Beat the bulge and Soar into Shape this year Published Oct. 20, 2011 By Senior Airman Jack Sanders JBER Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Have a plan to combat those holiday pounds and stay in shape this winter? If not, then consider what nearly 300 people last year did and sign up for Soar into Shape offered by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Health and Wellness Center. The nine-week programs focus on healthy lifestyle choices during Alaska's long winter months, a time when many people might have a tendency to go into their own state of hibernation and pack on a few extra pounds, said Rebecca Kleinschmidt, HAWC health educator. People can sign up as individuals or in teams of two to four people. "We're really encouraging families to participate as well," Kleinschmidt said. "We feel like, if people do it as an entire family, the adults are providing some positive role modeling to the kids." This is the fourth year of the program. This year there are two nine-week blocks; one started Oct. 11, and the next will start in January after the holidays. Signing up before the start date is best, but people can jump in any time. She also said the program is emphasizing focus on people's VO2 max, which is more of an overall fitness assessment of a person. It stands for maximal oxygen consumption and is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and utilize oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual. In order to demonstrate the emphasis on VO2 max, she said they're going to show people how to be active effectively, whether it's the proper way to lift weights, do cardiovascular workouts, or how to eat and be active in a way that will increase their metabolism so that even when they're sleeping, they'll be burning more calories. During the duration of the program, individuals or teams will receive points, based on their nutritional eating habits, exercise regime, and attending health and nutrional classes offered by the HAWC. At the end of the program, people with the highest points total for male, female and team will receive prizes, along with the male and female who lost the most weight. A monthly calendar will be distributed, with between 20 to 30 classes available a month at various times and locations in an effort to accommodate everybody's schedule. "(During the classes, we'll) take data on what they're eating at the beginning of the program and ask the same questions at the end of the program in hope that we see that through the classes, encouragement and team support that they've made some good healthy changes at the end of the (program)," said Kleinschmidt. "(Then we hope,) this will be long-term behavioral changes that they can carry through the rest of their lives in order to stay healthy." Those who have participated in the past said that this program had been very good to them. "I thought it was a very excellent program," said Master Sgt. Cheryl Voeste, who participated before. "It built camaraderie, challenges and it also set a healthy life style." She said one of the better aspects of the program was meeting new people from all over the installation and seeing what kind of workouts they would perform and maybe take one or two tips from them and adapt them to her own workout. Dr. Gwendolyn Hoskins, also a past winner, said she felt the health and nutrition classes were very beneficial to her, "It's a full commitment that you make, but you get the results in the end." She said making exercise and a healthy diet part of her everyday routine, like getting up and going to work, was the most valuable thing she took away from the program. It helped her make some long-term healthy changes by getting herself into that routine, she added. Both women said they would suggest this program to anyone because of the impact it had on them. Soar into Shape is open to all Department of Defense identification card holders and to children five and older. Everyone is still welcome to sign up for the ongoing program. For more question about the program or how to sign up, call the HAWC at 552-2361 or 552-9939.