Move It & Lose It fit program plan introduced to students

The beginning of a new year results in many people trying to better themselves. Many make a New Year's resolution to become more organized, eat better and maybe the most popular -- to get into shape.

This spring, Southeast Missouri State University's Recreation Services is providing students and faculty members and staff with the opportunity for people to get fit.

Shape Up Southeast is a returning free program designed for everyone in the Southeast community. Participants are asked to form teams ranging from two to 10 members and to sign up online. Starting Feb. 3, each member of the team will log his or her points online every week.

"It's basically recording points for doing exercise, there's points for eating right," newly hired assistant director of fitness and wellness Sara Wagganer said. "It's all the different aspects of wellness."

Wagganer explained that points could be gained for recycling, using environmental friendly light bulbs or simply going to the gym.

The program started back in 2005 and has been popular every year. According to Recreation Services associate director Jason Lipe, about 100 people sign up to participate each year. Most are faculty and staff and many return from previous years.

"Probably half of the teams that are signed up are returning," Lipe said.

Normally at the end of the 10-week period the top three winners are announced and receive gift cards to the Southeast Bookstore, but other prizes are offered if the winners prefer something else instead.

Along with the Shape Up Southeast program, Wagganer has introduced the Move It & Lose It program.

"[It's] targeting people who want to lose weight and inches," Wagganer said.

Participants will receive a free body composition evaluation on their first day. The body composition evaluation consists of a measurement of their weight, height, body mass index, body-fat percentage and a measurement of a waist-to-hip ratio. The waist-to-hip ratio provides insight as to whether or not a person is at risk for different cardiovascular diseases.

A program plan is next. Recreation science majors, who are also certified personal trainers, will provide each participant with a plan specific to the person's needs and goals.

"Say people don't really know where to start," Wagganer said. "They can kind of just go through a plan. It's a one-time thing and they can kind of get put on what kind of exercises will be best for them."

The rest of the program is up to the individual and weekly weigh-ins are provided to track everyone's progress.

The program is also 10 weeks long. There will be another body assessment at the end of the program to see how far each individual has come since the beginning.

No experience in a gym is necessary and Wagganer said that showing people how to use machines will be included in their personal plan.

"What I encourage people to do is getting on a program," Wagganer said.

Personal training sessions are also available to the Southeast community and Wagganer said she is hoping people will take advantage of the programs the department is offering.

Personal training sessions are now $20 a session for students and Wagganer encourages people to sign up with a friend, making the price only $10 a person.

Recreation Services is also continuing its group fitness classes, including "yogilates," and additional kettlebell classes have been added to the spring calendar. Yogilates is a combination of yoga and pilates.

Wagganer also said that yoga on the terraces and classes including the use of the TRX suspension are additional programs people can join to stay active this semester.

Registration is online for Shape Up Southeast at semo.edu/recservices/ and anyone who is interested in participating in Move It & Lose It can register at the Recreation Center-North offices or contact Wagganer at 573-651-2367. Registration ends Jan. 31.