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For Sgt. Timothy Finney, a shift worker at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, extra weight was beginning to interfere with his career — most importantly, the chance to work a day job.
The 25-year-old Soldier, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USDB, began to gain weight and failed a tape measure test. He decided to take action and joined the Army Move! weight loss support program after consulting with his primary care provider at Munson Army Health Center.
Nearly seven months later, Finney has lost more than 50 pounds. At six-foot-three, Finney went from about 270 pounds to the low 220s. His body mass index went from a 34 to a 27, and he’s having an easier time with the physical fitness test.
Finney is now working a day job and looking toward his next promotion as well.
“The biggest change is my self-confidence,” he said. “I started fitting back into my old clothes, and just overall when you look in the mirror you see the difference.”
Marcy Sedwick, registered dietitian for MAHC, teaches the Army Move! class and has also started a new support group for anyone with a military ID who is interested in weight loss. The four-week Army Move! classes meet 8-9:30 a.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and the support group meets at noon Tuesdays.
As part of the program, participants examine their issues with nutrition, physical fitness and behavioral health to succeed at losing weight. Kyle Parks, physical therapist, and Don Cook, behavioral health social worker, also teach the program. Participants keep food journals and weigh in once each week at MAHC.
Sedwick said she recommends participants first seek a referral to join the program from their primary care provider. People who are obese or overweight can be at risk for serious health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, and may need medical treatment as well as weight loss. Finney, for example, found out he had a thyroid condition that contributed to his weight gain.
“It’s really a team effort to see if something’s medically affecting your weight gain,” Sedwick said.
She also said anytime is a good time for Soldiers to examine weight loss.
“I would like to help people year round, not just before they stress out the last two or three weeks before their PT test,” she said.
Sedwick said for those who can’t make it to the Army Move! classes, there is also an Army Knowledge Online version of the class.
Finney said the program helped him be more honest with himself about how many calories he takes in in and how much exercise he’s really getting. Finney said he started making small changes in his life; he’s certain these changes will keep his weight loss permanent.
Finney said he rarely went to the gym before participating in the program, but now he goes almost daily. Finney said he knows how challenging weight loss can be, but encourages fellow Soldiers by telling them the changes in their lives do make a difference.
“You’ve got to change your mood a little bit, because you have to set yourself into a routine,” he said.
Finney also said with a possible reduction in personnel for the Army on the horizon, it doesn’t hurt to meet the highest physical fitness standards he can attain.
For Sgt. Timothy Finney, a shift worker at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, extra weight was beginning to interfere with his career — most importantly, the chance to work a day job.
The 25-year-old Soldier, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USDB, began to gain weight and failed a tape measure test. He decided to take action and joined the Army Move! weight loss support program after consulting with his primary care provider at Munson Army Health Center.
Nearly seven months later, Finney has lost more than 50 pounds. At six-foot-three, Finney went from about 270 pounds to the low 220s. His body mass index went from a 34 to a 27, and he’s having an easier time with the physical fitness test.
Finney is now working a day job and looking toward his next promotion as well.
“The biggest change is my self-confidence,” he said. “I started fitting back into my old clothes, and just overall when you look in the mirror you see the difference.”
Marcy Sedwick, registered dietitian for MAHC, teaches the Army Move! class and has also started a new support group for anyone with a military ID who is interested in weight loss. The four-week Army Move! classes meet 8-9:30 a.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and the support group meets at noon Tuesdays.
As part of the program, participants examine their issues with nutrition, physical fitness and behavioral health to succeed at losing weight. Kyle Parks, physical therapist, and Don Cook, behavioral health social worker, also teach the program. Participants keep food journals and weigh in once each week at MAHC.
Sedwick said she recommends participants first seek a referral to join the program from their primary care provider. People who are obese or overweight can be at risk for serious health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, and may need medical treatment as well as weight loss. Finney, for example, found out he had a thyroid condition that contributed to his weight gain.
“It’s really a team effort to see if something’s medically affecting your weight gain,” Sedwick said.
She also said anytime is a good time for Soldiers to examine weight loss.
“I would like to help people year round, not just before they stress out the last two or three weeks before their PT test,” she said.
Sedwick said for those who can’t make it to the Army Move! classes, there is also an Army Knowledge Online version of the class.
Finney said the program helped him be more honest with himself about how many calories he takes in in and how much exercise he’s really getting. Finney said he started making small changes in his life; he’s certain these changes will keep his weight loss permanent.
Finney said he rarely went to the gym before participating in the program, but now he goes almost daily. Finney said he knows how challenging weight loss can be, but encourages fellow Soldiers by telling them the changes in their lives do make a difference.
“You’ve got to change your mood a little bit, because you have to set yourself into a routine,” he said.
Finney also said with a possible reduction in personnel for the Army on the horizon, it doesn’t hurt to meet the highest physical fitness standards he can attain.
