Reboot for the blog site

I tend to do this from time to time; I move from one forum to another seeing what works best for me.  I always tend to return here, to my blogspot site, because it's a simple layout.  So I'll be moving my posts back from our Facebook group to here.  You can still catch us on Facebook at FlightCrewFitness with motivational quotes, pictures, etc. and our website, www.flightcrewfitness.net as well.

So what's the topic to return here?  How about one for the flyers out there:  The FAA has recently announced that during a pilot or controllers' medical certificate exam, they will now be testing those they suspect of having a high BMI, or excessively large neck.  In other words, they are searching out those who appear to be drastically overweight.   The metrics of it are not as important to me as the fac that they are using this as a way to root out sleep apnea.   Sleep apnea is not confined strictly to those who are morbidly obese, but it is pretty much certain that nearly all morbidly obese people suffer from it.

Why is this significant?  For a couple of reasons.  I'll start with the new fatigue management rules in FAR 117, which begin to take effect next year.  Sleep apnea is yet another piece in this puzzle.  What I personally believe is more on target are the other less easy to pinpoint health concerns that come from excessive weight, things like fatty liver disease, kidney problems, knee/ankle/joint problems, unreported or undiagnosed diabetes, and a slew of others.   I'm not a Doctor, and I have no medical training, so please don't take this as me saying anything about diagnosing or finding those issues; my point is that as pilots our medical examiners are almost never our primary care physicians.  Therefore, any problem that may interfere with our ability to maintain our flight medical certificate may not necessarily be reported to the FAA.  Yes, there is a form for it, but what's to keep someone who knows they have sleep apnea, or any other issue that is treatable and preventable, from not reporting it? 

What this really means, though, is that many many pilots will have to start to change their habits and lifestyle.  We need to get the majority of us away from the airplane galley and the garbage that is stocked in there; out of the fast food restaurants that proliferate in airports, and following some simple guidelines to eat better, and workout more consistently.    Is that a sacrifice in many ways?  Yes, but our livelihood depends on it, so isn't it worth it for at least that reason? 

There are a lot of options we can choose to get healthier, and to maintain better health, even on the road.  Beachbody has a number of programs that can be done in a very small space, with no equipment.   There are better options at nearly all restaurants, and if you plan ahead, you can carry most, or all, of your own food with you on a trip.  Again, it can be work, and a hassle, but this is our future we're talking about.

Considering the possible ramifications of losing your medical for something as preventable as being overweight, isn't it worth the effort it takes to get there?  Isn't all of the time, money, and experience we've invested in our careers worth putting forth the effort to eat right and stay in shape?  We have enough stress in our lives, why not do something to alleviate some of that, make you feel better, look better, and live longer?

BTW, this was my gym on more than one occasion.  If I can get a workout done in the small space in our crew lounge's briefing room, it can be done anywhere.