March Fitness Fair promotes "fitness for life"

  • Published
  • By Linda Welz
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  The first March Fitness Fair kicked off at 9 a.m. here Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Fitness center. Vendors welcomed military and civilian personnel and their families to the event with free, healthy food and information about health and fitness.

The fitness center also invited guests to drop in during the fair to try out the center's Zumba, Yoga, "Core and More" and Spin classes. The annual event was the brainchild of Col. Karl McGregor, 452nd Air Mobility Wing commander, and organized by Maj. Anna Ruiz, 452nd Mission Support Group executive officer.

"It was a success for our first one," Major Ruiz said. "We really wanted to energize everyone and get them moving again, to make fitness part of their normal routine, to get them fit for life. We hope we were able to help some people out."

The commissary's donation of fresh fruit, nutrition bars, water and fitness-type drinks was popular among the visitors, especially Paige Jensen, the two-year-old daughter of Maj. Zack Jensen, 452nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. Miss Jensen rode into the fair on her daddy's shoulders.

"Apple!" she gleefully shouted as soon as she spotted the table of fruit.

Team March personnel at the medical station were handing out smoking cessation literature and conducting blood pressure checks.

"A lot of the people visiting us here don't know what the numbers in the blood pressure represent," said Senior Airman Eric Feller, 752nd Medical Squadron. "The top number is your heart at work, when it's beating. The bottom number is your heart at rest, between beats."

Those concerned about high blood pressure should try eating fresh fruits and vegetables as well as cutting back on fast foods as a means to lower their blood pressure, said Airman Feller. Also, if you are taking dosage should be reevaluated  frequently, he said.

"Over time, your body develops a tolerance for the amount of medicine you are taking, so your dosage may have to be adjusted," said Airman Feller.

Something else to consider is exercise, which causes a temporary elevation in your blood pressure, said Airman Feller, who cautioned visitors not to overexert themselves.

"Fluids also affect your blood pressure, so hydration is important," he said. Debbie Brooks, a Weight Watchers leader who volunteered to speak to Team March members at the Fitness Fair, agreed that hydration is as important to your overall health as making good food choices.

"Our program teaches you how to get healthy and what you need to do to lose weight by learning portion control," she said. "We teach the basics of Weight Watchers, which is not a diet but a lifestyle. There is also the personal and group support aspect of our program that is great."

Another support booth at the fair focused on arch support. The Foot Solutions, a health and wellness franchise, answered Team March members' questions about proper shoe fit, athletic socks, and foot ailments.

The most common question asked was concerning heel pain, said Jerick Sobie, Board Certified Pedorthist with The Foot Solutions.

"People tend to abuse their feet, which is their base," he said. "Not once do they think it's the shoes or flip flops they've been wearing. We provide a place to come to for answers about how to alleviate the pain caused by things like incorrect or worn out shoes, environment and age."

At the end of the day, Fitness Fair organizers were happy with the results and will do this again next year, said Marco Defelice, recreation assistant at the March Fitness Center.