Witness the fitness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class James L. Miller
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A bead of sweat rolls down her face; she wipes it away before her last set. One deep breath and she gets back to it, ignoring the aches, exhaustion, and voice in her head saying she has done enough.

But she's not done, not until she finishes her reps.

Airman 1st Class Stephanie DiPiazza, 28th Medical Support Squadron family member relocation clearance coordinator, uses this mentality in all aspects of her life.

"I started working out while playing sports in high school to better myself and my abilities for track and volleyball," DiPiazza said. "Now I do it to feel good, look good and be healthier."

Although DiPiazza doesn't mind getting fit by herself, workout partners are always welcome.

"I go with whoever wants to go with me, or anyone that asks to workout, I'm not picky," DiPiazza said. "Having a motivated partner is always a plus though. They can share workout ideas, help motivate you to perform better and are a safety net that allows you to push yourself more."

Staying fit and working out not only allows DiPiazza to excel in the gym, but also in the workplace.

As a family member relocation clearance coordinator, DiPiazza deals with overseas permanent change of station medical clearances, and also ensures the needs of service members and their dependents are met prior to leaving or arriving at Ellsworth AFB. She is also responsible for patient travel and convalescent leave for servicemembers on base.

"There are times I can have a long stressful day at work, but going to the gym is the perfect stress reliever," DiPiazza said. "It's a great way to start and end the day."

Some may associate working out with protein shakes, pre-workout and other supplements, but DiPiazza does it without any unnatural assistance.

"I eat all three meals at the dining facility, and with all the menu items being listed with their nutritional value I can make sure everything I'm eating is healthy," DiPiazza said. "There isn't a huge variety of food to choose from, but when you can see the results it starts tasting even better."

Even though going to work and the gym may take up a lot of time, DiPiazza still finds a way to attend college classes as well.

"A lot of my weekends are spent doing homework, but I still find some time to relax and hang out with my friends," DiPiazza said. "We try to go out and do as much as we can, like exploring the hills or going snowboarding. I'm really looking forward to hiking once it warms up again."

Being healthy may be a fad for some; however, for DiPiazza it is a lifestyle.

"When you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you do good," DiPiazza said. "I feel so much healthier all around. I wouldn't be able to go back to not working out if I wanted to."