Spring Training Concludes, Creates Healthier Campus
Carrie Selby
Staff Writer
Seventy-seven people on the University of Arkansas-Monticello campus are healthier now compared to six weeks ago.
Coordinated by Terri Richardson, director of Student Health Services, Spring Training encourages faculty, staff and students to begin or maintain a regular exercise routine.
Richardson maintained records on blood pressure, body fat calculations and weight and height measurements for each participant. She scheduled the screenings prior to the program’s start and documented any changes at the three-week mark and at the end of the project.
“The most frequent change noted among the participants was weight loss,” Richardson said. “The ‘biggest loser’ lost 12 pounds over the six-week period. That is a very good total – healthy weight loss should average 1.5-to-2 pounds per week.”
In addition to the screenings, Richardson kept individual exercise logs on each participant. Twenty-two of the 77 enrolled reached the Spring Training program goal of logging 20 workouts between Feb. 4 and March 14. Each of the 22 received a UAM Exercise Center T-shirt as an incentive prize.
Rebecca Newton, a faculty who participated in Spring Training, admitted earning the T-shirt was part of her motivation.
“I was determined to reach that 20 workout mark,” Newton said. “That’s just part of it though. I want to make exercise a priority and I want to stay active.”
Prior to Spring Training, Newton did not have a regular exercise routine. Since beginning the program she exercises five times a week and each workout lasts around 60 minutes.
“I fit it in between classes and I walk on the treadmill,” Newton said. “Before (the program) I did not use the Exercise Center. Now I use it every day and my body fat has decreased by one percent since the beginning of the program.”
Richardson said the “Spring Trainers” found exercise time throughout the day and at least 50 percent are still regularly using the Exercise Center.
In addition to Newton, Sprint Training T-shirt winners were Gaudencio Arce, Matt Bowers, Nicci Coffel, Aundrea Ellis, Amy Heflin, Leslie Hellard, Laura Hughes, Barbie Johnson, Scott Lykins, Janelle Martin, Cherie McMahon, Randa Pruitt, April Rodgers, Sydney Selman, Monica Strickland, Carol Strong, Annette Vincent, Renda Waite, Adrian Walker, Lindsey White and Amy Wickliffe.
Richardson encouraged anyone interested in beginning an exercise routine to utilize the Exercise Center after seeking clearance from his or her physician. During fall and spring semesters the facility opens Monday - Thursday from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., on Fridays from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., and from 3 p.m. – 7p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. During summer sessions, faculty, staff and students can use the Exercise Center from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fridays.
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