not meeting weight requirements

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if there is any way around the weight requirement for the USAF. I'm 5'3" and was told I needed to weigh a maximum of 142 lbs. I've been planning on joining the USAF for 3 months and have already lost 40 lbs within the last year. I've got 20 more pounds to lose in order to reach 142 lbs. I exercise 5-6 days a week and consider myself in great shape. I know that I can easily pass the physical requirements of bootcamp (i.e. running, push-ups, sit-ups). My typical exercise routine is an 8-mile run followed by full-body strength training. I know that I can lose the 20 lbs, but my concern is that I'm really anxious to enter the USAF right away. I don't want to wait another 3 months. I know they can do a fat percentage test instead of weighing me, but I don't know if I'd meet that requirement right now either. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

klaik@msn.com

[Anonymous]

Is there any possibility that this is due to a thyroid problem? You said you could lose the weight, but what about keeping it off? A thyroid test is done through a blood test. I would consider this. Has weight been a problem in the past and you havent tried to shed any till now? Ideally it should take you 10-15 weeks to lose 20lbs at 1-2lbs/wk. I dont think there is a waiver for the weight reqrment. I dont doubt your ability to perform the PT reqrments as I just read an article in the paper about a man who is considered excessively overweight (not your situation) but in clean health and has completed 256 triathalons and runs everyday! AND HE IS 50+!

Dont push this issue about going in right away.. All good things come to those who wait and weight! SO... take time, revamp your workout so that you dont plateau and look at all the aspects: mental, physical and internal physical as possibilties to lose the rest of the weight. Put the anxiousness aside, work on yourself first and be in the best condition for you and the AF when you enter.

Jen

I am wondering if there is any way around the weight requirement for the


: USAF. I'm 5'3" and was told I needed to weigh a maximum of 142 lbs.
: I've been planning on joining the USAF for 3 months and have already lost
: 40 lbs within the last year. I've got 20 more pounds to lose in order to
: reach 142 lbs. I exercise 5-6 days a week and consider myself in great
: shape. I know that I can easily pass the physical requirements of bootcamp
: (i.e. running, push-ups, sit-ups). My typical exercise routine is an
: 8-mile run followed by full-body strength training. I know that I can lose
: the 20 lbs, but my concern is that I'm really anxious to enter the USAF
: right away. I don't want to wait another 3 months. I know they can do a
: fat percentage test instead of weighing me, but I don't know if I'd meet
: that requirement right now either. Any opinions or advice would be
: appreciated. Thanks.


jenatasu_2000@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

Hate to give you a one word answer but in a nutshell NO there is not away around weight standards (yeah they can measure body fat percentage) and if over guess what you still have to lose the weight. The military again has standards for a reason, why is this so hard for folks to understand? Can you go to Harvard if you make an F in every class in high school no, can you join the police/fire dept if you do not meet weight standards no, can you join the FBI with a felony conviction no. Again they are called STANDARDS for a reason here. So you have to lose the weight plain and simple, besides if you take the easy way out and work around the system to get in, the AF is simply going to question how seriously comitted you are to joining "kinda like if she weasles her way and looks for the easy way out on this what else will she try to weasle and conive her way out of" If this sounds harsh I apologize, welcome to the real world at least as the military sees it. Where there are no shades of gray but black and white only. Waivers are available for health conditions, etc but being in the medical field I have never heard of anyone entering if they were overweight. Now staying in overweight is another matter (usually given so many months to lose the pounds or you are gone)but actually joining overweight never happens.

pritro454@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

The weight requirements in the Air Force are quite strict. I have the same weight requirement as you. I was 150 pounds when I first went in to see my recruiter and quite slim. My body type and weight is just like that. Unfortunately, they don't let it work that way. There were girls at MEPS that passed the weight requirements just fine that were twice my size and not nearly in as good shape but that is the way that it works. To lose my weight, I went on a very strict diet that my doctor gave me. Everyone's body works differently and your doctor can probably give you the foods that would help you to lose the extra 20 pounds. I hope that you lose the 20 pounds and I will see you in the Air Force soon!

wickedlust_98@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

: The weight requirements in the Air Force are quite strict. I have the same
: weight requirement as you. I was 150 pounds when I first went in to see my
: recruiter and quite slim. My body type and weight is just like that.
: Unfortunately, they don't let it work that way. There were girls at MEPS
: that passed the weight requirements just fine that were twice my size and
: not nearly in as good shape but that is the way that it works. To lose my
: weight, I went on a very strict diet that my doctor gave me. Everyone's
: body works differently and your doctor can probably give you the foods
: that would help you to lose the extra 20 pounds. I hope that you lose the
: 20 pounds and I will see you in the Air Force soon!


As difficult as it is to take excess pounds off, its more difficult keeping them off with each passing year. I know from experience. I am constantly watching what I eat, the amount of exercise I do each week. I'm over 50 and just to maintain, have to spend 60 minutes a day doing strenuous arobic exercise. I've been doing this so long now that when I miss a workout, I really miss it. In order to maintain within standards, I must continue on my program.

Linda

linda.hanna@portland.af.mil