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Health and wellness first, fit to fight always

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shane Ellis
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Charleston, S.C. --  When asked what it means to be fit to fight, many Airmen may immediately think about their last fitness test as a good indicator as to where they are physically; however, a passing score on a fitness test is just one aspect of living a healthy lifestyle.
 
Tech. Sgt. Jessica Fruth, 315th Airlift Wing client systems technician, is a great example of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Fruth has a master's degree in exercise science, and she is a yoga and CrossFit instructor here.

Key to Fruth's health and wellness is a lifestyle which allows her to be mentally, socially and physically fit. She said the key to her success came when she learned how to find balance, enjoy the journey, and mix things up to prevent burnout.

"Working out and eating well keep my mind in a good place," said Fruth. "My energy levels stay high, my stress levels stay low, and my mental awareness is sharp."

One of the best social aspects of fitness for Fruth is the opportunity she has to share her knowledge with other Airmen.

"Being a fitness instructor allows me to help people," said Fruth. "Some of the people I work with are already great athletes, and they actually challenge me to come up with new ideas and innovative ways to help them move to the next level. Regardless of a person's level of fitness, I get a lot of satisfaction in helping people transform their lives for the better."

For keeping the waistline slim, Fruth said people should keep sugar intake low, limit the amount of wheat products they consume, and drink a lot of water.

As for pushups, Fruth believes the plank hold should be incorporated into any normal workout routine.

"The pushup utilizes many muscles in the body," said Fruth. "When people condition their bodies to engage those muscles, they are then able to maximize the number of pushups they can perform. The plank hold helps develop those muscles, decreases opportunity for lower back injuries, and helps burn fat. It looks easy, but it will set you on fire!"

Fruth said she likes to use an Abmat when doing situps as it gives the body full range of motion during the exercise, and it allows people to stretch between repetitions while supporting the spine.

When it comes to running, Fruth is a firm believer in good running shoes; furthermore, she likes to mix things up to increase her cardio and decrease her run time. She uses the rower and jump rope as well as incorporating sprints into her workouts.

"Wearing the right type of running shoes will help prevent injuries and make for a more enjoyable run," said Fruth. "To build your cardiovascular system people should incorporate a variety of cardio exercises in their fitness plan for optimal performance. Variety keeps people fresh and prevents burnout."

It's the duty of every Airman to find the necessary balance between passing a fitness test and living a life of health and wellness. Ultimately, Airmen must find the right balance between exercise, rest and personal enjoyment to make fitness a priority in their lives.

Mix it up, enjoy the benefits, and make each day count.