Courtesy Photo | Joanna Ward-Brown, a health educator at the Fort Lee Army Wellness Center, provides...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. - With more than 3,000 visits and 750 clients, the Army Wellness Center staff here is clearly working hard to get their health message out to the masses.
“I am absolutely blown away – we have had over 3,000 total visits in our first year,” said Cory Erhard, AWC project lead. “I think it just shows how much the Fort Lee community has realized the importance of personally investing in becoming healthier and more resilient, not just avoiding being sick.”
The center opened its doors on Sept. 8, 2014, more than three years ahead of schedule. The collaborative effort between CASCOM, Fort Lee garrison and Kenner Army Health Clinic has been instrumental to getting the program off the ground.
“The way the installation leadership has embraced what we are doing from top to bottom has really been a huge part of our early success,” said Erhard.
Another aspect that has helped the center thrive is its “Success Stories” program – which identifies community members who have seen success through the assistance from the staff.
“I think the local successes are really motivating for people because it’s not someone from another installation,” said Will Jones, health technician. “It might be someone you work with or live next to.”
One of those stories belongs to 1st Lt. Julia L. Andrews, executive officer, Whiskey Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion. She was referred to the center because while she could pass her physical fitness test and tape test, she was not happy with her PT scores and was tired of being taped.
“The Wellness Center was a highly recommended resource to help me achieve my weight loss goals, improve my health and improve my fitness goals,” she said. “The Wellness Center provided the necessary resources and the specific data needed to begin successfully completing my goals. When I was handed my results from the Bod Pod for the first time, it was a very eye-opening experience. You really never know exactly how overweight you are until someone tells you exactly how much fat – in pounds – you are carrying around every day. The data provided that eye opening opportunity to get me focused, and the classes as well as the staff at the Wellness Center provided the tools to get started and keep going.”
Since she began using the center in March, Andrews said she lost over 10 pounds of “just fat,” which reduced her overall body fat percentage.
“I was finally able to meet the Army’s height and weight requirements,” she said. “I also scored a 300 on my most recent APFT, a feat I have not accomplished since March 2015.”
The improvement was gradual, said Andrews, and the staff at the Wellness Center helped her push through when her weight loss would plateau.
“I highly encourage everyone to utilize the Wellness Center,” she said. “I feel very fortunate to have such a valuable resource right here on Fort Lee.”
A main draw of the program is continued assistance from the staff, said Anna Truong, a health educator at the center.
“We have a lot of follow-up appointments, which is how it’s actually designed to work,” she said. “The tests give you a lot of good information and a way to gauge progress, but being able to meet with one of us on a regular basis to bounce ideas off of or ask for guidance is where I think the real benefit comes in.”
Another “Success Story” comes from Char Allison, a military spouse whose husband works at the Defense Commissary Agency.
“I started going to the Army Wellness Center because my husband lives a healthy lifestyle and suggested I try the center out because of my struggles with high blood pressure,” said Allison. “I was never in good shape throughout my childhood, adolescence or adult life, especially after starting a family. Everything was all about my husband and children. Now that our kids are able to fend for themselves, I have the freedom to find time to think about my own well-being, and I try to find the time to exercise.”
Five months in, Allison said she saw significant health benefits in the first month, with more following each 30 days.
“Within the first 30 days, I saw a significant loss in pounds on the calorie program they had me follow, and then I lost 3 pounds each month after that,” she said. “The Upping Your Metabolism class also has helped improve my energy level.”
The staff at the center has been instrumental to Allison sticking with the program.
“They were never judgmental about what I was doing wrong during the first few months, or even when I fell off the wagon,” she said. “They just urged me to get back on the wagon and continue on with my journey.
“I would most definitely recommend everyone to come in and take advantage of the different programs and classes they have to offer, including Stress Management and Healthy Sleep Habits,” continued Allison, who also works at the School-Aged program with Child, Youth and School Services. “I have actually been trying to spread the word to my friends and co-workers because it is free, and it is one of the greatest benefits offered here on base. I even keep a couple of the AWC business cards in my purse in case anybody I talk to is interested.”
Now one of the program’s biggest supporters, Allison said she very nearly vowed to pass on the opportunity.
“I really didn’t want to do it because of the fact my husband wanted me to give it a shot,” she said. “I was in tears when they told me to try the 1,600 calorie-a-day program. I ended the consultation knowing that it wasn’t going to work out because of my love for food."
“I went home, sat in the dark and re-assessed my medical condition and then found myself adding the MyFitnessPal app on my phone,” Allison continued. “The next day, I woke up, started adding every single calorie I put in my mouth into the log. I made mistakes every now and then, however, the center was always available for any questions I had. And here I am now, I have regulated my blood pressure, and I am on my way to an even healthier lifestyle through better eating habits.”
Even with all of the first year success stories, the job is not complete, according to Erhard.
“We need to continue making sure that first, people know who is eligible for our services, and second that people see the benefit we can offer to anyone interested in taking control and improving their health,” he said. “We need to be better at getting our arms around the spouses, the retirees, and the civilian workforce and letting them know about what is available. Our phone keeps ringing, but we want to support as many people in this community as possible so we are going to continue spreading the word.”
Fort Lee’s AWC offers free services such as comprehensive health assessments, physical fitness testing and exercise prescriptions, individualized calorie recommendations, stress management techniques (including biofeedback games and a massage chair), general wellness education classes and education and support for tobacco-free living.
Eligible patrons include active duty military members and their families – 18 years of age and higher – as well as retirees and their spouses, Reservists, National Guardsmen, and Department of Defense Civilians.
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2015 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 174343 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 151 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Lee's Army Wellness Center logs successful year, by Amy Perry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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