62nd MOS team wins fitness contest

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  When it came to choosing fitness and nutrition goals and sticking to them for the sake of competition, the Buzzards picked their opponents clean.

The four-person team comprised of Master Sgt. Timothy LeSuer, Tech. Sgt Johnathan Shew, Staff Sgt. Eric Rozzano and Marilyn Eubank from the 62nd Maintenance Operations Squadron's quality assurance section recently won the base contest in the Department of Defense-sponsored "Crews into Shape" health behavior improvement challenge program.

The month-long contest, which finished up earlier this year, focused on helping people work toward improving overall wellness. Points were awarded for exercising, maintaining or achieving a goal weight, eating fruits and vegetables and drinking fluids or water. Out of the 16 teams (124 participants) that registered for the challenge here, the Buzzards -- named after the section's mascot -- piled up 187 points.

"We all decided we needed to eat better and get out and exercise, so the contest was a good way to kick-start that," Ms. Eubank said.

The fact that the four worked in the same office made it easier for them to motivate each other, she said.

Sergeant Rozzano lost 16 pounds throughout the competition and scored a 92.5 on his physical training test the following week after the contest ended.

While eating more fruits and vegetables and keeping a constant PT schedule wasn't very hard to maintain, Sergeant Rozzano said drinking the required amount of water each day was challenging.

"But it really helped me cut back on soda," he said. "That was a big contributor (to losing weight)."

For Ms. Eubank, the contest laid a good foundation for getting out and walking every day.

"It showed even small changes can make a difference. It doesn't have to be something drastic," she said. "The exercise part has kept me motivated -- now I feel bad on the days when I can't get out and walk."

Health and Wellness Center officials were very pleased with the participation rates for the first year of the contest here.

"I thought it went well," said Tanya Henriques, health education program manager with the 62nd Medical Operations Squadron. "The top three teams did a good job keeping their logs. It's more proof that if you can write your wellness goals on paper, you have a much better chance of sticking to them."

The second place team was the Diaphanous Top Dogs from the 62nd Services Squadron with 186 Points. The 62nd Aerial Port Squadron team, the Longhorn Transporters, finished third with 183 points.