TLC, civilian wellness initiative wrapping up

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Hanscom's Civilian Wellness initiative formally wraps up next week, along with the Team Lean Challenge, but base leaders and wellness specialists are encouraging all Hanscom members to keep working toward healthier lifestyles. 

"Thanks to all those Hanscom members who joined us for the Team Lean Challenge and Civilian Wellness Campaign," said 66th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Dave 'Iron' Orr.  "I'm sure those who lost a few unwanted pounds feel better physically and emotionally, and we have heard from several civilians who got a 'save' by taking the Cardiac Risk Assessment.

"One of our highlighted best practices in our Voluntary Protection Program Star status was our wellness programs," he added. "No other installation offers so many HAWC, Fitness Center, Chapel, and Airman and Family Readiness Center program options. Please take full advantage of our unmatched wellness programs and add years to your life!"

From a long list of positives identified by Hanscom health, wellness and fitness specialists, several emerged as particularly noteworthy. The most significant is that the push seems to have helped bring about a long-term culture change. 

"People are definitely receiving encouragement from their supervisors to take the time to participate in screenings and other wellness programs," said Deanne Casey, R.N., a Civilian Health Promotion Services nurse coordinator who works out of Hanscom's Health and Wellness Center. Ms. Casey also noted that the base's many new hires routinely go on line at www.afmcwellness.com to take their online health risk appraisals and sign up for the approved three hours of health and wellness time offered to all civilian employees. 

"It shows that people who have been on the base for years and those who are just coming aboard are all seeing the wellness and fitness options Hanscom offers as a standard benefit of employment here," Ms. Casey said. 

At the base Fitness Center, officials have also seen some very positive changes.

"During the past several months, we have seen a trend where patrons are increasing their frequency of workouts per week," said Fitness Center Director Jerry Turnbow. "Whereas a person may have come in once or twice a week to work out before the civilian wellness and TLC efforts started, now we've seen patrons coming in three or four times a week, or more."

As for the Team Lean Challenge, in which teams of employees competed to see which could lose the most weight, it's also important to keep momentum going, officials said. 

"TLC was very productive in getting base personnel talking about fitness and giving them the tools to achieve their fitness goals," Mr. Turnbow said. "TLC and the civilian wellness initiative don't really end here; they continue onward." 

Those who participated in the TLC should come into either the Fitness Center or HAWC between June 1 and June 5 for a final weigh in. The HAWC and the Fitness Center will be available for weigh-ins Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 7:30 a.m. till noon on Friday. 

Everyone who comes in for the final weight check will receive a prize. Team results will be announced at Hanscom's Summer Bash June 26. 

Thomas Ward, Fitness Program director, suggests using the end of these programs as a way for people to re-evaluate their efforts.

"If things didn't work, now may be the time to meet with a trainer or other qualified professional," he said. On the other hand, if people did meet their goals, now is the time to look beyond them. He suggests they train for their first 5K race, join an intramural sports team or take on another activity they might not have been willing to consider before.

Both the TLC and the Civilian Wellness initiative really helped focus Hanscom employees on health and fitness, the base specialists said.

"Our patrons are now seeking more information concerning tailoring their workouts to get the most benefit possible," Mr. Turnbow said. "If you are going to spend time working out, it only makes sense that you use this time productively."

Ms. Casey agreed that these efforts have produced a real sea change on base.

"With so much attention on all of this, people really seemed to get the message," she said. "All of our critical numbers - in terms of people taking their HRAs and signing up for the cardiac risk profiles, and just coming in for classes and information - have gone up. There seems to be a real understanding now of the value of doing the right things, health-wise, and of taking advantage of the support that's available."