Life Choices Challenge 2010
Making healthy choices for a healthy lifestyle
Lee Van Der Sande
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: News
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Each Monday, the participants meet with Sherry Carstens, campus nurse, for their weekly weigh-in and provide her with their food, exercise and sleep log (available free at www.fitday.com). The Fitday log will assist challenge participants to become aware of their food choices, calories, and nutrients found in those choices. It is recommended by the Surgeon General that everyone should get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week, and challenge participants to get points for each day of recommended exercise. They also get points for sleeping six or more hours per night, maintaining their food log, and for pounds lost each week. In addition, the Fitday log also tracks body measurements, moods, goals, and more.
"There are 72 participants, both male and female, with 50 percent from the student body and 50 percent from the faculty and staff," said Sherry Carstens. Participants may compete as individuals or as a team. Incentive prizes are being awarded as encouragement throughout the program. However, the nature of those prizes is being kept top secret.
Dining services have put together a "portion sizes plate" so participants, or anyone, can get a visual of what a proper portion of food looks like. This sample can be found, during the week, at the center of the hot food line in the college cafeteria.
When asked why she joined this challenge, Kati Jendraszak, Krueger Hall and community services director, replied, "Based on the 'know your numbers, know your risk' health assessment, I decided it was time to make a change in my lifestyle."
Alissa Moro, sophomore, business management major, said, "If not now, I will never do it. It's about getting healthy and feeling better about myself; I'm done with the excuses."
The first of the weekly wellness sessions held in the Campus Center provided information about health and counseling services, financial aid, and career services. For attending these events, challenge participants earn additional points toward prizes.
Another event was the fitness center orientation in the Wehr Center. Corine Demske, fitness center co-supervisor, and Kristie Heese, senior, fitness and sport studies major and an intern at the fitness center, conducted the orientation. Corine and Kristie demonstrated the correct way to use each piece of equipment and the proper sanitary practices for cleaning the equipment after use. The center has treadmills, stair steppers and stationary bikes for cardio workouts, and free weights and resistance weight machines for strength training. Mats are available for stretching exercises as well.
The fitness center is open Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 8 p.m. It is also open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. It's open to students, staff, faculty, and to members of the community at no charge. Athletic shoes must be worn, and it's recommended that they should not be your street shoes. Lockers are available for use; just bring your own lock.
When asked what his biggest challenge was so far, the food, exercise, or sleep portion of the challenge, Markus Savaglio, senior, resort management major, said, "Food, because I can't remember everything I eat… I eat a lot." Asked to give some words of encouragement, he said to his team, "Go team, go Feisty Chickadees." (Marcus's team)
The Life Choices Challenge 2010 will run through Friday, March 12.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Donnie
posted 1/29/10 @ 10:40 AM CST
30 minutes a day is not enough to reach the same as i've reached! they need to train approximately an hour a day
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posted 3/27/10 @ 4:23 AM CST
What an awesome article! You must have spent a lot of time and effort on it-needless to say, awesome job!
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