Health and Wellness Center offers Airmen better bodies, better lives

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dan Gage
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affiars
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The Health and Wellness Center is offering a new program to help Airmen at Warren get in shape and stay fit for life.

The Better Body, Better Life program - made up of five modules - focuses on more than just calorie counting and weight lifting to get servicemembers in better condition, it teaches participants to look at multiple factors contributing to their health.

"You need to do more than tell someone they need to cut their calories and watch their portions," explained Cynthia Mulcahy, 90th Force Support Squadron registered dietician. "You also need to look at the person's physical training and behavioral traits.

"You have to look at the person and say 'what's concerning you now?"

Setting goals and correcting unhealthy behaviors are a focus of the Better Body, Better Life program, Mulcahy said.

"By setting these goals people can feel a sense of accomplishment when they reach them and then build off of that improvement," she added.

The five module program begins Sept 21 with the first module - Better Nutrition - and will continue every Friday at noon.

"We will be adding classes throughout October," said Mulcahy. "This is designed to allow people to receive the training on their schedule, if someone starts late they'll be able to go back and still take part in the earlier modules."

Each module lasts approximately two hours, each focusing on a different aspect of healthy living.

The first module will help better understand nutrient dense foods, portion sizes and calories, along with getting people started on a physical fitness routine.

"It's important to be aware of what you're eating," Mulcahy explained. "You should also be aware of whether you're eating because you're hungry or because of emotions or boredom."

The second module - Better Carbs - will build on the first by teaching participants about sugars, alcohol, hydration and stress.

After the groundwork of nutrition has been established, the class begins to look at choices and planning.

In the third and fourth module people will look at the choices they have when dining out, learn about planning meals when grocery shopping and better understand nutrition labels.

Throughout the modules different aspects of physical fitness will also be addressed, such as strength training, core stability and cardiovascular endurance.

The last module will deal with relapses, how to respond when one feels they are struggling and how best to get back on track.

The Better Body, Better Life program is open to everybody, although the needs of the active duty member where the basis for its design.

"This is geared to our Airmen who want to be more proactive," said Mulcahy. "Whether they're having trouble keeping off the weight they lost to loin the military, having trouble with the waist circumference or they're just worried about an upcoming test, this is geared to help our active duty."

Airmen, retirees and their families can access the modules through the Health and Wellness Center or arrangements can be made to have classes taught to specific squadrons or groups by appointment.

For more information on the Better Body, Better Life program, contact the Warren Health and Wellness Center at 773-4292.