McMaster employees get MACtive

default-hero-image

March 11, 2008

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/big_assets.jpg” caption=”MACtive team Big A$$ets has incorporated physical activity into their workday. Photo courtesy of Linda Piccolo. “]This week marks the eighth week of the MACtive 12-week challenge. MACtive was launched on January 21, 2008 by The Healthy Workplace Group as a challenge to help us all achieve or maintain our fitness goals.

To participate in the challenge, all you need to do is meet or exceed the minimum threshold for minutes of physical activity each week so that you and/or your team (minutes are averaged among the team members) can be entered in the individual and/or team weekly random draws.

Here's the catch: the minute threshold increases over the challenge period — the target for week 8 is 245 minutes. Individuals and/or teams who meet or exceed the threshold for 10 out of 12 weeks will be entered in the grand prize draw.

You can be active at work, at home, with friends or family, alone, indoors or outside. As long as your activity moves your muscles or increases your heart rate for at least 10 minutes, it counts. Visit the challenge website for ideas and suggestions.

At the end of each week, fill out an online form and submit it with your total number of minutes. A printable tracking calendar is available online.

MACtive team Big A$$ets kept motivated by building activity into their workday.

“It's been fabulous,” says Karen McGlynn. “One of our team members is waking up every morning at 5 a.m. to get her activity in. All of us have lost weight, gained energy and are having fun at work.”

Here are some tips for staying motivated:

  • Do something you like. It's hard to stick to an activity that isn't fun. There are so many ways to stay active.
  • Get a support network. Ask your family, friends and co-workers to help you stayed motivated. Some people find it motivating to exercise with others. Whether it's a scheduled walk with a friend or a group of people from work, try to find a structure and schedule that will keep you involved and interested.
  • Set small, attainable goals and celebrate when you reach them. Reward yourself in healthy ways.
  • If you find it hard to stay motivated, remind yourself of the health benefits you will enjoy when you are fit.

    The combined efforts of our 53 teams and 30 individual participants from weeks 1 through 6 total 618,880 minutes of physical activity to date. Congratulations to all participants!