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***image1***November is the Air Force’s Quit Tobacco Use month, which is the perfect time to make strides to adopt a lifestyle change that will ultimately lead to an improved quality of life and overall health.
But kicking the tobacco habit is certainly not an easy thing to do. Those of us who haven’t been a previous tobacco user may understand the dangers of tobacco use but will never truly know the impact these products have on our overall health. As nicotine is so addictive, it often takes members up to eight times or more to successfully lead a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Tech. Sgt. Osmundo Villegas, Ramstein Health and Wellness Center NCOIC, can personally attest to this fact.
Sergeant Villegas was a tobacco user for 16 years of his life, which played a toll on his health, his duty performance and his personal life. His prior days of competitive wrestling came to a screeching halt when he became addicted to nicotine, often smoking up to a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day. Once he decided to venture on the path of tobacco cessation, it took him seven different attempts to successfully kick the habit, but he finally managed to kick the habit and has been tobacco-free for more than a year now.
Sergeant Villegas represents a beacon of hope to any tobacco user who learns of his story. This is evident in the Freshstart tobacco cessation classes he facilitates in which he manages to obtain a 100 percent graduation rate routinely – an unheard of feat in the realm of Air Force health promotions.
If you are a tobacco user, the Ramstein HAWC team encourages you to sign up for our Freshstart tobacco cessation program. The tools you learn in the course, coupled with Sergeant Villegas’ knowledge and support, may help you accomplish what he managed to do.
The program will be offered three times in November and any ID cardholder may attend. If you are not ready to attend the program but would still like to learn of helpful tobacco cessation tools and resources, visit the Make Everyone Proud campaign at www.ucanquit2.org.
The Ramstein HAWC team is also spearheading a tobacco cessation facilitator course from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at the HAWC for any members interested in becoming certified to facilitate the Freshstart tobacco cessation program at the unit level.
For details, call 480-4292 or visit https://sg2.usafe.af.mil/RamClinic/wwwmil/435mdg/clinic/divisions/HAWC/HAWC.htm#Fitness.
