For those with weight control issues, have you seen anything like this?

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:11:36 -0400

For those that have been on the not-so-slim side of weight in the military have you seen or experienced this? Many have the problem of Yo-Yo dieting or "cutting" weight to make H/W requirements for their respective branch or risk being chaptered. Should this be something that leaders brief their troops on along with the inherent dangers of quickly loosing weight and not keeping it off?

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Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2015 2:17 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:17:41 -0400

It should be but we also should be monitoring those folks throughout the year, not just at the time for making weight. Although we only weigh in twice a year, we have an obligation to be in "fighting shape" all the time. I am all for slightly relaxing standards and making the PRT pass/fail only but having it be a surprise, not scheduled.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Aug 31 at 2015 2:19 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:19:26 -0400

I have seen this more times then I could count. I actually seen I guy pass out on the track during his PT test because he was so dehydrated from trying to make his waist measurement (which he did by just over an inch) to still fail by not completing the run.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2015 2:19 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:19:33 -0400

I once had a Marine pass out in the sauna wearing a sauna suit lined with sweats due to the impending weight in. I explained maintenance VS purge to her.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 31 at 2015 2:25 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:25:22 -0400

Extreme dieting and fads are also to blame for this growing epidemic. I have been a Soldier for over 20 years had to deal with the outdated body-fat testing of the service since enlistment. The BLUF is be aware that you are a Military member who needs to be taped be cognitive of your weight and or measurements.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Aug 31 at 2015 2:41 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:41:47 -0400

Funny how one only gets counseled when they fail the weigh in / body fat or PRT. If you barely make it then no one says anything. But once you fail, its like you are now public enemy number 1.
We need to educate our military better on eating and exercise habits. I know that myself, I was out of shape and I just didn't care as long as I passed my PRT every 6 months. Most people won't admit to having a weight problem until it slaps you in the face. We train for almost every possible scenario so why not train on proper eating and exercising as well and stress that throughout the year instead of when someone fails PRT.

Response by 2d Lt Kimberly Twohig-Gaddie made Aug 31 at 2015 3:28 PM

2d Lt Kimberly Twohig-Gaddie — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 15:28:02 -0400

Sadly saw a lot of this while working for the defense counsel office on base with people failing PT tests. We would have airmen who would do body wraps (plastic wrap with icy/hot to dehydrate the skin/stomach and lose some inches), excessive time in saunas, and similar stories already commented on. The sad part was they were so focused on the waist/weight measurement that once they passed it they didn't realize the damage they were doing to their muscles and often would fail the sit-ups portion because their muscles were so fatigued. Too many people waiting until the last minute to get in shape essentially is what it boiled down to and they ended up paying for it with paperwork.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Aug 31 at 2015 4:46 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 16:46:44 -0400

Funny thing is that weight is always mentioned as something that will kill you. Weigh too much you will die from heart disease. Weigh too little, your organs are unprotected, and your body consumes its muscle mass to feed itself. Yo Yo dieting, and you die because your body can't adjust to the constant changes. Weigh your scientifically determined ideal weight, and you ride around on your fucking unicorn because nobody weighs their scientifically determined ideal weight.

Same goes with food. Look at fat. First it was eat no fat. Then it was fat is good. Now it is some fat of the right kind is good. Don't eat grilled meats because the carcinogens will give you cancer. Eat all the grilled meat you want, the carcinogens are filtered by the body. Eat lots of fruit. Don't eat too much fruit because it is loaded with sugar.

How much exercise is enough, how much is too much?

Finally, servings and portion control also are a huge problem. What's worse is that the food companies know this. Put two servings of juice in a bottle, and turn the masses loose. People will buy the bottle, and drink the whole bottle without looking on the back to see that they just consumed two servings at 150 calories each in one guzzle. In the U.S. we eat huge portions of high fat foods. We go out to eat, and eat all that is served without considering how much an actual serving is compared to what is served. Another new(ish) trend is the never ending side dishes. Order a burger, and they will bring french fries until you go into a food coma. Wake up from the food coma, and they bring another basket of fries. It has become culturally acceptable to binge eat when we go out to a restaurant.

All of these being said, I have been in a war with my waist since I hit puberty. I have been as low as 220 pounds, and as high as 435 pounds. The reality is, until the individual decides that they are no longer happy with the way their lifestyle is effecting their weight, no change is sustainable. It doesn't matter if a doctor says "keep eating that and you will die young." If the person does not want to make a lifestyle change, then no change is going to happen. In the last two years I went from 435 down to 370 back up to 410, and now I am back down to 353. I am determined to get back to my best health weight of 220. I have not just changed my diet and exercise, I have changed my approach. I had to change the way I think about life. Do I want a whopper with bacon, or do I want to be able to go hiking without stopping every half mile? Do I really want that Dr. Pepper, or do I want to not be a diabetic? The biggest thing for me has been taking small steps in the right direction to slowly change my habits over time. Once a habit is established, then it becomes like second nature to do the things that need to be done.

It is and it is not the service's responsibility to help their members maintain weight standards. Serving up a 2,000 calorie breakfast is okay for Marine's going on a two day patrol in which they will burn 20,000 or more calories. It is not okay for the sailor going from the mess deck to the CIC to be served that same 2,000 calorie breakfast. Of course the sailor should also choose not to eat that 2,000 calorie breakfast opting instead for fewer calories based on their activity level. When I was in the Navy, the portions that were served at meal times were substantially more than one serving. Again, it is okay when going out to do field exercises, but not so much when going to the shop for cleaning and PM. It should be encouraged for any service member who has down time, and wants to go exercise to do so. The healthy lifestyle of military members should be a part of the culture every day, not just on the days before and after a PFT cycle.

The Navy is a largely sedentary branch of the service. We go to sea on a small grey island. There are a large number of jobs that are more mentally demanding than they are physically demanding. It is easy to fall into bad habits. This is where training comes in. Training to not fall into bad habits. Training to not put off health, training to remain able to maintain standards. I wish that when I was in the Navy I had headed my own advice. I hope that anyone reading this who battles the weight demon will make an investment in their own life, and make positive changes.

Sorry for the rant, I just hope that someone can be saved from what I did to myself.

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Aug 31 at 2015 9:10 PM

TSgt Marco McDowell — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:10:20 -0400

I had a guy get gastric bypass,another get male breast reduction and another starve himself to brain damage. Maybe the DoD should take some of this sex change money and develop a services wide physical fitness SOP that can help all. Especially those who just can't maintain no matter what is the current PT program. Those guys weren't out of shape just plump and couldn't pass taping or BMI...terrible that a 25 year old is getting GB just so he can continue doing what he loves and the best offered was run more and eat vegetables.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2015 12:10 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:10:37 -0400

We all have our opinions but 600-9 and 7-22 obviously supports this type of thing. Commanders are urged to conduct tape test at least 7 days prior to APFT as some Soldiers may crash diet and may not perform as well.

Response by MAJ Anthony Henderson made Sep 1 at 2015 4:27 PM

MAJ Anthony Henderson — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:27:39 -0400

I had to fight this battle after I hurt my knee. There are two schools of thought behind the AFPT and height and weight standard. When I joined the Army I weighed 164 pounds. I was underweight by Army standards so I started lifting weights. Soon I was up to about 180 or 185 maybe even 190. I remember getting ready to go to PDLC and I was over the weight standard but when they did the Pinch Test (Pre-Tape Test) I passed. I was lifting weights and playing basketball almost every day. After knowing that I would probably no longer make weight I concentrated on meeting the body fat standard.

The first school of thought is if you are within a few pounds of making the weight standard lose the weight safely. i.e. change your diet or increase your activity.

The second school of thought is if you know you cannot make weight learn what you need to meet the body fat standard. I had mine memorized and knew after the first measurement if I would pass or not.

But above all of these, work to achieve or surpass the standard. Each of us has had our own battles with weight or other things. Sometimes there are other factors that could be causing the problem. Remember stress and anxiety can cause us to eat more and lose our focus in working out. Also grief and remorse can cause us to spiral into depression that causes us to withdraw and lose focus. Remember your resiliency training and focus on what is good.

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Sep 2 at 2015 1:26 AM

PFC Robert Falk — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 01:26:31 -0400

I have 100 lbs to lose before I am down where I should be. It ain't easy.

Response by GySgt Moses Lozano made Sep 2 at 2015 11:11 AM

GySgt Moses Lozano — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 11:11:19 -0400

I always hated how fat officers and senior enlisted got away with being out of weight requirements while everyone else had to go on crazy ass and unhealthy diets every six months!

Response by SCPO Penny Douphinett made Sep 2 at 2015 6:19 PM

SCPO Penny Douphinett — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:19:04 -0400

As a woman who had children while on active duty, the twice yearly PRT/weigh-in took on a whole new light. Before I had my children it was never a problem. Afterward, I always flirted with failure, but managed to squeak by each time. I was a charter member of the 3 mile a year club even as a senior enlisted. Not that I am proud of this, but the Navy pays lip service to a culture of fitness and uses fitness standards as a way to lower its numbers.

Response by CW2 Michael Berthiaume made Sep 3 at 2015 4:58 AM

CW2 Michael Berthiaume — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:58:54 -0400

The problem with the military is no one ever taught or put together a Nutrition plan for people. They just had them do "Remedial " PT and then hardly went past that. Physical training without Nutrition plan is not going to yield great results. I may have done 27 years in the Military but I learned 10 Times more since I have been a Coach with Beachbody. Happy to help anyone I can with their Nutrition.

Response by PO2 Angelika Laist made Sep 3 at 2015 2:44 PM

PO2 Angelika Laist — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:44:06 -0400

H/W requirements are currently being changed. I do believe that yoyo dieting is dangerous and should be a training subject among all branches. I never made weight, always had t be taped, but was one of the highest PT performers with great stamina. Fitness should not be judged on size. I would not want to have to rely on a "skinny-fat" person to pull me out of a burning space!
However, Common sense should be used to stay fit while in the service. Staying fit as a life mantra eliminates the bi-yearly PT anxiety.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 5 at 2015 4:54 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 16:54:00 -0400

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 1:54 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 01:54:26 -0400

The military is the perfect place to stay fit if you aren't a malingerer. Laziness and a lack of drive are not excusable. eating habits and effective diets are readily available on the internet and most posts have dieticians and weight management programs in there respective health clinics.