New Year, Better You

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joseph Linzy
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  

With 2020 underway, many people have fitness goals they would like to accomplish this year and Claudia Holtz, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Health Promotions Manager, is here to help.

Holtz has 13 years of experience in health and wellness at JBSA-Lackland and knows what it takes for New Year’s fitness resolutions to be successful.

“This is not just for the time being, it’s a natural lifestyle change,” Holtz said. “It takes a while for us to learn those changes to keep that habit going.”

When changing your lifestyle by implementing fitness into your daily schedule, Holtz believes it is important to write down goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. These are known as SMART goals.

Before going to the gym and using every machine available, Holtz recommends completing a wellness consultation to understand your fitness habits. Health Promotions also has the latest technology to help you develop a plan to achieve fitness resolutions.

Holtz says, regardless of your goals, she recommends using the Bod Pod, a body fat composition test. For more in-depth testing, Holtz suggests using the InBody testing which yields similar results to the Bod Pod, but testing is broken down by different sections of the body.

“That’s good for people who’ve been in rehab and they’re imbalanced somehow,” said Holtz.

These tests also help to understand your strengths and weaknesses to reduce the risk of injury.

So what are some things you can do to ensure your fitness goals will be reached?

Sleep is an important factor in fitness. Holtz says that a lack of sleep can lead to increased weight gain. She recommends at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Also, having a well-balanced diet is key to seeing results. For members who work long hours, Holtz suggests preparing meals for the workweek to avoid eating out.

She adds that you should also consume at least 1 gallon of water per day so that your body does not confuse thirst for hunger, which causes overeating. 

For those who are always away from home, Health Promotions offers many options for eating while traveling. They have a variety of workouts to do when gym equipment is not available.

Holtz says if you are not seeing results, get a reassessment screening or retrieve information from other places on JBSA-Lackland. The Military & Family Readiness Center, Behavioral Health and the Nutrition Clinic are all valuable resources.

Know that you do not have to work towards your goals alone.

Holtz says it is best to surround yourself with people who support your goals, so dependents and family members are also eligible to visit Health Promotions. Holtz says she loves meeting new people and is ready to help you reach your goals.

“This is my passion,” Holtz said. “I live and breathe this.”

Health Promotions is located at the JBSA-Lackland Warhawk Fitness Assessment Center. For more information, visit https://jbsatoday.com/LAK-Warhawk-Fitness-Center.