Hurlburt Field takes Air Force Fit Family contest

Published Aug. 31, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Sarah Martinez
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In a world filled with convenient fast food it can be tempting to splurge, which can make it difficult to keep fit and healthy. However, one family has found the determination to get fit by taking a chance on a new Air Force program.

The program is the Air Force Fit Family, which is a Web site that inspires Air Force families to 'Get up. Get out. Get fit. Together.' Maj. Christopher Edwards, 1st Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight commander, and his wife, Maria, have been recognized as an 'Air Force Fit Family of the Month' for August.

One of the Air Force Fit Family's goals is to recognize the achievements of family members which in turn help motivate other Air Force families to get healthy and stay on track.

The Air Force Fit Family program uses a point and level system to keep track of the progress each family enrolled in the program is making. The families can earn points by completing a variety of activities and then logging those activities into the Web site. There are five levels, the more points a family logs the higher the level they achieve.

"We've been enrolled since February and have 380,000 points, which is level one," Major Edwards said. "But our focus has been on using the Web site to get ideas, not to score points."

The Fit Family Web site promotes overall wellness by providing resources, ideas and goal-setting tools to help Air Force Families stay active and make healthy nutritional decisions.

The Edwards' do a lot of activities together like walking, gardening and swimming.

"We do 20 to 30 minute walks every day and we spend quite a bit of time on the yard," Major Edwards said. "We utilize the base swimming pool as well."

The Edwards' also grow some of their own vegetables in their garden. This green-thumb trait is one that they both share from childhoods spent farming.

"I think growing vegetables and working outside is very important to keep ourselves healthy," Mrs. Edwards said. "It's better to have real food than fast food and it is important to show the new generation where real food comes from."

The Air Force Fit Family Web site has several different activities families can choose from so they can stay fit and still have fun.

"Don't be afraid of trying new things," Mrs. Edwards said. "Because once you try (something) and you like it, then you have fun doing it."

For more information on the Air Force Fit Family program, visit, www.usaffitfamily.com.