Health and Wellness Center offers "Maintain, Don't Gain" advice

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Wakefield
  • OL-A, Detachment 4 AFNEWS
RAF LAKENHEATH, England --  Eating a lot of ham and turkey with all the fixin's during the holiday season typically means a lot of extra gut for the New Year. Unfortunately, not everyone can to be a contestant on a weight loss reality show to get rid of all those added inches. Luckily, the HAWC is there to help.

The Health and Wellness center staff on RAF Lakenheath is taking a proactive approach and have come up with a program to counsel Airmen and their families before the food fest begins. It's called "Maintain, Don't Gain for the Holidays."

Staff Sergeant Natalie Gatewood, a HAWC nutritional counselor, said that Airmen don't have to give up their favorite foods, they just have to make smarter choices.

When starting a meal, "Eat your veggies first," she said, "..if (you) eat all your salad or (your) vegetables first, (you're) probably not going to go back for seconds or thirds of the more unhealthy things."

Nutritional help isn't all Airmen will get with the program, the program also helps Airmen with exercise as well, and no one has to go out and buy extra exercise machines.

According to HAWC NCOIC, Tech. Sgt. Michael DeCarmo, It can be as simple as stepping up an established workout routine.

"If you're not doing anything, start walking, and if you are exercising, just increase the intensity a little," he said.

The HAWC is running the exercise portion of the program Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. at the HAWC.

For details on the Maintain, Don't Gain program, contact the HAWC, call 226-2710.