Barbara Corbellini Duarte/Staff Writer
Almost half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions; yet, after the first week of the year, only about 75 percent of this people keep their goals, according to a 2002 survey collected by the “Journal of Clinical Psychology.”
Over the past two years, the FIU Recreation Center and the FIU Biscayne Bay Wellness Center have been helping to keep up the common promise of health resolutions, promoting the New Year Get Fit Challenge.
“Every one has New Year’s resolutions, we want to provide an extra incentive for them,” said Val Butler, programming assistant for the Recreation Center and coordinator of this year’s event.
The 2012 Challenge will start on Jan. 27. Participants can do the initial weight-in from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the FIU Biscayne Bay Wellness Center located on the third floor of Wolfe University Center.
“It has always grown every year, this is an event that pulls out the staff and the faculty to come out a lot, as well as students,” Butler said. “So it’s great to see an overall competition throughout the University.”
According to Butler, participants will have the chance to receive assessments where they can find out their strength score, body mass index and body fat percentage.
Participants will be divided in groups of two.
“You can come and make a team or you can sign up with the free agents and we will partner you with someone,” Butler said.
Every person that signs in will get discount for the Wrap it Up Food Truck.
“This is the first year that along with the program we have our recreation training, which is our own brand of personal training,” Butler said. “When a team registers, you automatically get a free personal training section.”
The Challenge will last eight weeks. Teams will compete to lose the highest percentage of weight, not necessarily the highest amount. Every Friday, teams must weight-in at the Wellness Center.
In 2011, the winner team lost 166 lbs, which is equivalent to 11.6 percent of body fat, according to Butler.
Throughout the competition, participants can receive nutrition tips from Andres Bermeo, senior health educatior for the Wellness Center, and physical assistance from Joel Palau, Recreation Center personal trainer.
“Anyone from the community that purchase a membership, faculty, staff and students are always welcome to participate,” Butler said.
The competition ends on Mar. 23. The winner team will receive a trophy and personal training benefits.
“You have nothing to lose, but weight,” Butler said.
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