Marauders learn to work out safely

Published Jan. 16, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Physical fitness is a way of life in the military, and many use deployments as a way to improve. Whether it is losing weight, building muscle or improving physical fitness test scores, Marauders here had help.

Over the last several months, there have been three iterations of the Marauders elite training program, a five-week fitness education class.
The program was initially created as a response to an increase in gym-related injuries and illnesses, said Capt. Latasha Westfall, registered nurse and program coordinator. She said a physician deployed here from the previous rotation began the classes, but she continued to train and educate Marauders while overseeing three sessions during her deployment here.

During the program, participants were responsible for keeping weekly activity logs and received awards for documented performance, she said. In addition, each member received a pedometer during the first class with which they recorded their steps daily.

“Attendance to each class was vital,” Westfall said. “Participants were dropped from the program if they missed more than one class.” She added that special consideration was given to participants affected by mission-related absences.

Westfall received a lot of feedback over the course of the program.

“The most common (feedback) was that participants learned how to properly manage their nutrition in conjunction with proper workouts,” Westfall said, “They actually saw the positive results from adapting to a lifestyle change.”

Master Sgt. Ian Mirkes, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Check Six coordinator, said he attended the program as a way to boost his deployment goal of getting in better shape.

“One of my goals while deployed was to get into better shape,” he said. “I started off good, but about a month and a half into it I hit a plateau. Seeing the advertisements for the class I thought this would be a good way for me to gain the knowledge needed to help me overcome and continue on to reach my fitness goals.”

The structure of the course, as well as the educational approach, helped him get past his plateau, he said.

“Capt. Westfall provided each individual in the class with their basic metabolic rate as well as our total daily energy expenditure based off of an activity and 24 hour food log we were asked to accomplish,” he said. “This provided us with the formula to use to determine how many calories were needed to either gain weight or lose weight based off of our current physical activity.”

The education allowed members to pursue their goals with a better understanding of how to do so safely and effectively.

“Properly educated members are more likely to safely execute fitness programs and gym workouts, allowing them to achieve fitness goals for weight loss or muscle gains effectively while reducing the risk for injury,” Westfall said. “This in turn increases passing rates on fitness assessments as members are more prepared. This also reduces negative impacts to mission, which occurs when members are injured and unable to perform duties.”