HAWC healthy living classes can help reach 2011 goals Published Jan. 5, 2011 By Stephanie McCann Health and wellness center KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The seemingly non-stop pace of the holiday season has slowed down and 2011 is finally here. Before the pace picks back up again with a vengeance and you still have a few minutes for quiet reflection, take the time to think about things you would like to change in your lifestyle during the year ahead. Some people are anxious to drop the extra pounds accumulated between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Others may be ready to stop smoking or to start an exercise program. If your New Year's resolution involves building a healthier lifestyle, the professionals at the health and wellness center can help you jumpstart your program. The following classes or programs are offered on a recurring basis each month: Balanced Eating --Workout Effectively -- Live Long (BE WELL) -- A 2 1/2- hour workshop designed for individuals who are interested in improving their health and fitness. This program involves briefings and classroom activities that focus on setting realistic goals for exercise and healthful eating behaviors. BE WELL is now offered every Tuesday with alternating morning and afternoon sessions available. Although BE WELL is tailored for activeduty personnel interested in improving fitness test performance, this class is open to others as space allows. BEWELL running module -- This one-hour class provides specific guidance on running form, footwear, safety and surfaces, as well as training tips to enhance readiness for the Air Force fitness assessment. Participants should wear running gear. BE WELL strength training module ---This one-hour class helps participants develop a balanced strength training program. Equipment and examples are reviewed for exercising core, chest, back, leg and arm muscle groups. Specific guidance is also provided on pushups and crunches. Participants should dress in workout clothes. BE WELL healthy weight module ---This one-hour class offers guidance for individuals desiring additional information on nutrition concerns specific to weight loss and weight management. The Sensible Weigh -- This three-week lifestyle change program is designed to optimize long-term weight and fitness. Sessions are held on Monday afternoons and last 1 to 1½ hours each week. In Week 1, the focus is on strategies to achieve a healthful diet and developing skills and techniques for self-monitoring. In Week 2, the group explores behavior change strategies and building positive partnerships to facilitate lifelong weight management and fitness. In Week 3, the focus is on building a physical activity and exercise program. This class is open to all members of the Keesler community. Eating out healthfully -- This one-hour class, typically offered at lunch time as a lunch-and-learn activity, assists participants in selecting more healthy meals at restaurants, buffets and fastfood establishments. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch. Food label reading -- This one-hour class provides an armchair tour of the various products found in the supermarket and assists participants in making more informed choices about what to eat by reading food labels more effectively. Gait analysis--Individual one-hour appointments with the HAWC's exercise physiologist are available to analyze running gait. Individuals must wear running gear and shoes to run on a treadmill. Smoking cessation -- Individuals have two choices when attempting to quit with assistance from the HAWC. Option 1 is classroom-based with four one-hour sessions. Start any Wednesday at either the noon or 5 p.m. class. Option 2 is a 12-week call-in quit line to the American Lung Association. Blood pressure measurements and weekly calls are required to receive medication. Continued support after completion of either program is available. All programs are open to active-duty members, Department of Defense employees, retirees and dependents. For more information, call the HAWC, 376-3170.