New Year inspires healthy habits Published Jan. 26, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Alessandra N. Hurley 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Those looking for a fun and rewarding way to get in shape need look no further than the New Year, New You program starting at the Bellamy Fitness Center, Feb. 1. The program is free, includes exercise classes both at the gym and at the Health and Wellness Center (HAWC), and is open to everyone with access to the Bellamy Fitness Center. Certified instructors lead the exercises, and the different classes are listed on fitness calendars available from fitness center staff. The HAWC classes include lessons in healthy eating. These nutrition classes combined with the physical exercise classes comprise the 90-day New Year, New You program. The objective of the program is for Airmen to lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off. "Starving yourself is an unhealthy way to lose weight," said Airman 1st Class Cassy Bridges, 28th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist. "Losing weight that way will only make you weak, less able to concentrate and causes your body to enter survival mode. This leads to over-eating and more weight gain." The New Year, New You program will require mandatory weigh-ins for all participants twice a month to regulate weight loss and track their progress. Airman Bridges suggested eating a light, healthy breakfast to start your body's metabolism and regular exercise to lose weight gradually. "The best thing to do is eat a piece of fruit as soon as you wake up in the morning to get your metabolism going and practice some yoga to get your body ready for the day," she said. Tech. Sgt. Ariel Bilbao, 28th FSS fitness journeyman, encourages Airmen to stay physically active by varying their workout strategies. "At times, people may quit working out for a while because they get bored doing the same activities," he said. "We offer different classes-from spin classes to high intensity training and conditioning- to prepare Airmen for physical training tests. There's something for everyone." Participants in the New Year, New You program may enter individually or as part of a team. Participants will be able to pick and choose activities or classes they would like to join and will receive points according to each activity or HAWC class they attend. At the end of the program, April 29, the points will be tallied and winners from the individual and team categories will be decided and awarded prizes. "I think this program is scheduled for a perfect time of year, because during the holidays, almost everyone is on leave or they want to wait until January to start working out, again," Sergeant Bilbao said. To sign up for the New Year, New You program, stop by the front desk of the Bellamy Fitness Center.