Just keep moving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Conner Estes
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Just keep moving. It's what's written on the t-shirts of participants of Fit Camp and it's the war cry to get healthy by the two instructors that lead the class. 

Those instructors are Kris Dawson and Mica Jones, who exhibit high energy and never ending smiles in their workouts. 

According to Mrs. Dawson there are too many excuses to keep us from being physically fit and healthy. 

"People start programs or routines which they will never maintain," Ms. Dawson said. "They make decisions that they don't follow through like joining a gym but rarely go, starting a running program that last a week, or go on diets and then stop. If you keep moving you stop making excuses." 

Reality sets in that there is no magic pill to be healthy. 

"Getting into shape is for life, not an event," Ms. Jones said. "One can't undo twenty years of bad behavior by next Friday. The simple reality of getting in shape is a bit of sweat, a bit of discomfort, a bit of inconvenience, a bit of tiredness and the odd sore ankle or knee." 

While getting healthy isn't easy, several Dyess Airmen and family members have found a program that gets them on track - Fit camp. 

When a participant first walks through the gym doors its 25 pushups, and if that's not enough, if a student leaves and re-enters the gym its 25 more pushups. Then there's the loud music and the encouraging loud words of the two leaders that can be heard throughout the gym. 

Participants not only receive strenuous workouts, they also receive a journal where they have to record what they eat which is watched closely by Ms. Dawson and Ms. Jones. And if you're eating something you know you shouldn't, it's 25 pushups again. 

Eating right is a big part of the program. 

"People are amazed by how good they feel when they exercise and finally eat healthy", Ms. Dawson said. 

The high energy found in the gym during the workouts can also be a big motivator for the participants. 

"Easy or hard, fitness is largely about perception and attitude," Mrs. Jones said. "It's all about motivation, and our camp is about helping people get that motivation." 

Good attitude typically equals a good outcome, and the two instructors have watched people sabotage themselves with a negative attitude. 

"When they whine, complain, blame, rationalize, justify, and procrastinate and then end up back where they started or even worse," Ms. Dawson said. 

What makes the camp successful is keeping the students guessing. 

"We mix things up. You never know what exercises we're going to do everyday", Ms. Jones said. "We don't want people to ever reach that plateau." 

"Our goal is to not only have fun, but to really sweat and build muscle", Ms. Dawson said.
So what drives these two very popular instructors to get up at the crack of dawn to teach fit camp? 

"It's all about the people. We love seeing results! We love doing this, and I can't think of anything else that I would rather do," Ms. Dawson said. "We want to change people's lives, make them healthier so that they're the best at whatever they do." 

Having fun and losing weight in camp is one thing, but seeing a change in lifestyle is another. 

"It motivates us even more when we receive letters and emails from our past participants telling us how their lives changed for the better and how much weight they continue losing from their photos," Ms. Jones said. 

Fit Camp is a six-week course Monday-Friday, 4:45 a.m. or 4:45 p.m. during the cooler months, 4 a.m. or 5a.m. during the summer. 

Fit camp is open for active duty military, dependents, spouses, and civilians. Call the fitness center at 696-4306 to inquire about joining the program. Maybe it's time to quit making excuses and is now time to "Just Keep Moving!"