Fitness first piece of puzzle to healthier lifestyle

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christie Putz
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) --  “It makes you feel better.” “It reduces stress.” “It lowers blood pressure.”

“Pick up any fitness magazine, and it’ll give you a bunch of boring definitions of what fitness will do for you,” said John Gahagan, 92nd Services Squadron fitness center director here.

But to him, fitness means something a little different: a higher quality of life.

“When you go home from work, and all you want to do is sit on the couch instead of playing with the kids because you’re so tired, you’re probably out of shape,” he said. “And unfortunately, it’s not only you (who’s) suffering from your bad habits.”

Also, people who are not physically fit can potentially be a hazard to themselves, Mr. Gahagan said.

For example, someone who cannot swim to shore after his or her boat capsized is likely to drown. Someone who cannot jump out of a two-story building to evade a fire is likely to burn. And someone who is too large for emergency medical services to pull out of a wrecked car is likely to die.

Although it may sound frightening, there is help.

“Just as most diseases are preventable, so are a lot of injuries,” Mr. Gahagan said.

For this and the myriad other reasons why fitness is important, fitness center staffs help patrons, whether beginners or seasoned runners or lifters.

“We’re first going to want to know what (a person’s) goal is; whether it’s to lose weight, tone up, bulk up or just feel better,” he said. “Then we’ll assess (his or her) health status.”

Their assessment includes a series of questions, body-fat test, weight measurement and a quick test of aerobic capacity, weight training and flexibility. It gives the staff a better idea of what the person’s current fitness level is, and what he or she is capable of.

“Basically, we’ll see where you are, where you want to go, and then we’ll design a program to help you meet your goals,” Mr. Gahagan said.

To assist in this, there are personal fitness trainers on the staff to help beginners get acquainted with the machines and facility. In addition, follow-up visits are scheduled to make sure the person is on the right path, and if necessary, to alter the plan.

“In as little as one hour a day, three times a week, you can be in much better shape than you are now if you don’t workout,” he said. “It’s not that big of a commitment.”

But commitment is what gets most people in trouble. With busy schedules, some people claim they just do not have enough time.

“Make an appointment with yourself,” Mr. Gahagan said. “Put it on your calendar, block it off, and don’t let yourself schedule anything during that time. If you treat it like any other appointment on your schedule then you’ll always have time.”

The problem is that most people do not make fitness a priority in their lives, he said.

“I hear it over and over, ‘I want to get in shape,’ ‘I want to tone up,’” he said, “but it’s all ‘want’ and not enough ‘do.’ Unless you put it on your schedule, make it a priority and make it a habit, it’s not going to happen.”

With what fitness does for the body, and most importantly, the higher quality of life someone can get out of it, now is the time to become physically fit, Mr. Gahagan said.