONE PHONE CALL

Does Wadler still have battles to fight? Yes. He’s lost about twenty pounds in a couple of short months and he reports that he’d like to lose more in spite of his now able-bodied frame. Moreover, he continues his CrossFit style workouts despite the negative comments from the non-believers, both in and outside of the department. Rechkemmer stated,

We live in a new society and, unfortunately, there are only a few who understand and support this type of lifestyle. We are going against the grain because it hasn’t yet become mainstream to cook your own meals, eat real food and push your physicality to its limits. Down at the station, we are seen as the overachievers for wanting to lead healthy lives.

Rechkemmer added, “This is a battle we plan to fight and win. I strongly believe that it’s the kitchen killing firefighters, not fires.”