Get fit and healthier by balancing lifestyle Published June 21, 2016 By Dave Smith 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Summer is almost here and for those who are looking to get fit, eat healthier and lose weight, the Peterson Health and Wellness Center has a solution. The newest 12-week group Lifestyle Balance Class launches June 30, 1 – 2 p.m. at the HAWC classroom. Registration must be complete by June 27 and class size is limited to 20 members. It is open to anyone with access to Peterson Air Force Base who is at least 18 years old.Similar classes start throughout the year, but nothing was planned for summer to help people get through the season healthy and in shape, said HAWC Dietician Tiffany Brunton. “(The classes are) popular and we are getting full classes, so we know there is demand,” Brunton said. The class will meet each week and includes the same people in each session to build camaraderie. Each session covers a new topic such as general nutrition, how to dine out and how to treat fats. A commissary tour is part of the curriculum too, where class members learn how to shop properly and read nutrition labels, Brunton said. Physical activity such as basic body weight movements that people can do anywhere, or with very little equipment, is included as well. “We want to help them increase (physical activity) because it is as important as nutrition is,” she said. Those attending the classes will keep a food log and weigh in each week. Brunton will then offer suggestions about making better food choices. Participants also undergo lab procedures for lipids and glucose levels. If they have TriCare, Brunton can track lab results and provide further input. Ideas and methods for healthy recipes and snacks will be shared during class sessions as well.“It’s not just lectures all of the time,” said Brinton. “There is open discussion so people can get involved with the group. It’s like a support system.”The support doesn’t end when the 12-week period does. The number of sessions reduces to twice a month for three months. During the following six months participants can choose to continue with a monthly session rounding out a full year of involvement.“They still have that accountability, but not the weekly commitment,” Brunton said. ‘It’s an opportunity for this program to be available year round.”A major benefit to the program is that it takes a hands-on approach, allowing lifestyle changes to be incorporated at a slower, steadier pace. If someone in the class is struggling with a particular issue, Brunton said it can be dealt with more quickly. “We want to be able to get them to try new things,” she said. “It’s the kind of setting that helps improve their progress.”For more information, or to register for the class, contact Brunton at (719) 556-5787 or by email at tiffany.brunton.ctr@us.af.mil