Battling the post-holiday bulge

It is a problem that plagues many people after the holidays — how to drop those unwanted pounds that are a product of holiday over-indulgences without going broke.

Helping people burn calories without burning their money is the goal of the UNT Faculty Staff Fitness Program.

Members can split workouts among the fitness room, step-interval and cardio-aerobic classes, swimming, racquetball and yoga. Membership costs $49 for the spring semester or $16 a month for faculty, staff, faculty and staff spouses and retired employees.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 20 minutes of administrative leave for one hour of daily exercise — with the clearance of their immediate supervisors.

"The fitness program will help to optimize the health status of UNT faculty and staff," says Anneke Feenstra, assistant director of recreational sports. "Regular exercise decreases anxiety and depression, reduces total body fat, enhances overall well-being and performance at work and improves cardiovascular and respiratory function."

Registration for the spring semester began Dec. 17, but it is not too late to participate. Those interested can sign up at Stovall Hall, Room 178, or in the PEB at the Recreational Sports Office, located at Avenue D and Chestnut Street. Registration forms are also available online at www.unt.edu/recsports.

A pilot "Early Bird Morning Program" will run from Jan. 29 to March 14. Included in the special is a Tuesday and Thursday aerobics class from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. or the use of the fitness room from 6 to 8 a.m. The Early Bird promo is open to students, staff and faculty for $20.

"It is the cheapest fitness program anywhere," Feenstra says. "Health and fitness is a lifestyle, not a quick fix or temporary change. One of the purposes of this program is to make staff and faculty aware of the principle that each individual must take responsibility for his or her health and healthy lifestyle habits."

For information about the UNT Faculty Staff Fitness Program, call Feenstra at 565-2275.

BY LISA WOODS paiswri2@unt.edu

Other web resources

• Recreational Sports Office web site

Other featured articles in this issue

• Former UNT regent named to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• TAMS student, team place fourth in national competition
• UNT student, basketball star is semifinalist for Rhodes Scholarship
• Leadership Texas preps three UNT faculty for prime roles
• System Center director addresses Faculty Senate
• Special awards recognize longtime faculty members
• UNT holiday drives quadruple last year's donations
• UNT offices on the move
• Hurley reappointed to citizens council board
• Severe winter weather may bring closures
• Battling the post-holiday bulge

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