1BDE MEDDET believes that physical fitness is one of the main components of any Wellness Program. It is MEDDET’s intent to share a variety of physical fitness opportunities regardless of a GaSDF soldier’s MOS (military occupation specialty) or DL (duty level) status.

GETTING STARTED:

• Check with your personal physician before beginning any physical fitness program to assure it is the right program for your current health situation.
• Choose a fitness programs that will be "do-able" for your current life style and needs.
• Set your goal to begin, maintain, and improve your physical fitness.

WHERE TO BEGIN:

A PERSONAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT TOOL can be found at the U.S. Army HOOAH 4 HEALTH-HOOAH 4 YOU site.

Go to the APFT Calculator and fill in the necessary information to get a baseline assessment of your physical abilities. Don’t forget to also go to the "Other H4H Assessment Calculators" below the APFT calculator to complete your total body assessment. Explore this excellent site for numerous other U.S. Army fitness programs and health resources.

(1LT Fritzy Fitness awards 2 HOOAH points for putting your information into ALL the calculators and sharing your results with your Cadence Comrade! HOOAH!)

WALKING has long been known to be beneficial to wellness. Thousand of years ago Hippocrates was quoted as saying "walking is man’s best medicine". Some of the health benefits from walking include lowering blood pressure, reducing risks for heart attacks, decreasing appetite, lessening anxiety and tension, and increasing aerobic capacity. So TROOPS, stop crawling and start WALKING!

It does not require any special skills, you do it every day, and advanced conditioning is not needed. Always remember to stretch before beginning a walking program. One of the most popular and trendy walking programs is the 10,000 STEPS PROGRAM. Check out the various websites for walking programs. A pedometer will be necessary to count your steps and calculate your mileage while walking. (Wal-mart carries an inexpensive pedometer by "Sportline" that includes the 10,000 steps program guide for about $4.00)

(1LT Fritzy Fitness awards 2 HOOAH points for getting a pedometer and wearing it for one week to determine the daily average steps that you are walking, It just might surprise you how many steps you already are walking each day. Don’t forget to share with your Cadence Comrade your daily step count.)

Hints to adding more steps to your day:

• park at the far end of a parking lot
• climb the stairs at work instead of using the elevator
• walk the dog or offer to walk a friend’s dog
• take a walking lunch
• get off the bus a stop earlier
• think before you drive less than a mile and walk it instead.

WEB SITES of interest for fitness and walking programs:

• The President’s Challenge
• Walk Across America
• America’s Walking
• Walking Programs
• 10,000 Step Program - ShapeUp.org
• 10,000 Step Program - TheWalkingSite.com
• Walking Chart
• Women’s Walking Program

(1LT Fritzy Fitness awards 2 HOOAH points for committing and beginning a walking program or fitness program. Don’t forget to share with your Cadence Comrade your specific plan.)