Kadena takes physical fitness to extreme

Published March 4, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff members from the 18th Force Support Squadron's Risner Fitness Center are helping Team Kadena take fitness to the extreme.

Held three times a year by the fitness center staff, the Extreme Fitness Challenge gives people the opportunity to work with a personal trainer in a group setting and put them on the path toward a healthier lifestyle.

"It's an eight-week program in which people get personal training an hour a day, five days a week," said Carrie Clancy, Risner Fitness Center personal trainer and group fitness coordinator. "Most people enjoy the team aspect of the program."

The program offers seven time slots to accommodate seven teams, each with up to 15 members and one or two personal trainers.

"Fitness should be fun and it's a whole lot more fun when you're doing it with other people and you start to build friendships with your teammates," said Ms. Clancy.

Since there is no set guidance or structure for the program, each team's personal trainer tailors a unique fitness program encompassing cardio, strength training and conditioning and nutrition.

"We'll have our teams do a variety of things, such as a spin class, running the Habu trail or working out in the weight room," the trainer said. "I try to keep it varied for my group and not repeat a workout. You don't have to be stuck in a rut and get frustrated about not seeing any improvement."

Ms. Clancy said the purpose of the program is to help motivate people to start exercising or help break out of their routine.

"Our goal is to keep people exercising and help them make changes that will last much longer than just eight weeks," she said.

Participants reap all the rewards from the program.

"I joined the Extreme Fitness Challenge, so I could feel better and have more energy," said Gina Monteiro, spouse of Tech. Sgt. George Monteiro with the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I discovered I'm capable of pushing myself to levels I never thought I could reach. I feel more confident now that I learned how to eat and exercise properly."

The program is open to all SOFA-status members age 16 and older.

"I have active-duty members who want to pass their physical fitness test, new mothers who want to lose baby weight and fit people who want to change things up a bit," said Ms. Clancy. Family members, teachers and civilians have also joined the program, she added.

Extreme Fitness Challenge teams must meet three challenges over the course of the program. For the first challenge, teams must perform 250 pushups in the shortest amount of time to win the challenge and beat out the other teams.

The second challenge is a circuit, which includes stations for jump rope, squats, pushups, sit-ups, arm curls and jumping jacks. Again, teams must complete the circuit in the least amount of time to win.

The final challenge posed to participants is a 2.5 mile (or 10 lap) relay race at the Risner track.

"Prizes are given to teams for winning each challenge," said Eiji Inoha, 18th FSS athletic instructor and Extreme Fitness Challenge coordinator.

Prizes are also given to people who made the most improvement based on percentage, said Ms. Clancy.

"At the beginning of the program, we take everybody's starting weight and body fat percentage," she said. "We also give an initial fitness test and compare the results with their final fitness test numbers."

Each trainer submits the names of five team members who have made the most improvement. Mr. Inoha then racks and stacks the percentages and awards prizes to the best five overall. He invites everyone to take the Extreme Fitness Challenge.

"Please take this opportunity to get in shape before the summer season," said Mr. Inoha.