PUBLISHED IN ,

Get ‘Fit in 15’

New program offers employees tips to meet recommended exercise levels

By Bryan Roth

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 80 percent of American adults don’t meet a minimum amount of weekly, recommended exercise. 

LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, is looking to change that on campus with a new, free program, “Fit in 15.”

Read More

The goal: Encourage participants to find at least 15 days in May to fit in at least 30 minutes of activity, whether it be walking, running, swimming or strength training. That will help faculty and staff who aren’t as active meet the government’s recommended amount of at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, which could be brisk walking at 50 or 60 percent of maximum speed.

“This program will give employees the opportunity to show themselves they can commit to exercise and improve their health,” said Katie MacEachern, fitness program manager with LIVE FOR LIFE. “Starting small can still lead to big changes.” 

Fit in 15 will last from May 1 to 31, and faculty and staff can sign up now.

As part of the program, participants will receive weekly emails with wellness tips, motivation and new workouts to try. If they successfully track exercise for at least 15 days, they’ll also receive 50 LIVE FOR LIFE dollars, which can be spent at the LIVE FOR LIFE store on a variety of items, from jump ropes to workout clothing and gear.

MacEachern said that Fit in 15 can act as a continuation of other successful LIVE FOR LIFE programs after they’ve ended. For example, the Get Moving Challenge, which concluded at the end of March, saw nearly 2,000 faculty and staff log about 36,500 hours of exercise and drop nearly 3,500 pounds over the 10-week program. For many, Get Moving offered an opportunity to actively think about health and exercise, which carries over after the challenge finished.

Rachel Lundberg, catalog librarian for serials with Duke Libraries’ Electronic Resources & Serials Management, set a goal of taking 30,000 steps a day during the Get Moving Challenge. After getting in the routine of setting aside time for walking, she’s taking it a step further and plans to go to the gym more often.

“I am now keen to substitute hours of walking per day with some gym time,” she said. “I want the rewards of this challenge to persist.”