HAWC provides Airmen with tools to plow through winter pounds

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Though Airmen are required to be fit to fight 365 days-a-year, one season proves to a bigger obstacle than most.

Winter holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, often leave Airmen with extra calories.

"Thanksgiving is classic overeating," said Amanda Bowman, Health and Wellness Center health promotion dietitian. "Food is the center of these celebrations and most people don't stop to think about the healthier options during these times."

Eating larger portion sizes or unhealthy treats may be common during the winter holidays, but there are other contributing factors.

"It's cold outside so we tend to stay inside and we don't exercise as much," Bowman said. "Also, the stress of the holidays is huge."

Some of the most common stressors include lack of sleep, financial stress due to gift-shopping, time management and even family gatherings.

"Lack of sleep and increased stress can have a negative impact on metabolism," Bowman said. "It can significantly contribute to people gaining that five to 10 pounds over the holidays. Sometimes more so than the lack of physical activity and overeating."

For Airmen concerned about gaining extra pounds, equivalency training may be a tool to burn extra calories. For example, a person may compensate for eating a lower calorie food by running a shorter distance, and doing a more intensive workout to make up for eating higher calorie foods.

"Equivalency can be a great motivator to work out, but it depends on the amount of food that's being eaten," Bowman said. "When eating higher calorie foods, however, moderation should be the priority. Fill up on the lower-calorie fresh foods first and then have smaller portions of the higher calorie foods."

Bowman also advises Airmen to be watchful of which sweets they purchase at the supermarket.

"Just because something is labeled as fat free and sugar free does not mean it is calorie free," she said.

After eating large holiday meals, Airmen have other options besides spending the day on the couch watching television.

"After Thanksgiving meal with your family, get together, go outside and play a sport whether its football, or [disc] golf," said Leah Beckham, HAWC Health and Fitness Specialist. "Be active, rather than sit on the couch and watch TV. You can make it a family affair."

By not forgetting a well-rounded workout and controlling nutrition and calorie intake, Airmen will be better prepared to face the mission when they return from holiday leave - especially those with rapidly approaching fitness assessments.