We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kara Mccann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a firefighter, I quickly realized that fitness and nutrition aren’t just “nice to have” in the fire service—they’re essential. Our job demands strength, endurance, and resilience, yet too many firefighters struggle with inconsistent training, poor nutrition, and a lack of guidance on how to actually take care of their bodies for the long haul.

I saw a gap that needed to be filled. There were high-end fitness programs out there, but they were expensive and not tailored to the unique demands of firefighting. There were nutrition plans, but most weren’t practical for firehouse life, shift work, or real-world application. It became clear that firefighters needed an affordable, effective, and accessible way to get stronger, perform better, and stay mission-ready.

That’s why I created McCann Fitness & Nutrition—to provide first responders with a no-nonsense, results-driven approach to strength training, conditioning, and nutrition that actually fits their lifestyle. My goal is to remove the guesswork, eliminate barriers, and give firefighters the tools they need to be at their best—on and off the job.

At the core of McCann Fitness & Nutrition is a simple but powerful mission:
Make firefighter fitness and nutrition a priority—without the high price tag.
Provide structured, sustainable training and meal plans that work with the demands of the job.
Build a community of stronger, healthier, and more resilient first responders who are prepared for whatever comes their way.

Because at the end of the day, we don’t just train for ourselves—we train for the people who depend on us.

Kara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a full-time firefighter, competitive powerlifter, mom, wife, and business owner dedicated to helping first responders (and anyone willing) get stronger, fitter, and more resilient—both physically and mentally. My journey into fitness started with my own pursuit of strength and performance, and over the years, I’ve developed a passion for coaching others to unlock their potential.

Through McCann Fitness & Nutrition, I provide specialized strength and conditioning programs tailored for firefighters, first responders and anyone looking to become stronger. Whether it’s my 50-day “Ashes to Iron” challenge, female-specific firefighter training, or on-shift workout plans using fire truck equipment, my goal is to make training accessible, affordable, and effective for those who need it most.

What sets McCann Fitness & Nutrition apart? It’s built by a firefighter, for firefighters. I understand the demands of the job, the unpredictable schedules, and the mental and physical toll it takes. My programs are designed to not only improve strength, endurance, and mobility, but also to create a culture of accountability and peer support—because fitness is more than just reps and sets; it’s about showing up for yourself and your crew.

I’m most proud of the growing community I’m building—firefighters who are pushing their limits, getting stronger, and staying mission-ready. My goal is to be an asset in the firefighter fitness community, providing real-world solutions that help first responders perform better, feel better, and prevent injuries.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that not everyone wants to train like I do —and that’s perfectly fine!

For a long time, I believed that if you weren’t pushing yourself to the absolute limit every session, you weren’t really training. I thrived on heavy lifts, brutal conditioning, and walking out of the gym feeling like I had nothing left in the tank. In my mind, that was the standard. That was hard work.

But as I started coaching others—especially firefighters and first responders—I realized that this mindset wasn’t sustainable for everyone. The people I was training weren’t just athletes; they had demanding jobs, families, and responsibilities outside the gym. They needed training that built them up, not broke them down. They needed structure, progression, and recovery just as much as they needed intensity.

I had to shift my approach. Instead of chasing exhaustion, I started focusing on efficiency, longevity, and performance that actually carried over into real life. Training isn’t about proving how tough you are every single day—it’s about getting stronger, staying injury-free, and being able to perform at a high level when it really matters.

Now, I build programs that challenge people without destroying them, that fit into their lives instead of consuming them. Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to survive the workout—it’s to thrive in everything else you do.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Absolutely—there was a moment when McCann Fitness & Nutrition almost didn’t make it.

Early on, I was offering one-on-one, in-person training, thinking that was the best way to build my business. I poured my time and energy into individual clients, but there was a problem—I was trading hours for dollars, constantly on the go, and completely burning myself out. Worse, it wasn’t sustainable. I could only train so many people in a day, and when life got busy (because let’s be real, being a firefighter, mom, wife, and powerlifter is already a full plate), so many aspects of life suffered.

At one point, I had to take a hard look at things because McCann Fitness & Nutrition was barely hanging on. I wasn’t growing, I was stressed, I wasn’t reaching as many people as I wanted, and I knew something had to change.

That’s when I made the tough decision to step away from in-person training and rebuild my brand around group coaching and pre-written programs. It wasn’t easy—I had to start fresh, rethink my approach, and trust that this shift would work. But once I focused on scalable, effective training solutions, everything changed. Now, I can help more people, more efficiently, without sacrificing my own well-being.

It was a near-death moment for my business, but honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened. It forced me to level up, build smarter systems, find like minded people and create something bigger than just myself. Now, McCann Fitness & Nutrition is stronger than ever, and I’m able to serve firefighters and first responders in a way that actually fits their lives and careers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mccannfitnessnutrition
• Facebook: McCann Fitness & Nutrition
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-mccann-0875b0283/

Image Credits

photographer, Brittany Johnson