Soldiers compete for fitness, weight loss

Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Garibay | The William Beaumont Army Medical Center weight-loss challenge, which was inspired by the television show, “The Biggest Loser,” started at the beginning of the year. The 30 competitors, both soldiers and Department of the Army civilians, are weighed once a week and work out every day in the afternoon. At the end of this month, the contestant who has lost the most body fat since January will be named the winner and will have their picture posted in the WBAMC cafeteria.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.22.2013

Story by Sgt. Edward Garibay 

16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORT BLISS, Texas – Dozens of workers casually passed the dimly lit room on the first floor, unsuspecting of the heavy panting and sweat-drenched bodies on the other side of the door. It meant the aerobics class was working.

It was a grueling 45-minute workout video, but it meant the contestants were one step closer to their goal of winning the William Beaumont Army Medical Center weight-loss challenge here.

The competition, which was inspired by the television show, “The Biggest Loser,” started at the beginning of the year and was formed in hope of raising the overall fitness and health of the hospital staff, said Sgt. 1st Class Rose M. Artis, who originally put together the contest.

While the lifestyle of a soldier normally produces a trim figure, the contest still allows people to build good habits and shave that last bit of fat before swimsuit season, she added.

The 30 competitors, both soldiers and Department of the Army civilians, are weighed once a week and work out every day in the afternoon. At the end of this month, the contestant who has lost the most body fat since January will be named the winner and will have their picture posted in the WBAMC cafeteria.

“The feedback [on the competition] has been very positive,” said Artis, who was formerly assigned to the WBAMC and is now a Battle Staff instructor at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. “We’ve even had someone lose as much 15 pounds since we’ve started.”

Although the contest is centered on a sense of competitiveness, most of the entrants agree the best part is the camaraderie and emotional support they gain from each other.

“I don’t really see it as a competition,” said Anna Johns, a registered nurse at WBAMC. “I just see it as exercising and having fun.”

For her, the biggest source of motivation is simply knowing the group will be excited to see her each day, she added. Because of that, she hopes to see more activities like it.

Luckily for Johns, plans are in the works to keep this program going and have WBAMC host additional competitions, said Artis. The goal is for not just WBAMC staff, but personnel from all over Fort Bliss to participate in the future. If all goes well, the next competition will start in the June timeframe.

For more information, email [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 03.22.2013
• Date Posted: 03.22.2013 16:19
• Story ID: 103977
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US