Get Fit, Stay Fit Challenge

12/10/2010 10:00 AM

In spring of 2010, the Get Fit, Stay Fit challenge was issued as a collaborative effort between Bradley University wellness organizations. Get Fit, Stay Fit is a new program for the Bradley community designed to motivate the campus towards better nutritional decisions, an active lifestyle and overall wellness.

The more than 400 Get Fit, Stay Fit participants rack up points exercising at the University’s Markin Family Student Recreation Center and by attending Wellness Seminars. Seminar topics ranged from Fast Food Nutrition to Media Literacy and Body Image. In the weeks leading to Thanksgiving, Bradley Wellness Center intern Jessica Revord ’11 co-presented a presentation on Beating the Holiday Urge to Splurge, in which she advised participants on better food choices and how to integrate exercise into family time. Revord also shared some of her favorite healthy holiday recipes.

Dining Services Wellness Director Danielle Gehrke ‘08 participates in Get Fit, Stay Fit by offering private nutritional consultations. She said most students opt to send e-mails as opposed to formal appointments. “I would love to do more one-on-one counseling sessions,” she said. “It’s more effective if a person is serious about weight management. It’s also one of my favorite parts of the job. I love talking with the students and doing what I can to help them out.” Gehrke also works with the Geisert Dining Hall to offer Sensible Selection lunch entrees, which meet healthy nutrition criteria.

Although Get Fit, Stay Fit participants earn prizes for their work, such as a Wii Fit and Markin fitness center passes, the program is not meant to be a competition. Organizers hope the program’s approach to overall wellness encourages Bradley’s campus to join the group. “Next semester, we’d like to increase the participants from 400 to 800,” Mills said. “We’d also like to incorporate more programs like a 5K race and possibly Late Night BU activities.”