Fitness leader of the month: Tech. Sgt. Brittany Spoutz

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane M. Phipps
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Editor's Note: This is part of an ongoing series highlighting exceptionally fit Airmen.

It's Friday morning and the sun has yet to rise on Vandenberg. In the back corner of a gym the rhythmic sounds of breathing and the steady clank of weights pierce the early silence.

Only a few dedicated souls find the weight-room this early, but for one technical sergeant - it's just another start to her day.

"I lift weights Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, alternating muscle groups," said Tech. Sgt. Brittany Spoutz, 30th Force Support Squadron family readiness NCO. "Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I do cardio. I love working out because it makes me feel good and it prepares me for the day."

For Spoutz, regular weight-room sessions are just as vital to her fitness routine as regular laps around the track.

"My view is that lifting weights is extremely important to maintain balanced fitness," said Spoutz. "I know it can be a little bit intimidating at first, especially for females. A lot of females think that if they start lifting weights, they're going to bulk up too much but that doesn't have to be the case. If you do some research, you can discover a regiment that will determine if you bulk up, or if you tone up."

Spoutz's devotion to exercise has impressed fellow employees, who view her commitment as a shining example of her character.

"As her co-worker, I think the dedication she shows to physical fitness is nothing short of inspiring," said Raymond Vasquez, 30th FSS school liaison officer. "She was laid up due to an injury recently, which she had to have surgery for, and then got back out there and started working out as much as possible. So, to see her lifting weights and running half marathons now is pretty amazing."

For those eager to make fitness gains, the technical sergeant suggests establishing realistic objectives and isolating specific areas of weakness.

"My advice is to set achievable goals," said Spoutz. "If any of the (Physical Training) test is difficult, then that's probably a warning sign that you need to improve in that area. A lot of it has to do with establishing a daily routine. No one needs to rearrange their entire life just to go to the gym. You just need to find the time to squeeze in some kind of a work-out where you can."

Additionally, Spoutz's commitment to fitness has motivated those around her to assess and improve their current health habits.

"She's a perfect role model for a whole lot of reasons, but PT is a great example of one of them," said Vasquez. "She is the whole package, and just passing the PT test is not acceptable with her. Every time I see that dedication to fitness it motivates me to start developing better exercise habits."

Working-out has proven much more than just exercise for Spoutz, it has been a tangible example of what she can achieve through hard-work, dedication, and a positive attitude.

"I always set goals for the amount of weight I'm lifting, and it can seem intimidating because as soon as I increase the weight, I always have some doubts," said Spoutz. "More often than not, however, I'm able to lift it and I realize it was easier than I originally thought it would be. Just knowing I can accomplish things like that carries over to the rest of my life because whenever I'm tasked with something that seems very difficult, I have faith in myself that I may not get it on the first try -- but I will eventually."



 

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