Stronger, faster, better: Health Promotion helps fitness goals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Brooks
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  
As the No. 1 fighter wing in U.S. Air Force, the 31st Fighter Wing takes its fitness seriously. From competing in yearly endurance events from the Combat Warrior Challenge to the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competition, Aviano Airmen strive to maintain healthy lifestyles.

However, staying fit and deployment ready comes easier for some than it does for others. That’s why Darrin Muhr, 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion coordinator, is passionate about his goal to bring members of team Aviano to their best overall health.

“We’re about educating people to make healthy changes to their lifestyle,” said Muhr. “There is a direct correlation between a higher body mass index and the increase of health costs, failure rates, injuries, body fat and those on physical fitness waivers.”

To combat a high BMI, which is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight, Aviano Health Promotion offers a weight management class, a sleep class, a running clinic, various nutrition classes and a Bod Pod clinic.

Another class is a personalized program called In Forma. In Italian “Sei in forma?” is to ask someone, “Are you fit?” In Forma is an eight session, 12 week program that focuses on building the skills necessary to implement life-long and life changing habits to improve overall health and wellness. The class is starting up Jan. 10, 2018 and will be available to all active duty, reservists, retired military, dependents, and civilian employees, 18 years of age and older.

Chris War, church pastor and retired Navy chief, and his wife, Lou Anne War, collectively lost 127 pounds after they joined the In Forma class. Over the course of nine months, Chris went from 34% body fat to 14% and Lou Anne went from 49.9% to 32.7%.

“Everything is easier to do now,” said Chris. “We believe it’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.”

The Wars committed to following through with the class after their son lost 125 pounds before joining the Air Force.

Whatever a person’s reason is for making healthier choices, Aviano Health Promotion is there to help.

Health Promotion is located in building 1466, near the Italian Mensa, and is open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. To sign up for a body composition assessment or to enroll in a class, call 632-4583 or 0434-30-4583 or email at 31MDG.HP@us.af.mil.

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