A new program has come to campus that aims to help students stay active.
RaiderFIT is a monthly wellness program that encourages students to live healthy and active lives where students can complete workouts at the Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC) to earn points.
“Each month, [we] give prizes out to those who participate,” said Erica Hulsing, the organizer of RaiderFIT. “Our main goal for RaiderFIT is to incentivize students to be active. Being active has so many great benefits, and we want to reward students who are making an effort to stay fit while also wanting to encourage students to use our facilities here.”
There have been multiple studies done, and it has been shared with the public that America is overweight. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that in the year 2017, 38 percent of Iowa adults, aged 18 years and older, who are in some college or technical school are obese, while 33.5 percent of the same area and people group are identified overweight.
The Mayo Clinic suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of both.
According to mayoclinic.org, “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious.” The article goes on to say that “regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster, get better sleep and deepen your sleep.”
“I never had the incentive to go work out at the RSC,” said Brian Follett, a junior Christian ministry major. “I knew that it was a great area and that fitness is important, but I couldn’t influence myself to look like Carter Bock. With the point value being established, I have something to strive for as a goal and to be built as much as Carter is right now.”
The goal of RaiderFIT is to influence students to work out while making Northwestern a healthier community.
The program is not to be geared toward one demographic or another but is geared toward every student on campus and encourages all to stay or become healthy. There is no right or wrong workout while being in the program. It is on your time and based on your style of fitness.
“We want students to be active, whatever way is most enjoyable to them,” Hulsing said.
If you are interested in joining the program, you can sign up at the front desk in the RSC. Once you are signed up, it will be up to you when to work out, how long and how often you would like to work out. The only stipulation is that workouts must be completed in the RSC to earn points to be put toward a drawing for prizes that is done every month.
