CG's Challenge: Get Out, Get Fit

By Ms Marie Berberea (TRADOC)April 5, 2012

Fitness opportunities
GET FIT OPPORTUNITIES-- Wilderness Hike: April 28 8 a.m. Register at Outdoor Adventure Center
355-8270 or 442-5858.

Golf Tournament: April 12-13
The Lawton Fort Sill Co-op Program presnets the Bill Smith Memorial Golf Tournament April 12-13 with te... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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FORT SILL, Okla.-- Like Nike's "Just Do It," Get Out, Get Fit rings with the same simplicity that when applied will help anyone's workout regimen.

This year's CG's Challenge run/walk carries that theme and Fort Sill is gathering April 13 at 1 p.m. on Fort Sill's Polo Field to step into action.

Claudia Mejia, Fort Sill Garrison fitness coordinator and Rinehart Fitness Center manager, said while taking the first step is important it's the ones that come after that make a lasting impact.

"Making the choice and then sticking to it is the big key. It doesn't happen from one day to another," said Mejia.

She said the CG's Challenge is a great starting point as there will be a fitness expo before the walk/run at 11:30 a.m. on Polo Field. It includes a fitness class, Kickzumbunz, to the beats of the 77th Army Band's Latin Band, and Reynolds Army Community Hospital experts will be sharing information on health and nutrition.

"It helps to measure progress to see where you are now from where you were in the past. If somebody is obese now and they go and get measured, they can say, 'Maybe I was obese six months ago, and now I'm overweight.'This is progress," said Mejia.

Mejia said the easiest way to adhere to an exercise plan is to find something you enjoy. She said even purposeful day-to-day actions add up to burned calories.

"Right now gardening can be hard work, it can be cardiovascular, it can be muscular strength, it can be everything. If you have a dog, don't just leave it in the backyard, take it for a walk. Play with the dog. run with it; you're jumping around," said Mejia. "Going to the playground with your children instead of just sitting on a bench, interact with them. The children will have more fun too. And afterwards, since it is physical activity, it will release endorphins and you may feel better yourself."

She said as the fitness coordinator she really tries to ensure those walking through the fitness center doors are getting what they need out of what's available and sometimes that means making changes.

"We try to keep a really good variety because change is what progresses everybody. So we're trying to kind of force our patrons to try something new by getting rid of something old and adding new things," said Mejia.

Fitness class, Kickzumbuns, is an example of how Mejia coerced patrons who plateaued in Zumba class to change it up a bit. She said the results were obvious.

"They love it. And when I look at the class they've really lost a lot of weight."

She said she hears many reasons people have for not being able to exercise, but really once they see or feel the difference exercise can make they're hooked.

"I do have a lot of participants in my classes who used to have high cholesterol or high blood pressure," said Mejia. "Once they started participating in the classes, because they finally found something they have fun doing, all those values went down and back to normal. Once that happens that's when the people are really motivated."

She added it may be hard for some to take that first step towards fitness but there are many opportunities on Fort Sill from the three fitness centers and classes offered: www.sillmwr.com, to intramural sports: www.fortsillsports.wordpress.com.

For specific fitness questions, call Mejia at 442-6171.