Typically when we set a goal of becoming healthier, we begin thinking of pounds to be lost, consistent exercise, improving the nutritional quality of the food we eat, or even lowering our cholesterol. Although exercise and proper nutrition is important to our health, is that all it takes to being healthy?

If one does a quick look at the literature in student development, college student health, and being a successful college student, it becomes clear that physical health is just one dimension of overall health and development. Recent studies have found the need for young adults to have physical health, along with emotional/social, intellectual/academic, career/vocation, a sense of belonging/meaning, and citizenship. The American College Health Association revised their Standards of Practice for Health Promotion in Higher Education stating “health encompasses the capacity of individuals to reach their potential � and is not solely a biomedical quality.”

So does the Recreation Center or the Student Health Center have the resources needed to promote all of these dimensions of health? On Feb. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. The Counseling Center, Recreation Center, Student Development office, and the Student Health Center are co-sponsoring the Spring Semester Road Trip Health Fair. This is a great opportunity for you to visit with staff from offices such as Career Services, Student Center and Craft Shop, Wellness Center, International Programs and Services, Student’s Legal Assistance, and many more.

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Attending a three hour health fair won’t bring you instant health for 2007. So if you are truly determined to seek health for 2007, then you will want to sign up for the Healthy U Program. This is a ten-week program that begins Feb. 5. The incentive program is designed to keep you seeking comprehensive health all semester long. The program is user friendly and you may sign up for the Healthy U Program at the Health Fair or anytime during the ten-week period at the Recreation Center, Wellness Center, or Counseling Center. The cost is just $5 and the money goes toward purchasing prizes for you and the other program participants. The goal is for students to spend three hours, just 180 minutes per week, participating in sanctioned program activity such as attending a fitness class, a Women’s History Event in March, a stress management workshop, or the Job Fairs. How will you keep track of sanctioned program activities? You will receive an email from the program coordinator each Monday listing the programs that are offered for that particular week. Pick out 180 minutes of activities from the programs offered, attend, and participate. You will receive one Healthy U Dollar for each minute of participation. Turn in your 180 dollars to the Lifestyle Enhancement Center at the Recreation Center each Monday by noon. You will receive a small prize when you turn in your Healthy U Dollars and be entered into the weekly drawing for such prizes as a gift package to the Egyptian Revival Day Spa, tickets to the SIUC men’s basketball games during the MVC tournament, an iPod shuffle, theater and dinner packages, and more!

So what are you waiting for? Come to the Spring Semester Road Trip Health Fair on Feb. 5 and register for the Healthy U Program.