Commentary by Capt. Kelly Kaim

Dietitian, 4th Infantry Division

Fit for Performance has replaced the Army Move Program designed to assist flagged Soldiers lose weight and meet Army standards.

The new program provides a more comprehensive approach to not only help the Soldiers lose weight, but teach them how to make sustainable lifestyle changes through a series of classes. At Fort Carson, we have created a six-week voluntary program using the Fit for Performance material and adding an emphasis on the Performance Triad — sleep, exercise and nutrition.

After attending an orientation weight loss class that fulfills Army Regulation 600-9 requirements, Soldiers can choose to sign up for the six-week comprehensive program which has classes twice a week. Soldiers wishing to participate obtain a memorandum signed by their chain of command to release them for the scheduled classes. All participants at Fort Carson are issued trackers to measure exercise, diet and sleep during the program. In collaboration with the Wellness Center, all Soldiers will receive a pre- and post-program body composition assessment and weekly weigh-ins. Soldiers will also be assessed on their dietary habits.

In line with the Performance Triad, Soldiers will attend sleep, exercise and nutrition classes to include product label reading, performance nutrition, healthy cooking, goal setting and injury prevention.

Fort Carson is currently halfway through its second iteration of the program and continuing to improve and evolve it. Results from the first class are extremely promising with 11 of the 20 Soldiers completing the program. The 11 Soldiers lost a total of 62 pounds, an average weight loss of 5.65 pounds per person for the six-week period. In addition to weight loss, the average number of times Soldiers ate breakfast and the serving of fruits and vegetables consumed daily increased while the number of times they ate fast food decreased.

The next six-week program will start March 22, 2016. Contact Capt. Kelly Kaim at kelly.m.kaim.mil@mail.mil for more information or to register.

Peak performer

Sgt. David Hatcher is the Fit for Performance peak performer for February, 2016. He lost 11 pounds of fat, gained 5 pounds of muscle and reduced his overall body fat percentage by 5 percent. (Courtesy photo)

Commentary by Sgt. David Hatcher

615th Engineer Construction Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade

Being in my 40s, I have found it difficult to lose weight. I have always thought of myself as being fairly active. I hike, go to the gym, mountain bike and participate in other outdoor activities but still find that the weight just doesn’t want to come off.

Every weigh-in after an Army Physical Fitness Test since I have been in the Army I have always been right on or just under but never over my allowable weight or body fat.

I was tired of always just making it.

Through the Fit for Performance program the dietitian introduced me to new ways to eat healthy and still have those foods I enjoy. In the six-week program I was issued an exercise and calorie intake tracker, introduced to several specialists who are available around post to help with exercise and injury prevention, a tour of the commissary and an online support group for others participating in the program.

With all these tools available now, I was able to put together a comprehensive plan for myself. After the first month on the program I saw results. A lot of my co-workers have really noticed my weight loss and asked me how I achieved my results.

I have shared everything that I have learned and have referred a few people. Some have included their spouses and have started participating in the programs available around post.