Jerry Stapleton receives a certificate of completion and the grand prize for being the “Biggest Loser” in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center and Civilian Health Promotion Program from Melody Brown, the post’s Health and Wellness Center program manager, at the Civilian Health Promotion graduation ceremony held June 18 at the Gordon Club. He lost 21.8 pounds during the nine week program. Bonnie Heater When Jerry Stapleton was traveling a lot with his job as a contractor at Fort Gordon he didn’t realize how fast the pounds were piling up. Fast food and eating on the run played havoc to his physique and overall health.

Shortly after he changed jobs, [now Stapleton is a Department of the Army employee working in Training and Development at Vincent Hall], he signed up for the post’s Civilian Health Promotion program. Little did he know how effective the nine week program would be for himself, but for his wife Juanita too!

Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center team is the post’s 2010 Women’s Softball Champions. They defeated the Navy June 17 with a score of 18-12. During a double elimination game held June 22 against Company B, 369th Signal Battalion the DDEAMC ladies stomped B-369, 23-3 in the first playoff game and took the first place trophy home after beating B-369, 14-10 in the second elimination game. Courtesy Photo “What I learned in the program I shared with my wife,” said Stapleton. “She lost 40 pounds and I lost 21.8 pounds and I feel great! The program saved my life.”

At the time Stapleton signed up for the program his blood cholesterol level was borderline, but since his participation in the program it has decreased. “Before the program we drank a lot of sodas and ate junk food,” said Stapleton. “Now we eat more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish and lean meat and we regularly workout.”

The Civilian Health Promotion Program has been in existence at Dwight D. Eisenhower Health and Wellness Center for the past 12 years, according to Community Health Nurse, Melody Brown,R.N., the program director. Army Regulation 600-63 allows for Department of Defense civilians to be granted three hours of administrative leave per week to afford structured health education and fitness activities program. It’s offered three times a year at no cost to the participants.

The Civilian Health Promotion program is hosted by the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center.

It’s to ‘jump start’ civilians into living a healthier lifestyle,” said Brown. In order to participate DoD civilians must obtain written permission and agreement from their supervisor and approval from their health care provider.

“Unlike the “Biggest Loser” program on television, Melody [Brown] and Quinton [Best, a nurse educator with the program] don’t get in your face and scream and yell at you,” said Jeanne Stewart, one of participants in the program. “They offer encouragement.”

Both Stewart and Stapleton joined 16 other participants in the Civilian Health Promotion program graduation ceremony/luncheon held June 18 at the Gordon Club. All received certificates for completing the program which ran from April 20 to June 17.

Stapleton won the “Biggest Loser” award for the men after losing 21.8 pounds and Glennis Martin won the award for the women after shedding 11.8 pounds and 7.25 inches.

“We are proud of our program participants,” said the program director. “Most of them lowered their cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. A few of the participants held onto a wall at first during exercises because they had problem with balance; now it’s not a problem for them.”

The program also builds confidence. “I learned I could work out on my own,” said Patricia Boyd. “At first, I didn’t think I could walk two miles now I look forward to it. This program taught me to take time out for myself.”

At the start of the program each participant undergoes an initial assessment where their endurance, gate and flexibility is observed during a three-minute step test.

Participants meet from 3 to 4 p.m. three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).

Introduction to fitness and proper shoes, mental wellness, nutrition, and spiritual wellness training are offered in the education classes held Wednesdays at the Health and Wellness Center, Building 29605, on Barnes Avenue.

Fitness training is conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Fort Gordon Fitness Center on Barnes Avenue. Participants perform lowimpact floor aerobics, exercises on the stability ball, cardio training on Nautilus equipment and weightlifting training in the program.

The last day of class a three-mile walk is conducted and a final assessment of one’s progress is made.

During this class graduation Chaplain (Col.) Craig Wiley gave the invocation.

The next CHPP session starts Sept. 14. Enrollment is limited to the first 25 individuals to complete the enrollment process.