Staying physically fit through Comprehensive Airman Fitness Published Dec. 3, 2010 By Airman Jared Trimarchi Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Welcome to the 2010 holiday season, which is also known as the season to over-eat and be a couch potato. A turkey here. Ham there. Before a person has time to realize it ... Bam! Bellies just got bigger, arms flabbier, thighs have a bit more thunder, and even chins start resembling Miss Piggy's. Why be the person whose pants don't fit? The description is humorous, but the topic is serious. Who wants to be the service member who fails his physical training test? An important part of taking care in oneself starts with physical fitness. But physical fitness is also more than that. It is a part of taking care of each other and thus one of the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness. The Air Force is known to go above and beyond, and CAF was created as a new approach to taking care of oneself and others. Here in Charleston, it's not just for Airmen, but for the military as a whole. The gym or running trails go hand-in-hand with physical fitness, but one of the greatest resources available is the Health and Wellness Center on the Air Base, which is located behind the Fitness and Sports Center. "We're here to help everyone get to where they want to be with a healthy lifestyle," said Ms. Ashley Destefano, Health Program manager at the HAWC. Exercise is an important factor when it comes to physical fitness. Even if a person doesn't have enough time to exercise as much as recommended, it's important to find movement throughout the day. "Park farther from your office and take the stairs instead of the elevator, Ms. Destefano said. To lose weight it's recommended to do 300 minutes a week of exercise plus two days of weight training, Ms. Destefano said. But exercise is not enough. "Your exercise is only as good as the fuel you put in your body," said Greer Gowen, dietitian for the HAWC. "Exercise and diet go hand-in-hand. You want to make sure you are eating a balance diet. Eat complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, lean meat and low-fat dairy." The HAWC offers services from renting out jogging strollers to tobacco cessation. One popular service offered is the Bod Pod testing. "The Bod Pod is a great piece of equipment that tests your body fat percentage and your resting metabolic rate," Ms. Destefano said. "Then we can tell you, this is how many calories your body burns a day and this is how many you can consume." All those calories eventually add up, and the pounds can start to pile on. Being overweight is a problem throughout America, and it's not only for adults. "Kids are not the ones who are buying the groceries." Ms. Destefano said. "Families need to be cognoscente about what foods they are bringing home." Nutritional counseling classes are provided to active-duty members only, but there are programs such as grocery store tours that are offered to everyone. "I take people to the commissary and help them choose healthier options," Ms. Gowen said. "I teach people about food labels, portion sizes and organic versus non-organic." Eating healthy and being physically fit is great for your health, but it also has emotional benefits. "Body and mind are interconnected," said Maj. Patrick Pohle, Mental Health flight commander. "When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and you start feeling better." For anyone looking to reap the benefits, there many resources on the base that can help a person live a more active lifestyle. "If you're not interested in going to the gym and strength training, go rent a kayak from the Outdoor Recreational Center," Ms. Destefano said. "Find a physical activity that you like to do. That way you'll stick with it and continue to live a life of fitness ... Your body is the vehicle that takes you through life. You have to take care of it." HAWC SERVICES Nutritional counseling Tobacco cessation Bod Pod testing Blood pressure screening Wellness information Jogging strollers Massages Relaxation room