In and Out Fitness Program

Dane Christison, Managing Director

I would like to introduce myself, my name is Dane Christison the Founder and Managing Director of the In and Out Fitness Program that will be launched Australia-wide early 2012. I served in East Timor, Kuwait, and Iraq and was part of a counter-terrorism project in London during the London bombings in 2005.

I created this program because I was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse four years after leaving the defense force. I took a PTSD course and have had extensive counseling with V.V.C.S., psychologists, and still see a psychiatrist regularly. Throughout this experience I strongly felt that there was a need for a program that related to the younger generation of soldiers, sailors, and Air Force in a healthier environment rather than utilizing drinking holes such as the R.S.L. as an outlet.

I also realized the insanity of being indoctrinated to the point where you would kill another human being but not provide a transition process for soldiers to return back to civilian life. This is the whole reason ex-defense members struggle with this transition. One moment we are told how to walk, how to dress ourselves from boot laces up, how to talk to civilians, what we can and can not say, when we can talk and when we can’t, where to be at what time, how to address rank, and to never question an order. Next moment we have to internalize all our disciplines and everything we say is questioned and judged.

The In and Out Fitness Program is the first transition program for defence members of its kind in the world! I am twenty-nine years of age so I can relate to the younger generation of defence members and veterans. It is a prevention method for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse before these symptoms occur by allowing you to measure your stress levels and by using the correct professional means to help you make simplistic changes for a more manageable life.

It will serve its purpose in an environment that most people in the younger generation utilize throughout gyms Australia wide. It also offers sporting teams such as touch footy, Aus-tag, basketball, netball, soccer, etc. It is a program that correlates mental health and physical health in unity and has the intention to achieve goals for the mind, body, and soul. All personal trainers monitoring the program are ex-defense members so they understand the dynamics of each member’s sensitivities, as they have been through the same transition.

There will be no HARDEN UP methods utilized in this program as we want everyone to enjoy their training. You will be presented a profile of goals and achievements to continue the pride that you had or still have when you were in the army, or if you are still serving, but we instill a new type of pride in your family relationships and friendships by having the professional links to counseling if you want it in order to give you the tools to communicate on an effective level. It is about making small, simplistic changes week by week to create a less stressful and overwhelming life. It is for current servicemen and women, ex-serving servicemen and women, and spouses.

It is the only program in Australia where you are presented with six different goal categories of physical fitness ranging from "Rehab and Salad Dodgers" (Very Unfit) to "Life is too short to be small" (Extremely Fit) and holds you accountable to reach your desired goals. It even has a "Disco Work Out" training program for those of you that just want to look good in a tight T-shirt before you go out on a Friday night. On top of the six categories of individual fitness it offers group training and spouse and partner training who may find this option more therapeutic then doing "couples counseling" which can prove to be more confronting and stressful for some people. If you do not relate to any mental health issues you have the option to only adopt the physical health category, however it is there for you to monitor and be in control of your stress levels and if you do feel like you want to talk to a professional we are there to provide you with the correct means.

It recognizes that the current programs implemented served a purpose for mainly the older veterans over fifty-five years of age and we want to serve a purpose for those in the younger years as well. It is subject to approval from D.V.A. so there is a chance in the future you will be able to enter this program FOR FREE! I don’t want you to be in the same position I was in during my transition. From the bottom of my heart I truly hope that this program is beneficial to you!

GET EXCITED FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE IN AND OUT FITNESS PROGRAM AUSTRALIA WIDE 2012! Stay informed with www.youngdiggers.com.au for information on how to join and like us on facebook to show your support.