As the calendar turns to a new year, a time-honored tradition has begun as many people's thoughts turn to making positive changes, most common among those changes are losing weight and becoming more fit.
Fortunately Soldiers and Army civilians have access to world-class fitness facilities and programs at military installations world-wide to encourage healthy lifestyles and to provide the tools to help make the changes for life rather than a fleeting idea that fizzles by February.
"Wellness is every day," said Sarah Steadman, Fort Bragg Army Wellness Center (AWC) project lead. "We are trying to take on all areas of wellness: stress, nutrition, physical activity and sleep."
Open since 2010, the Fort Bragg AWC promotes, enhances and sustains healthy lifestyles and the health and well-being of Soldiers, Family members, retirees, and Army civilians. AWCs at Fort Bragg and throughout the Army offer a variety of free services such as comprehensive health assessments, physical fitness testing and workout plans, personalized nutrition menus, tobacco cessation support, general wellness education classes and stress management techniques.
After Staff Sgt. Matthew Williams, a Fort Bragg Soldier, started unexpectedly and unintentionally losing a lot of weight, which he attributed to stress, he turned to the AWC for help.
"They offer a lot of good options for Soldiers in my position who come back from a deployment in a different physical condition," Williams said.
Unlike Williams, Cpl. Jeremy Gorman, a saxophonist with the 10th Mountain Division Band at Fort Drum, had the opposite challenge, his weight crept upward and he knew it was time to make some changes.
"My unit's S-3 took us to a class at the AWC. The first thing that came to my mind was 'wow this is a great tool that the Army is providing you so why don't you just take advantage of it.'"
Since becoming involved with the Fort Drum AWC, Gorman lost over 30 pounds and learned new ways to watch his food intake by carefully counting his calories. "I count everything," he said. "I've started bringing my lunch to work," Gorman said. Avoiding a fast food diet not only helps him control his weight it has a financial benefit. "It saves money, he said."
Saving money is one of the major reasons military families and retirees consider the commissaries to be a valued military service benefit. At Fort Drum, Soldiers can also take advantage of a tour to learn how to use their commissary benefit to its fullest stretch their food budgets and still fill their food carts with healthy food choices.
The Fort Drum commissary tour is a practical application of what is taught during nutrition classes led by Fort Drum MEDDAC staff. According to Capt. Jeremy Brooks, chief nutritionist, Fort Drum Medical Activity, there is a big misconception among Soldiers that they can't afford to purchase healthy foods.
"I hear this all the time. Really the opposite is true," said Brooks. "It's just knowing what to buy. The example I use is for five dollars you can buy a case of soda or for that same amount of money you can buy fresh vegetables, some good protein and healthy whole grains."
"When most people go to the commissary they have no idea what to buy and are overwhelmed at the choices. We try to narrow those choices down to healthy choices," added Brooks.
The commissary tour was an eye-opener for Pvt. Jeremy Burgos, 277th Aviation Support Brigade, Fort Drum.
Before the tour and the nutrition classes, Burgos admits food industry advertising made snacks or foods with lower nutritional value appealing.
"I think about it (snack foods) now and all of the items they put in and the ingredients," said Burgos. I am glad I took this tour because now it made me think about looking at things more closely."
Contact your local medical provider, healthcare facility or Army Wellness Center to learn ways to keep those wellness and fitness goals on track.
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