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Weight Loss Challenge Kick-Off

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, California -- A certified nutritionist and motivational speaker addressed members of the 146th Airlift Wing in the Wing Auditorium Saturday, Jan. 10, to kick off the wing-wide Hercules Weight Loss Challenge.

Robert Ferguson, fitness expert and founder of the Diet Free Life nutrition system, spoke to participants of the Hercules Weight Loss Challenge organized by SMSgt Donald Simmons, TSgt Annmarie Cryderman, MSgt Arthur Kuhns, and Director of Psychological Health, Andrea McGovern.

The challenge, which was created to promote a climate where members of the 146th Airlift Wing are motivated to workout out, lose weight and ultimately get fit, will help create a community within the base to encourage each other and plan activities around a common fitness goal, said Simmons.

Inviting Ferguson to speak on how people can obtain the body they desire by following the right principles, was a way to kick off the challenge's goals, Simmons said. 

Ferguson talked about the importance of learning how to eat a fat burning meal and eating food in the right combinations. If people add fitness to the equation, he said, that is even better.

"You can eat chips and not add inches to the hips," Ferguson said. "Thirty-three percent is nutrition, 33 percent is fitness, and 33 percent is mental and I really believe that they all work together like a three legged stool. That leaves one percent left over and where does it go? Each of us has a different area we need to spend time on."

Ferguson applauded members starting this kind of wellness initiative.  "Challenges are a great way to get people engaged and keep them motivated," he said.

Attendees and members of the challenge were appreciative of the information they received. Senior Airman Tiffany Maston, member of the 146th Maintenance Group, was excited to learn of new ways to look at health.

"It was great to hear a different point of view and to get a very realistic way to approach long term overall health," Maston said.

The Hercules Challenge will run until April and is still open to any members of the 146th Airlift Wing that may want to join.  A new challenge will start mid-summer with exact dates to be determined. Contact SMSgt Donald Simmons for more information.