"Fit to Live:" Officer makes room for fitness in busy work schedule, reaps benefits Published June 29, 2006 By Capt. Thomas Sebastiani <br /> 436th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Everyone has heard of "Fit to Fight." It's a slogan that captured the intent of Air Force health experts when they realized that a significant number of Airmen were not healthy enough to sustain a battlefield lifestyle.I applaud these experts in making a solid push to jumpstart our Airmen into a healthier lifestyle. However, if a fancy slogan and a new Air Force Instruction on physical training is what it takes for this "significant number" of Airmen to get healthy, then they are truly missing out on life. Along with a majority of our Air Force personnel, I've experienced the 12-hour shifts, working four days on and two days off, when you barely have enough time to do laundry and pay your bills - let alone eat a full dinner.It was also during these times when I neglected my health. I sacrificed getting eight hours of sleep to indulge myself with CSI: Las Vegas. When I woke up, I was too tired to exercise. I always ordered an extra large coffee with my egg and cheese bagel at the nearest fast food stop on the way to work. When those seldom days off rolled around, I didn't want to waste an hour exercising. Besides, I told myself that I needed to do chores to catch up, so I could get ready for the next work cycle.Everybody's been there at one point in their life. Unfortunately, some people stay there.Being healthy or not is a choice - it's YOUR choice.When I was in this black hole of unhealthy living, I was always tired and had a negative outlook towards things. Coincidentally, I was in the worst shape of my life. I chose to turn this downward spiral around - not because the Air Force told me I had to, but because I wanted to live happier and healthier, for myself and my family.After only a few weeks of eating well, sleeping enough and routinely exercising, my lifestyle was flip-flopped, and I was full of positive energy. This energy eventually translated into a better lifestyle for me and those around me. I wasn't sleepy throughout the day, I had the energy to go home and actually get something accomplished, whether it was playing with my children or making a full dinner. I even slept better.Lastly, and probably the least important to me, my PT scores went up. So when the Air Force health experts came out with their catchy slogan, instead of Fit to Fight, what I think they really were trying to say was "Fit to Live."Please don't waste your time being unhealthy; rather, invest in your life by making the right decisions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Your boss will be happier, your spouse will be happier, and, most importantly, YOU will be happier.