Get Moving With Active For Life

VALDOSTA — It is not too late to join Valdosta State University’s annual Active For Life fitness challenge. The fun kicked off on Monday and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 22.

Active For Life is a 10-week program sponsored by the American Cancer Society. It is offered to VSU faculty, staff, and student employees free of charge and helps participants become more physically active on a regular basis while fostering teamwork among colleagues. 

Active for Life is based on the Stages of Change Theory and the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Physical Activity. It works by encouraging participants to set some personal goals based on their current activity level, explained Rebecca Murphy, associate director of Human Resources for Employee and Organizational Development. These goals can be moderate, like doing yard work or walking or taking the stairs more often, or more intense, like running or playing tennis. Men and women who engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes five or more days per week on a regular basis experience many health benefits, including a lower risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases; weight loss; reduced stress; and increased energy.

Participation in programs like Active For Life has been shown to lower absenteeism and turnover, improve job performance and morale, lower medical costs and reduce disability days, and foster teamwork among colleagues. 

This is VSU’s fifth year offering this program. This year’s prizes include iPods, iPads, Beats by Dre headphones, and more.  

Contact Rebecca Murphy at (229) 259-5105 or rbowes@valdosta.edu to learn more.

On the Web:

https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/campus-wellness/active-for-life.php

Active For Life Action Steps

1 — Visit www.activeforlife.org and select “Join A Team.”

2 — Enter company name “Valdosta State University” and password “VSUwellness.” 3 — Click the search button next to “Team Name” and a list of teams will appear.

4 — Select a team you want to join and then click “Join Selected Team” at the bottom of the screen.

5 — If you participated in Active For Life last year, log in using your email address and password. If you are new to Active For Life, you will need to create an account.

6 — Take a moment to review the terms and conditions. Don’t forget to check the box at the bottom before clicking “Submit.” 

7 — Answer a couple of questions regarding your current physical activity status and desire to participate in Active For Life.

8 — Choose your activity level — Bronze (10 to 29 minutes per day, 5 days a week), Silver (30 to 59 minutes per day, 5 days a week), Gold (60+ minutes per day, 5 days a week).

9 — Answer a few more questions regarding how motivated you are to reach your goal, your reasons for participating in the challenge, how confident you are that you will reach your goal, and your current health status.

10 — Finish setting any additional goals, including weight goals and nutrition goals, for the challenge. Those goals are only visible to the participant.

11 — Begin working toward your fitness goals. Earn 1 point for every 1 minute of physical activity. Track your activity at www.activeforlife.org. All participants who reach their goal each week will be entered into a bi-weekly prize drawing.

13 — Read the newsletter that will be delivered to your inbox every other week. It will highlight the top individual and top team performers, and it will include fitness tips, healthy recipes, and upcoming wellness sessions.

14 — Motivate your team members to reach their goals. The competition ends on Sunday, Nov. 22. Special recognition will be given to the top three teams and top two individuals in each activity level during the closing celebration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.