Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Clear Your Cache

Health.mil has undergone a recent update. For the best user experience we recommend clearing your browser cache.

Get into fighting weight with the 2021 Total Force Fitness Challenge

Image of Soldier, wearing a mask, with fists ready to punch. The Defense Health Agency encourages all beneficiaries to ‘Get Into Fighting Weight.'

Weight gain around the holiday season is common. However, this year’s ongoing social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19 could present new challenges for those trying to stay in shape.

On Jan. 4, 2021, the Uniformed Services University’s Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) launched the 2021 Total Force Fitness Challenge: Get Into Fighting Weight. This campaign will help Military Service Members recommit to their fitness and weight goals by taking on challenges that promote aspects of health and performance that can impact their weight.

“Embracing the Total Force Fitness framework is essential for weight loss, which means taking a holistic approach,” said Dr. Patricia Deuster, a professor at the Uniformed Services University and executive director of CHAMP. “This translates into forming healthy eating behaviors, making sure to get the right amount of exercise, having a positive outlook, being connected socially, committing to a realistic goal, and being ready. Success is more likely with a TFF approach than focusing on only one behavior.”

Human Performance Resources by CHAMP highlights strategies and resources from their Get Into Fighting Weight: A Total Force Fitness Guide. This guide takes an integrative approach to weight loss that is safe and sustainable. The five challenges detailed in the guide will help you learn how to set your own goals to meet your Service’s readiness standards. Each week on various social media platforms, HPRC will post resources, including live video discussions around that week’s challenge.

Someone trying to lose weight might consider dietary supplements as a quick solution to lose weight. Supplements might seem like the easiest way, but they also might not be safe or effective. Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) joins the Challenge to help Military Service Members and healthcare providers sort through information on popular ingredients and dietary supplement products marketed for weight loss. OPSS will also post updated articles and tools daily on social media, including live video discussions.

In conjunction with Military OneSource, both HPRC and OPSS will participate in daily live events every Wednesdays in January. Tune into each chat and submit your questions in the comment section by visiting Military OneSource’s Facebook page (@MilitaryOneSource) to view and participate live. 

  • Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST
    - Get into Fighting Weight Challenge 2: Create a one week meal plan
  • Added bonus! Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST
    - Get into Fighting Weight: Dietary Supplements and Weight Loss
  • Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST
    - Get into Fighting Weight Challenge 3: Get enough exercise
  • Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST
    - Get into Fighting Weight Challenge 4: Get 7-8 hours of sleep
  • Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST
    - Get into Fighting Weight Challenge 5: Manage stress

Each daily live event will also be available for viewing on Military OneSource’s social media pages after they air.

You can join the challenge by following HPRC (@HPRConline) and OPSS (@OPSSinfo) on social media. Follow their posts and share your progress using #TFFChallenge2021. 

You also may be interested in...

Topic
Feb 25, 2025

Public Health

Public Health supports the move from a health care system to a system of health by focusing on the prevention of disease, disability, and death in garrison and while deployed.

Article
Jan 15, 2025

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine is Updating Guidance on Cold-Weather Injuries

A service member is exposed to cold air in environmental test chamber after undergoing a treatment called ischemic preconditioning

As efforts in the Arctic region continues to accelerate, senior leaders need to be confident that warfighters under their command will be able to operate at peak effectiveness for long periods in extreme cold. That’s why experts in nutrition, physical performance, and extreme environments from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine ...

Article
Jan 14, 2025

U.S. Army Provides Soldiers, Families Variety of Mind, Body Resources

Chaplains and religious affairs specialists provide various types of counseling and training

As the new year begins, soldiers, their families and U.S. Army civilians have a variety of tools and programs available to support their overall well-being. From holistic health and fitness initiatives to spiritual readiness resources, free counseling, sleep assistance, and family support programs, the U.S. Army is committed to fostering resilience ...

Article
Jan 7, 2025

January is National Radon Action Month: Learn to Manage Risk

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month

The Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has chosen the last week of January as Radon Awareness Week. This is the perfect time to think about testing your home for radon.

Article
Dec 27, 2024

Frozen on the Slopes: How a Soldier Learned from a Close Call

Graphic of someone on skis falling in the snow

Several years ago, I was stationed in Colorado. I’d never snow skied, but after my first initiation-by-fire trip, I was feeling comfortable and actually considered myself a somewhat fearless skier. I would go hard and fast until I hit something or just fell. Ski equipment would scatter from where I fell to where I slid to a stop—meaning I spent a lot ...

Video
Dec 9, 2024

Warrior Care: A Marine Finds Community with Art

Warrior Care: A Marine Finds Community with Art

Lance Cpl Sara Vanegas is a Marine with the Wounded Warriors Batallion East at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. She is a talented artist who is finding community through her art and the Warrior Care Program. Learn more about the many resources and programs available at health.mil/warriorcare.

Article
Dec 2, 2024

Military Health Expert Explains how Strength is Relative to Body Weight

People working out outside

Each military service selects its physical fitness tests to meet its unique mission needs. All services’ fitness tests include measures of aerobic fitness, such as a timed run, and muscular health, such as the push-up. Depending on the service, the fitness test can include sprinting, carrying weighted items, or deadlifts.

Article
Sep 23, 2024

Military Infectious Diseases Research Program Focuses on Mitigating Disease Impacts in Large Scale Combat Operations

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Pascual, a preventive medicine specialist with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, processes samples for respiratory virus testing at Nimmarnkolayut Camp, Sa Kaeo, Thailand.

Prolonged care, degraded medical evacuation capability, and overstretched lines of communication during large-scale combat operations could increase the prevalence of disease-related injury and death among warfighters. These risks are what the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Military Infectious Diseases Research Program is working ...

Article
Sep 19, 2024

Military Health Expert Clarifies ‘No Pain No Gain’ Workout Myths

Military Health Expert Clarifies ‘No Pain No Gain’ Workout Myths

Injuries are the leading reason for military medical visits each year. Department of Defense active duty service members require medical treatment for injuries almost 5 million times each year (for around 1.5 million individual injuries). Injuries cost millions of lost duty and training days, and billions of dollars each year.

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery