DATE: January 11, 2008
CONTACT:
Susan Pope, (864) 656-6673
sc@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Angela Nixon, (864) 656-0382
anixon@clemson.edu
Clemson University helps 'Activate' Pickens County
CLEMSON – For the third year, Clemson University will partner with the Pickens County YMCA to motivate people to get healthy. Formerly known as the Pickens County Shrinkdown, Activate Pickens County aims to get people across the county thinking about fitness and healthy choices.
Activate Pickens County is a free healthy-living awareness program. Unlike the Shrinkdown program that lasted eight weeks, it will be a year-long program. A main goal of the program is to encourage at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week.
“It’s not just about shrinking down, it’s about physical activity, nutrition, making healthy choices – it’s a big picture of wellness,” said Susan Pope, director of fitness and marketing for campus recreation at Clemson. “It’s the same thing as the Shrinkdown, but with more well-rounded information.”
Participants in the program can take part in weigh-ins to track their progress, attend Health Talks on various subjects and will receive information weekly about nutrition, fitness and healthy living. Participants will also be able to keep track of their progress online at www.activatepickenscounty.org, through weight-loss graphs and physical activity charts.
Groups of three or more can register together for the Group Challenge. Any group that has half of their members attend at least two-thirds of the weigh-ins will receive a plaque and public recognition for their efforts. Groups must be registered by Friday, Jan. 11. To register a group, e-mail Tiffany Martin at the Pickens County YMCA at tiffanymartin@pymca.net.
In last year’s Shrinkdown, more than 2,000 people across the county lost more than 5,500 pounds.
Activate Pickens County will kick off Monday, Jan. 14, at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley from 12:30 to 7 p.m. with registration and weigh-in. The first weigh-in at Fike Recreation Center on campus will be Friday, Jan. 18, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other partners in the program are Southern Wesleyan University, Palmetto Health Baptist Easley and Cannon Memorial Hospital.