AFMC's Team Lean Challenge 'Cleared for Take Off' here

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. C. Michaela Walrond
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Opportunities here have recently come available to help the Hanscom community strive toward building and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

Beginning March 3, Air Force Materiel Command's Team Lean Challenge "Cleared for Take Off," a command-wide initiative designed to promote weight loss for healthy living, will run through June 13.

According to the AFMC Wellness Web site, www.afmcwellness.com, Team Lean Challenge is based on the recognition that weight loss and behavior change requires concerted effort and is more likely to be successful with the support of a team.

To provide participants with a team-like environment, Hanscom personnel interested in the program will be joined together in five-person teams -- committed to the goals of losing weight and changing exercise habits, said Will Carpenter, Hanscom's Health and Wellness Center Health Promotion manager.

Team members will compete by working out regularly and changing their eating habits in order to lose weight. At the completion of the program, awards will be presented for the team with the highest percentage of weight loss, the individual with the highest weight loss percentage and the unit with the highest participation, according to the Wellness Web site.

In addition, the base with the highest weight loss percentage will be awarded the Air Force Materiel Command winner's trophy.

"In order to enroll in the program, participants must first logon to www.afmcwellness.com and take the Health Risk Appraisal located on the Web site's homepage under Health Assessments. Once taken, individuals can visit the TLC link and follow the instructions to become a team player," Mr. Carpenter said.

After registering online, individuals must attend an initial weigh-in between March 3 and 14. Locations and times are listed at the end of this article. Participants must bring a printed copy of their HRA certificate to the weigh-in.

At the completion of the Challenge, teams will be required to attend a final weigh-in.

Tools for Teams
There are numerous resources available to help teams get started and motivate them throughout the Challenge. One such tool is Hanscom's Health Expo scheduled for March 6, at the Fitness and Sports Center from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During this event, several organizations on base will be available to offer information on wellness, nutrition and exercise.

"Some of the stations offered at the Health Expo will include portion control, sample nutrition plans, body fat analysis and exercise demonstrations. There will also be weigh-in stations available for new TLC teams," Mr. Carpenter said.

AFMC's Wellness Web site is another tool, Mr. Carpenter said, which will aid teams and individuals in reaching and maintaining their wellness goals.

"On the TLC homepage participants can visit links to form team goals, track weight loss, form workout plans and calculate daily nutrition," he said.

Additionally, "Session One: Preparing for the Challenge" is a link on the TLC site that offers interactive tools to include the Daily Calorie Needs, Body Mass Index and Food Group Calculators for individuals wishing to tailor workouts and meals to their goal weight and current lifestyle.

TLC weigh-in times, locations
March 4 -- Building 1606 Lobby from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 5 -- Building 1305 (Brown Building) 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 6 -- TLC Health Expo and weigh-in at the Fitness Center and Sports Center from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 7 -- Building 1624 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 11 - Building 1612 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 12 -- Building 1614 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Individuals interested in having a weigh-in station set-up in their respective buildings on March 10, 13 or 14 between 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. should contact Mr. Carpenter at William.carpenter@hanscom.af.mil or (781) 377-3095.