“Cowboys on the Move” reaches one million minute milestone

Thursday, June 4, 2009

A program to get more Oklahoma State University employees moving toward better health is already paying off with more than one million minutes of physical activity clocked as of June 1. The program, known as “Cowboys on the Move,” started in February with a Web site that provides practical information and a weekly e-mail to help participants stay motivated.

“Almost 1,000 individuals have been inspired to get up and get moving since we debuted ‘Cowboys on the Move,’ and that kind of increased daily activity improves the overall health of OSU employees and also helps maintain health care costs,” said Robin Purdie, director, OSU Seretean Wellness Center. “We encourage anyone who hasn’t joined us to sign up at our Web site.”

The program Web site—cowboysonthemove.okstate.edu—provides participants with ideas and solid information for various modes of physical activity. They can also receive a weekly e-mail with a different health tip each week. As an incentive, participants who are full time employees at OSU in Stillwater are given the opportunity to claim various giveaway items from T-shirts to personalized paperweights as they reach certain levels of minutes spent in physical activities, according to Purdie.

Plans are already in the works to enhance offerings on the Web site in September by including a personalized way to track workout activities, a nutritional component, a social networking option and an iPhone application.

But before all that, Purdie says the center is planning to mark the one million minutes of exercise at OSU with a celebration soon after the start of school in August.  

“We’re thrilled to reach this milestone and happy to move OSU one step closer toward the goal of becoming ‘America’s healthiest campus.’”
    
The SWC has additional services to help with physical activity goals including the O-Zone Fitness Center. For just $21.75 per month, members can take advantage of weight training equipment, cardio machines, and all group exercise classes – including ZUMBA, Yoga, Aerobics, Step Aerobics, and Strength and Stretch. The monthly rate drops to just $14.95 if you join the O-Zone Fitness Center with a friend. Personal training is also available to help individuals implement a personal workout program or change an existing routine.