Wing reserve enlisted council plans fitness-themed contest

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zach Jacobs
  • 507 ARW Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  If you've seen the television program "The Biggest Loser," you know the efforts contestants take to lose weight and begin a healthy lifestyle.
   The Tinker Reserve Enlisted Advisory Council is sponsoring, to use a television term, a "spin-off" of that.
   The "TREAC Weight Loss Challenge" is a program designed to promote weight loss and healthy living among members in the wing, specifically the enlisted corps.
   "I think the program is a great way to help jump-start fitness," said Tech. Sgt. Lindsay Newton, a commander's support staffer with the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron and a TREAC member. "With the new Air Force Fitness standards and the holidays coming up, it will be a fun challenge for people to lose weight and get fit."
   During the October 2010 UTA, Col. Jeffery R. Glass, the 507th Air Refueling Wing commander, noted that with the Air Force's new standards on the physical fitness test, or PFT, more than 100 Airmen in the Wing had been recognized for scoring "excellent" -- 90 points or above -- on their most recent PFTs. He also noted, however, that the Wing's failure rate was greater than 30%.
   So, that day, Glass challenged those who got "excellent" scores to help other Airmen in the wing who might have struggled with their PFTs.
   That's where TREAC sprang into action. Its members decided on a program to push members to get fit and live a healthier lifestyle.
   It will pit an unlimited number of teams from across the Wing against each other to lose weight. These teams will consist of four Wing members (officers, enlisted, or civilian, with at least two being enlisted), and one Wing member who has a current "excellent" score on his/her PFT to serve as that team's "coach."
   Every quarter, these teams will weigh in individually or, preferably, collectively on a tonnage scale. This amount will be their baseline from which to lose weight.
   Over the span of the following quarter, each team is encouraged to work out together and keep each other accountable on exercise and diet between UTAs.
   At the end of each quarter, the teams will once again weigh in to find out the total weight they lost. Two teams will be declared the winners for that quarter, one by having lost the most weight by percentage and the other having lost the most weight by gross.
   These five-person teams will be recognized at the quarterly commander's calls with awards. Then, the competition would begin again that UTA with teams forming and weigh-ins, just like the previous quarter.
   Newton, the TREAC Weight Loss Challenge's coordinator, said the program will help those struggling with their weight to get an "extra boost" to help motivate them.
   "There are people who struggle with weight who need guidance," said Newton. "I think this little fun competition will help steer them in the right direction."
   To register a team or to get more information, call Newton at (405) 736-3278 during the week or (405) 734-7428 during the UTA, or email her at lindsay.newton@tinker.af.mil. Team registration will end COB of the Saturday of the January UTA. Weigh-ins will take place the following day.