Fitmas

Senior Airman Kevin Cleveland, 86th Dental Squadron dental assistant, prepares for a Delicious Abs workout class on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 11, 2012. Cleveland regularly attends the Delicious Abs class on Tuesdays and Thursday from 6:15 till 7 p.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan)

Fitmas

Staff Sgt. Kedist Burnett, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen dorm leader and Delicious Abs class instructor, motivates Stacy Stewart, 409th Contracting Support Brigade contract specialist, during a workout on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 11, 2012. Delcious Abs is a mixture of workouts designed to improve core strength. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan)

Fitmas

Staff Sgt. Kedist Burnett, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen dorm leader and Delicious Abs class instructor, leads his class in an exercise on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 11, 2012. Delcious Abs is a mixture of workouts designed to improve core strength. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan)

It's beginning to feel a lot like Fitmas

Published Dec. 14, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The winter holidays are a time for family and feasting for many around the Kaiserslautern Military Community. However, it can also be a time to win the war against those extra holiday pounds with the aide of the Southside Fitness Center and their Fitmas program.

The Fitmas program started Dec. 1 and finished Dec. 15 and had a total of 19 classes to choose from. The free classes began as early as 6 a.m. and ended as late as 8:15 p.m. Programs ranged from cardio kickboxing and indoor cycling, to Zumba, pilates and a core-focused, Delicious Abs class.

Fitmas isn't just about personal goals, it's a family affair.

"Families show up here...it's not just an all for one mentality," said Staff Sgt. Kedist Burnett, Delicious Abs instructor. "Parents show up with their children, and even retirees, and kids from the high school make it out."

During work outs, Burnett said his class wasn't there to max out each exercise, they attend because they had a goal.

Senior Airman Kevin Cleveland, 86th Dental Squadron dental assistant, has been sculpting his core on and off for the past three months.

"During workouts I sometimes wonder why I am here. Afterward, I always feel better and feel like I've earned something," said Cleveland. "After several classes I am able to put my hands on some results, and I'm still consistently getting better."

Cleveland isn't the only person to notice the results.

"I've seen many improvements from those (who) keep coming back," said Airman 1st Class Alyson Silidker, 786th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist. "When someone takes our classes and sticks with it, the rewards become obvious."

Silidker has faith that upbeat and family-friendly programs, like the ones the fitness center offers, are a great way to defeat the war against those extra holiday pounds.

Christmas arrived early for those in the Fitmas program. Better bodies were taken home, along with small prizes.

For more information about classes, call the Southside Fitness Center at DSN 480-0295, or commercial 06371-47-0295.