New program challenges Laughlin women to be 'fit 4 life' Published May 1, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Olufemi A. Owolabi 47th Flying Training Wing LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In an effort to help promote a healthy-living lifestyle for all Laughlin women, two members here are taking advantage of Women's Health Week to encourage all women to participate in a program tagged "Woman Challenge" starting May 11. Woman Challenge, a program designed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase women's fitness level, is a free eight-week, web-based program for women and girls, ages 9 and above. "The Woman Challenge literally challenges women to set aside eight weeks of time for themselves and try to become a healthier individual," said Lauren Koether, base fitness director and a co-organizer of the Laughlin's Woman Challenge program. "So many women take care of their work, family, and friends before they take care of themselves. I believe that if women take care of themselves first, they can in turn be better caregivers to their families, a better employee, and a more attentive friend." Grisel Sanchez, 47th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron's Health and Wellness Center, discovered the program while researching programs to observe Women's Health Week. During her research, some facts caught her attention on the Department of Health websites. "I noticed a study that showed walking briskly about three hours a week, reduced the risk of a heart attack by 40 percent," she said. "And women who started walking at age 65 had the same benefit, even if they never exercised by walking before." This discovery prompted her to register as Laughlin's team captain for the Woman Challenge program. She also recruited Koether to help her explain the benefits and how the program works to all Laughlin women. "One of the benefits of the program is that it allows people on the team to decide what their personal goals would be," Sanchez said. "Though they are on a team, they will choose their own physical activity goal for each week to fit their lifestyles. It can be as simple as taking 10,000 steps five out of the seven days to 30 minutes of aerobic conditioning five out of the 7 days of the week." After registering and joining Team Laughlin Fit 4 Life at www.womenshealth.gov/woman, all participants will receive motivational emails containing health information and regular progress report of the their personal activity on the interactive website's log tracker. At the end of the week, Laughlin will be awarded up to two points as a team. According to Sanchez, for the program to succeed, it will be a total team effort. "We will get one point if most women complete at least most of their personal goal each week," she said. "The other point will be given to the team if all team members achieve their personal goals for the week, which would give us 2 points total." By the end of the eight weeks, Laughlin should have 16 points, which will allow the team to virtually walk from San Antonio, Texas to Spanish Town, Virgin Islands. "I want to challenge the women of Laughlin AFB to do something for themselves for once and take the Woman Challenge," Koether said. "Giving eight weeks of yourself could change your entire life." For more information or help joining the team, Laughlin women should contact Grisel Sanchez at 298-6465 or Lauren Koether at 298-4630.