Fort Rucker DFMWR competition seeks to tone, shape community

By Jeremy Wise, Army Flier StaffMarch 5, 2010

Fort Rucker DFMWR competition seeks to tone, shape community
Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Facility patrons use cardiovascular workout equipment Feb. 25. Community members can participate in Beach Body Bingo, a program that awards prizes for completing cardiovascular and strength workouts and group fitne... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Warm weather and accompanying beach trips will soon arrive, and to motivate community members' to prepare their bodies for improved health, bikinis and swim trunks, the Beach Body Bingo contest began March 1.

The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program encourages community members to get into great shape through a set of training goals, said Brain Jackson, DFMWR's Recreation Delivery Systems program manager. Jackson said he created the program while working as a YMCA physical trainer in previous years, and this is the first year DFMWR is implementing it here.

Those who sign up for the program receive a Bingo card, which contains number and letter combinations. Physical fitness facilities' staff members post a number-letter combination each day, and if people meet the minimum workout requirements that day, they are awarded the corresponding space on the card, said Vicki Hobbs, DFMWR Sports, Fitness and Aquatics assistant program manager.

Minimum workout requirements are a 20-minute cardiovascular workout, a 20-minute strength training session or participation in a group fitness or water aerobics class. Patrons who utilize the Fitlinnx system can update their progress through a corresponding Web site at home, Hobbs added.

Participants also earn free spaces to be used anywhere on their cards if they complete seven straight days of workouts or compete in the St. Patrick's Day 5K and fun run.

Those who complete a row on their cards are entered into a drawing for three prizes - two free personal training sessions, a free month of group fitness classes or five one-day passes to the Splash! park, Hobbs said. Contestants can earn multiple Bingos. The drawing occurs after the program's closure March 25.

Even though the program started Monday, community members can sign up at any time, said Caroline Driscoll, DFMWR fitness program coordinator.

Hobbs said many patrons have shown interest in the program, and she believes it will be successful.

"It sounds exciting. It gives (participants) a little more incentive, a little more motivation to get in shape," she said.

The prizes also provide motivation to train harder, Jackson said. For more information, call 255-2296 or 255-3794.