With a will, there’s always a weigh

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stacia Zachary
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
With the prospect of being kicked out of the Air Force for failing to meet fitness standards, Senior Airman Brian Graack, of the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, was forced with a tough decision: shape up or ship out.

With five failed fitness tests looming in his past and with scores averaging between 30 to 40 points -- a poor rating -- Airman Graack had more than just a little work to do if he wanted to remain in the Air Force. With his current weight issues and inability to meet the new fitness benchmark, Airman Graack had six weeks of preparation before his sixth and final test. He needed to score a marginal rating -- more than 70 points -- to stay in the Air Force.

“It finally dawned on me that this was it, and if I didn’t pass the fitness test and got kicked out, I had no backup plan on how I was going to support my wife and baby daughter,” he said. “I decided I needed to do whatever it took to stay in the Air Force.”

With help from his wife, Angela, co-workers and a strict fitness and nutrition regimen, Airman Graack set off to lose weight, get in shape and pass the fit test.

While weight gain can be gradual and not altogether noticeable until an excess amount has been packed on, many can relate to Airman Graack’s recent struggle with weight.

“I was a wrestler in high school, and I really never struggled with weight issues until my wife got pregnant with our daughter,” he said. “I guess you could say I went pound for pound with her while she was pregnant, and I never got back in shape after my daughter’s birth. No excuse, really.”

With the excuses out of the way and a game plan in motion, Airman Graack was determined to work out twice a day and break his habit of drinking sodas by replacing all fluids with water only.

His wife was in charge of the diet while Airman Graack’s friend, Senior Airman Trent Blair, of the 43rd Operations Group, helped motivate him on the running track.

“My wife was my rock,” he said. “She cleaned the house out of all things tempting to eat and made healthy meals for lunch and dinner. I mostly ate fruits and vegetables, some red meat and a lot of chicken. All fast food and fried foods were off-limits to me.”

With healthy, low-fat foods filling up his breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, Airman Graack’s other focus was centered on exercise.

“I (exercised) twice a day, and I took mock fitness tests one to two times a week,” he said. “At nights, Trent would run with me on a 3-mile route past (a local college). Little by little, the runs got easier.”

With six weeks of preparation up, Airman Graack was poised to take his test. Forty-five pounds leaner, he finally passed his test with a 71, nearly 40 points higher than less than a month before.

Not only has he shed the weight, but Airman Graack said he has also shed the lack of confidence he had about both himself and his place in the Air Force.

“I feel better about myself,” he said. “My attitude has changed so much, and I am more focused and better able to do my job. It’s amazing what weight can do to a person’s self-esteem.”

With Airman Graack’s position now secure, he has time to focus on the Air Force mission. Throughout his struggle to get fit, his squadron’s Airmen have applauded his efforts.

“This recent physical fitness strife has had a positive rather than negative effect on (Airman) Graack,” said Staff Sgt. Richard Bullard, 43rd AMXS tool journeyman and the Airman Graack’s supervisor. “While I provided motivation and allotted him additional time for training, it was ultimately his drive to stay in the Air Force that made him successful.”

While the burden was Airman Graack’s to bear, he did not do it alone, nor did he accomplish it without Air Force notice. His ability to meet his goal left a lasting impression on those he works with.

“I’m impressed with his determination to pass the test and get on with his Air Force career,” Sergeant Bullard said. “He has always been an outstanding worker. … He is an example of giving something your entire attention until the goal is met.”

“I am only going to get better, and next time around I plan on scoring an excellent (on the test),” Airman Graack said.