USAHC-SB hosts Performance Triad challenge

By Amber MowryFebruary 7, 2017

Spark Your Inner Fire
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Spark Your Inner Fire (SYIF) challenge is being hosted by the Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks. This challenge is six months long and is designed to help the participants improve their quality of life by focusing on three aspects of daily life; sleep, nutrition, and activity. These three aspects are called the Performance Triad (P3). By improving these three aspects, our participants can expect to see improvements in their weight, energy, mentality, and work performance.

Activity should focus on strength, endurance, balance and agility. The goal of activity is to get at least 30 minutes of strenuous activity each day. This can be in the form of weight lifting, running, or any other exercise that elevates the heart rate. It is important that while working out, precautions are taken to prevent injuries. Every workout should begin with a decent warm up. Warm ups are a critical part of a proper workout. Warming up helps prepare the body for the physical strain that it's about to endure. This significantly helps prevent injuries, such as pulled muscles, and improves performance during the activity. Becoming more active is a great step in the right direction, however, there are outside factors that can improve, or hinder, performance such as eating right. After all, you are what you eat!

Nutrition is vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Not only does nutrition provide the fuel for activity, but also helps with mentality and energy. It is one of the main contributors in reducing risks of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Remember, food is fuel, not filler.

Sleep is usually the first to be sacrificed when one is stressed or has too much work. Sleep is critical in achieving optimal health. Lack of sleep is one of the primary causes that leads to preventable accidents. Operating a vehicle after being awake for 17 hours is equivalent to driving with 0.05 blood alcohol content. Along with nutrition, a lack of sleep has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and it is even linked to contributing to developing Alzheimer's disease!

Fortunately, Schofield Barracks has the available resources to help get those who want to improve their overall health moving in the right direction at the Army Wellness Center (AWC). AWCs provide standardized primary prevention programs, designed to promote and sustain healthy lifestyles and improve the overall wellbeing of Active Duty Service members, adult Family Members, Retirees, and Department of the Army (DA) Civilians by leveraging state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. All appointments include examination of current health habits, analysis of risk factors, exploration of personal health/wellness goals, and an assessment of obstacles that may get in the way of consistent health habits.

The AWC offers multiple services such as; sleep education which includes general information about healthy sleep habits, impact of sleep on health and wellbeing, tools, tips and positive action steps to improve sleep. The AWC also offers weight management and metabolic testing. Metabolism is the medical term for the rate at which the body burns calories. Metabolic testing results provide the exact number of calories required for weight loss, gain, or maintenance. The AWC sets a base line for the participant to see their improvement. This is done through an assessment of biometrics (height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate) and the four components of health related physical fitness: Aerobic Fitness (VO2 Submax), body composition (body Fat %), muscular fitness, and flexibility.

Health Educators use exercise test results as a planning tool for exercise prescription and motivation to assist clients in establishing and meeting reasonable physical activity , fitness and health goals.

Every week, the SYIF Facebook page asks its participants to create a goal for themselves that can be accomplished at the end of the week. By taking part in the challenge, participants expose themselves to others who might have a similar goal. This will help establish a support system that can assist if another participant becomes stuck, or need motivation.

The SYIF challenge works on a point system. By participating, and completing challenges, and attending live events, participants can earn points. At the end of the challenge the top three individuals with the most points will be awarded prizes! The first live event will be on February 14th from 1230-1600. To start your SYIF challenge, like the USA Health Clinic Schofield Barracks Facebook page, and follow the link on top to the SYIF challenge. Let us know how your challenge is positively impacting your lifestyle!

Related Links:

Regional Health Command-Pacific Official Facebook Page

U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks Official Facebook Page