Taking back their health

We want to introduce you to Airmen who’ve taken back their health through physical training and eating right.  Men and women who’ve overcome physical adversity and used it to make themselves stronger.  One such Airman is Master Sgt. Jeff Clouse, 19th Medical Operations Support Squadron

What happened that made you make a conscious decision to really get fit and healthy?

I failed a physical training test at a point in my career that really opened my eyes.

What did your typical preparation look like when preparing for a fitness assessment prior to your failure?

Typically, two months out, I would begin running 3 times per week and would utilize squadron PT.

Since that failure a couple of years ago, how has your preparation changed?

Training year round would be the most significant change. I utilize the tools and training I learned while attending Vital 90. In addition, I constantly evaluate my diet.

What’s the most important fitness lesson you’ve learned through the process?

Fitness and health are a balance of exercise and diet. You can’t forget about your diet.

Which battle is most important when tackling fitness? Is it the physical battle or mental battle?

The mental battle is definitely the tougher challenge. Food is an addiction we eat out of habit. I had eaten poorly for 35 years before it caught up with me. Learning how to better fuel my body has been a real challenge. In addition, pushing through physical challenges takes mental toughness that requires a person to reach outside their comfort zone into places that are both physically and mentally uncomfortable, but that’s how you improve.

Do you have a favorite training method?

I prefer the style I learned in Vital 90. It challenges me and forces me to break through mental barriers that I wouldn’t get to with just running or lifting weights. It’s the combination and variety that challenges my body both physically and mentally.

Do you have a diet strategy and if so explain?

I limit the things that aren’t healthy for me like sodas and sugar and I try to follow balanced diet with healthy snacks. I’ve learned to keep poor food choices out of my house, if they aren’t available I won’t eat them. If you keep poor choices in the house you will eventually have a weak moment and fall back into bad habits.

What is the most significant thing you’ve changed about your diet?

I quit drinking sodas and removed the creamer and sugars from coffee. Just cutting those 2 alone allowed me to lose my first 10 pounds.

How has getting fit changed your life?

It’s allowed me to enjoy a much more active life and reduced the amount of stress leading into fitness assessments. Before I changed my habits, I constantly feared the PT test. I no longer fear the test because I prepare my body every day to be strong and healthy which keeps me ready for any test that comes my way.

What advice do you have for Airmen who are struggling with their fitness assessment and weight?  

Make a plan and stick to it. Use the resources the Little Rock Air Force Base has to offer. Attend the Vital 90 classes as they are free and they will push you beyond your normal limits. However, the biggest advice I can give Airmen today is not to give up. We all worry about tests. We all fall short on our goals at times. Pick yourself up and keep pushing forward, you only fail when you quit.