Fitness high Flyer

It’s All Systems Go for
Chiseled Pilot Max Wettstein

Photography by Arnold Flores

 

Background:
I attended the University of Colorado, Boulder campus, for my bachelors’ degree in mathematics, while at the same time completing Naval Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC). In college I pole vaulted on the varsity track team for 2 years, then club wrestled for the last 2 years. Upon graduation I received a commission in the U.S. Navy and then went to Navy flight school in Pensacola, Fla. I spent 10 years as a Navy pilot and officer, and among other duties completed 2 aircraft carrier deployments to the Persian/Arabian Gulf, and flew in support of Operation Southern Watch over the Iraqi no-fly zone. I did most of my land-based time in San Diego at Miramar and Coronado. I left the Navy in 2002 and was hired by JetBlue Airways as a captain. During the last 10 years I competed in many races, including 2 Rock-‘n-Roll marathons, four X-Terra triathlons and several 24-hour team relay mountain bike races, and many 10K and half-marathons. I’ve surfed all over he world, from Bali to Hawaii and in-between.

Fitness Regimen:
I’m active 6 or 7 days a week, for 1 to 2 hours a day. I lift weights 3 times a week, emphasizing free weights and multi-muscle group basic lifts. On the other days I do a mix of surfing, biking, running, yoga, skateboarding and tennis.

Fitness Advice:
Exercise, exercise, exercise! Get moving…find a sport! The more you exercise the more you can eat, then the more fat you burn the more muscle you’ll build. The higher your metabolism, the more testosterone and growth hormone you’ll produce. The lower your blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, risk of type-2 diabetes and lower stress, the better you’ll sleep, etc. Exercise magically accomplishes all these benefits, but remember you need a combination of strength and aerobic training.

Future Plans:
I’m currently finishing up writing a travel health and fitness book for flight crews, mostly a compilation of all the topics I have written about as a fitness writer for the JetBlue pilots’ intranet page. I’d also like to take acting classes to see if there are opportunities there for me.

Fitness Philosophy:
I view health and fitness as a lifestyle, with a great physique as an added bonus. You need to balance a combination of strength training, aerobic/endurance training and core/flexibility training. Nutrition plays a key role, anywhere from 50 to 75 percent in achieving your fitness and physique goals. I’m a big believer in the smaller-more-frequent-meals philosophy, eating up to 6 times per day. Again, balanced eating consisting of complex carbs first, lean proteins and healthy omega fats and unsaturated fats, with plenty of fiber. Raw and unrefined sources are best, and organic when possible. Supplements can really help with injury prevention and recovery, and reaching your true performance potential. Making training fun, and even a passion by getting involved in sports will provide a big boost in motivation while exercising. I travel a lot, so adaptability is essential, and I pack plenty of my own healthy snacks that don’t require refrigeration. I’ve learned to get a workout anywhere with minimal to no equipment, because I never know what kind of fitness center my layover hotel will have to offer.