Health and Wellness Center programs help keep Moody healthy

  • Published
  • By Katie Boles
  • 23 WG/PA
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  As the New Year rings in with many new resolutions, one of the most frequent and hardest to keep goals is weight loss and the desire for a healthier lifestyle. 

According to the 23rd Medical Group Health and Wellness Center, most of these resolutions never make it past January. HAWC officials said there are programs available, however, to help make these resolutions become permanent lifestyle changes. 

"The HAWC offers a wide variety of health-optimizing classes and programs available to all Moody personnel," said Tara Vig, 23rd MDG HAWC Health Education Program manager. "These health initiatives include education on stress management, tobacco cessation, healthy sleep, cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and others." 

These new health and relaxation programs will help Moody members follow through with their resolution to create a healthier lifestyle, she said. 

Two of the more common ailments preventing Moody members from increased health, high blood pressure and cholesterol, may be controlled through behavior modification and lifestyle changes, said Ms. Vig. In order to successfully control the issues, individuals must learn the knowledge and tools they need on nutrition, exercise and overall wellness to manage, or prevent, their disease. 

"Applying this information may even allow an individual to manage their disease without medication," she said. 

The HAWC features two classes specifically designed to educate people on blood pressure and cholesterol issues: 

Blood Pressure - Ms. Vig said this class is geared toward helping individuals who are seeking assistance in controlling blood pressure and preventing hypertension. Blood pressure is a silent killer, meaning most people do not have symptoms. As a result, there is a strong temptation to do nothing. If not controlled, blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke and even blindness. Unhealthy levels of blood cholesterol are directly linked to heart disease. 

Cholesterol - This is an instructive class on maintaining a low‐fat diet. This class challenges participants to look at their current diet and identifying problem areas, as well as techniques to help correct those areas. 

The HAWC also offers classes that address coping with stress through a variety of relaxation techniques. These include: 

Recognizing Stress - This is a four-part program that helps individuals recognize stress in their lives and techniques to reduce stress. Participants may start with any of the four parts and complete the programs in any order that benefits them. 

An individual's level of stress can be decreased with the proper techniques of recognizing stress, reassuring thinking, relaxation techniques, and living a balanced lifestyle, Ms. Vig said. These stress classes give an individual the skills and tools to managed and decrease the stress in their lives. 

Lifestyle Optimization - This program is focused on teaching individuals how to keep their life in balance. 

Relaxation Techniques - Ms. Vig said this is one of the most popular classes that is offered and provides techniques to increase relaxation. 

Erin Baxter-Smith, a civilian dependent, has had tremendous success through involvement with the HAWC program. 

"Through my experiences with the HAWC programs, I have experienced success through the one-on-one help and a customized plan that was based on my lifestyle," said Ms. Baxter-Smith. 

For more information on any HAWC program, call 257‐4294