While many are out eating lunch, some members of the Fort McPherson community are using their lunch hours to get their fill of exercise at the Fort McPherson gymnasium.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., about 25 people gather in the rear of the gym to challenge their bodies and get a good workout.
"We're like a Family," said Dennis Smith, recreation assistant, Fort McPherson Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and a class instructor.
Like family, the group is committed to making sure each member is successful, even if that success comes out of a lot of sweat and work.
Smith, who specializes in step aerobics and abdominal strengthening classes, said the workout group has been training together for about a year in their current location, although many of the participants were acquainted before.
Prior to the class, Smith said he and class members Shan Whitset and Bill Hammond used to take classes at the Fort McPherson Wellness Center.
Although these classes ended, the interest remained. Smith said the three ended up creating their own classes to stay in shape.
The classes weren't always as large as they currently are, Smith said, consisting mainly of other Wellness Center regulars at its inception.
One regular was a retired Army captain, Gloria Wynn, now a Fulton County Juvenile Court parent attorney. Wynn, who has been working out with the workout group for a year, said the results and skills of the instructors helped create the advances in attendance.
"They (the instructors) take us to another level we couldn't get to on our own," she said. "Group fitness is a lot easier than doing it on your own."
Smith said he has seen a lot of people make major strides in their fitness levels. Lt. Col. Lisa Titus, deputy for the operation and maintenance section, U.S. Army Reserve Command G-8, is one of the attendees who said she is seeing good results.
"I've lost weight, about 20 pounds," she said, after six months of working out with the group. Titus also works out by running and lifting weights on days the class is not offered. Besides dropping the weight, the workouts have also helped Titus add points to her physical training (PT) test score.
"I've always done well on my PT test, but added about 20 points (to my score)," she said.
Titus said an even more noticeable result is the improvement in her aerobic endurance. She said it takes less time for her to recover between the test's three events: pushups, sit-ups and two-mile run.
"Lisa's looking real great," Smith said. "She's always energetic and motivated."
As long as people bring that energy and motivation to the class, they can make it through the rougher parts, Smith said.
Also, although participants are encouraged to keep up, people can work at their own pace.
Class instructors will work with those needing help to get them up to speed, Smith said.
"People can come earlier if having trouble with rhythm and timing (of the step class)," he said. "We we can help with that, work with people."
As for the physical nature of getting through the class, Smith said he also helps attendees become physically fit by helping educate them on other areas of health, such as diet and hydration, or helping to set them up with trainers in the gym.
"Aerobics are not the only type of exercise to do," Smith said, adding weight lifting and strength training are also vital. Some alternatives are offered to help people get the types of anaerobic exercise that can't be received from the step class.
Warrant Officer Valeria Bennett, a supply technician with the U.S. Army Forces Command Augmentation Unit's G-4, instructs kickboxing on some days.
"It's a good alternate to step. There's more impact and strength building," she said, adding many people who have difficulty with the step class' choreography find it to be an equally good way to build endurance. No matter what people are looking for, they can find it in the program, Bennett said.
"People can get what they want out of it," she said. Bennett said she does it because she loves exercising and keeping fit and healthy.
"It helps me maintain my energy," she said of exercising. "I'm not as sluggish, tired or sick. It helps me stay healthy."
Wynn said one of the best reasons to attend the workout sessions is the cost of the class.
"It's like you have your own personal trainer for free," Wynn said.
Titus agreed, saying, "Dennis is an excellent instructor. I used to pay $40 for a Gold's Gym membership for classes like this that I get here for free."
Because of all the class offers her, Titus said she recommends it to her friends. "My last job didn't have access to classes like this," she said. "It's nice to be able to do this during the day."
Although many people do not know about the class, Titus said word of mouth is helping the class grow. Smith said he encourages anyone interested in the classes to attend a session, adding others who may not be able to attend during the time offered can also look into an abdominal workout class offered from 6:45 to 7:15 a.m.
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