Mike Dolce Tours Bases, Shares Military Fitness & Wellness Tips with Soldiers
It’s all about ‘longevity,’ UFC fighters tell JBLM Soldiers
by Dean Siemon
Northwest Guardian, May 8th, 2014
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD – When Mike Dolce was in his mid-20s, he was in his prime as a competitive power weight-lifter, maintaining 16-18 percent body fat and weighing close to 300 pounds. While he looked fit, he also suffered from high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels and wasn’t truly healthy, or actually in shape.
As he told service members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Wilson Sports and Fitness Center on May 3, Dolce also struggled with sleep apnea and getting winded going up a flight of stairs at a relatively young age.
“That’s when I realized it’s time to focus on longevity signs rather than sport signs,” Dolce said.
Now at age 35 and at 170 pounds, Dolce shared his tips on healthier living and maximizing one’s own personal potential during a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fit Tour fitness workshop with three-time UFC Middleweight champion Rich “Ace” Franklin.
The workshop was one of three stops the pair made at JBLM. It was sponsored by the Air Force Reserve, to not only attract potential recruits, but also to motivate and educate service members toward a fitter lifestyle. Physical test scores have decreased throughout the Department of Defense in recent years.
“It’s just a way for these fighters that train everyday to explain their behind-the-scenes secrets and what they do in order to stay fit and stay healthy and be warriors,” said Master Sgt. James Joval, a Washington state recruiter for the Air Force Reserve.
While Soldiers and Airmen are usually in pretty good shape while on active duty, Dolce and Franklin said there are many ways to improve conditioning further and increase the chances of longevity, staring with what you put in your body.
Among the nutrition tips that Dolce touched on included eating real food, such as Earth-grown nutrients, organic, non-genetically modified products. That means when ordering a drink with your meal, get water or tea and not sugary and chemical-filled sodas.
Dolce also said to read the ingredient lists on all foods, because it’s important to know what is being consumed. Many items in the grocery store have different chemicals that are used in other products you wouldn’t eat or drink, i.e., Windex.
“What you’re putting in your body is truly what you are,” Dolce said.
Dolce also suggested eating every two to four hours to increase the metabolism and eating until you’re satisfied, not gorging later until you’re full.
Being active is also important, but doesn’t always mean going to the gym every single day. Dolce and Franklin both talked about being active by going for walks with family and by playing sports.
Franklin said living a healthy life means much more than working out and eating right. It also means managing stress and getting plenty of sleep.
“Sleep is the most important thing,” Franklin said. “That’s when you’re body is repairing itself from that day’s stress.”
Service members also had a chance to ask about supplements and how to store organic food to last longer during a question and answer session.
“(The workshop) is an educational tool and it motivates,” Joval said.
Originally published at NWGuardian.com
