Photo By Sgt. Spencer Case | Starmarie Jones, the MWR coordinator at the fitness center at LSA Adder, coaches Sgt....... read more read more
About 65 Soldiers and civilian contractors at Logistical Support Area Adder are striving to shed unwanted pounds in a four-month program called "Iraq's biggest loser."
The program, which lasts from Jan. 15 to May 15, encourages participants to improve their dietary and exercise habits.
"We're looking for lifestyle change, not just for a month or two," said Sgt. Jesse Stubbs, the NCOIC of the Nutrition Care Division of the 10th Combat Support Hospital Task Force South, who helps participants set realistic weight goals and diet plans. "We just want to encourage the right idea of eating right every day."
The program originated when Starmarie Jones, who is an MWR coordinator employed by Kellogg, Brown & Root, decided to use her background as a personal fitness trainer to help Soldiers get in shape. When the Soldiers she trained started showing results, her manager, Evan Church, decided to advertise a wider program involving exercise, diet goals and communal support. The program was dubbed "Iraq's biggest loser" as a play on the popular TV show, "The Biggest Loser."
Jones said she agreed to help with the program because she wanted to help Soldiers better themselves.
"We want Soldiers to go home as happy as they can possibly be," she said.
One of the first people to sign up was Staff Sgt. Mary Reese, a medical supply NCO for the 10th CSH. Reese, who has participated in the program for three weeks, said she always sets fitness goals for herself while on deployments and thought the program would help her along. Now she works out at the fitness center six days a week and makes sure she eats three healthy meals a day.
"I feel good," said Reese, who lost two percent body fat since she started the program. "I have a positive attitude and I think the people who stick with it and do what the trainers say will see progress. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who has a goal to lose weight."
During the initial kick-off phase between Jan. 15 and Jan. 21, Stubbs helped participants take height and weight measurements and set personal weight-loss goals that did not exceed the Army standard of 8 to 11 pounds of weight loss per month. Each participant made a file with their picture and weight measurements that are updated monthly as they get closer to reaching their goal.
Stubbs said that although most of the people have been in the program for only a little over two weeks, 90 percent of the people who started the program came back to check their progress.
"If we show progress, even a pound a week, they're happy," Stubbs said.
"I think the program has definitely improved the morale of the Soldiers," Jones said, adding that so far, no one has quit.
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2006 09:05 |
| Story ID: | 5367 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 425 |
| Downloads: | 11 |
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