Bradley Conway (rbconway1s@semo.edu)

Headline Ideas: "Improving Health in 10-Weeks" or "Shape Up, Get Fit!"

Shape Up Southeast's physical and wellness challenge is a great avenue for the Southeast community to strive for healthier goals, better ways of treating bad habits and making exercise a daily routine. According to the assistant director of fitness and wellness, Dr. Takeshi Fujii said, "You don't need a gym membership to lead a healthy lifestyle. Smalls steps and choices you make every day do count to have a healthy lifestyle, not temporary quick-fix attempts." This 10-week competition is free and everyone that registers will have the luxury of creating there own team with friends, family members or co-workers to conquer the challenge. The top three teams that finish with the best results in each division will be rewarded with a prize at the end.

Teams will provide their every day exercises through a log on the shape up Southeast website where they can find an easier way to track everything they do in a days work. The website will also let each team print a daily log to carry aside them while it also informs members of the current team standings, rules and other important information entrees must know. "I'm wanting everyone to be motivated, and I think this incentive program will encourage everyone to keep up with their daily physical activity routine," Fujii commented.

First place prize will include a 1-hour relaxing message while the second place team through fifth place will receive a 30-minute massage. Shape up Southeast will also give a prize towards the most creative name, which must be original, healthy and bizarre. There may be other prizes included for the top teams as well.

If others would rather do this competition themselves and see what there individual capabilities are, then Shape Up Southeast is also hosting Walk the Walk which will require them to turn in there own results using a pedometer. Entrees will record the number of steps daily for 70 consecutive days. This is also open to the entire Southeast community. Prizes will be the exact same as the team competition awards.

The on-line registration deadline for the shape up Southeast competition will end at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. This competition will start on Monday, Feb. 6 through April 15. Walk the Walk on-line registration deadline will be at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. This contest will run from Tuesday, Jan. 17 through Tuesday, May 1. Registration is open to both competitions now. "If anyone is having difficulties with registering then we can definitely help you in the Student Recreation Center -- North on our computers," Fujii added.

Winner announcements will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, May 4 in the Student Recreation Center -- North inside the multipurpose room to congratulate students for completing the 10-week challenge.