Luis Ordinola wanted to be healthier and losing weight was part of that goal. A new job brought him from a work environment where he was able to be active and in motion a good majority of the day, to the Office of the Army Surgeon General, where his work required him to sit most of the day.
As a result, Ordinola put on a significant amount of weight.
Throughout the office he noticed health and wellness materials and even supported the Performance Triad team on occasion. He became very interested and said to himself, "Enough is enough" and set out to find a location for training and also a mentor.
Within the Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Va., healthy living and wellness is encouraged. The headquarters has a well-equipped fitness center with everything from yoga classes and treadmills to free weights.
In getting to know the Performance Triad team, he found a mentor in Sgt. 1st Class (promotable) David Rosen -- the System for Health NCOIC, who is also a Master Fitness Trainer. Rosen is a leader who truly cares about others' health and wellbeing. After he saw Luis working out on his own one day, he offered his assistance.
Ordinola agreed to work with Rosen, who provided the tools to head in the right direction including the tenets of the Performance Triad. The Performance Triad helped Ordinola to understand that small changes make a big difference, setting SMART goals can move you toward your overall health goals, and getting the right amount of quality sleep, engaging in regular activity, and making good nutrition choices make the difference in creating and maintaining good health.
Rosen pointed out that the guidance of a trainer is especially important for those who are beginning a fitness program. A trainer can help develop realistic expectations for each level of training and also help to avoid injury.
Ordinola has been on his fitness program for about eight months and has lost nearly 60 pounds since he began following Rosen's guidance. He wants to lose another 40 pounds and feels really good about his progress. Before working with Rosen, he weighed as much as 320 pounds; currently he is about 220 and has already lost 100 pounds total, making his eventual goal about 150 pounds of total weight loss.
Ordinola works out every weekday, taking advantage of the fitness center's equipment, and at least one day on the weekend. He does cardio workouts and runs as well as performs weight training.
Both Rosen and Ordinola praised the Defense Health Headquarters' fitness center as "irreplaceable" as a convenient opportunity to de-stress. Ordinola added that the fitness center was a great amenity and suggested people new to using the fitness center come as part of a group or ask for help when getting started.
Rosen commented that, if instruction were available, weight training would be more extensively and effectively used for fitness training. Ordinola agreed that weight training classes would be a significant benefit.
"The gym is a vehicle," said Rosen. "You wouldn't give out a driver's license without proper instruction; the gym is the same way." Training instruction is important to help avoid injuries, he added, "Your form has to be right."
As a Master Fitness Trainer, Rosen is in the Army's Physical Readiness Training System; this means he is considered a unit advisor on physical fitness and readiness issues, as well as has the ability to monitor the unit and individual physical readiness programs.
The Master Fitness Trainer Course is taught in a two-phase format. The first phase consists of 60 academic hours of distance learning comprised of exercise science classes.
The second phase is a 2-week, 76-academic hour resident course which covers all physical readiness training exercises and drills. The knowledge gained from the distance learning portion of the course is put into practice during the resident course. The course teaches proper body mechanics and how to be a fitness coach. Soldiers must be E-5 or above to attend this course. Upon graduation from this course, Soldiers are awarded the Additional Skill Identifier of P5 for enlisted Soldiers, 6P for Officers.
Although Ordinola has made great fitness and weight loss strides, Rosen pointed out that the hard part still has to come. "How do you sustain that weight loss?" he asked. "How do you make the changes you have made continued?"
Lifestyle changes are part of living the Performance Triad. The Triad is a "fuel" to influence and improve readiness and health, and Soldiers, Families, leaders, Soldiers for Life, Department of the Army civilians, health teams and communities.
Ordinola also started to focus on his sleep and nutrition which are making a difference toward his goals. He knows that focusing on all three tenets of the Triad support the changes he's made and are essential to his overall health and longevity.
"Luis has the passion and the drive; now he has the tools to go with it, and he's applying them every day," Rosen concluded.
As they wrapped up the session, Rosen asked Ordinola what follows a workout. "Recovery," said Ordinola, "and that means nutrition, trying to move throughout the day, and getting my sleep tonight."
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