The Brown & White

Adhering to a healthy workout routine may seem difficult to juggle with Lehigh's rigorous class schedule and social scene, but maintaining active lifestyles is important for the well-being of college students.

Fortunately, Taylor Gym is making routine workouts more exciting by offering new incentives such as gift certificates, water bottles and even a trip for two to anywhere in the U.S.

Douglas Strange, director of fitness and recreation at Lehigh, has invested a great deal of time seeking out national programs such as the American Collegiate Intramural Sports and National Intramural Recreational Sports Association for activities that recognize and reward students for their active lifestyles.

"When we look at organizations to join, we look for how it will benefit the students," Strange said. "These organizations work with companies like Nike, Playtex, Schwinn and Sports Beans and provide us with opportunities to give students new and exciting products."

The first program, stemming over the course of three months, is done by students tracking their workouts at Taylor Gym with the ACIS Fitness Rewards Card. The card can be initialed by a staff member each time a student comes to workout. A 30-minute workout counts toward one credit. Prizes include a water bottle for 10 credits, a backpack for 20 credits and a T-shirt for 30 credits.

Along with the ACIS Rewards Card is a sweepstakes for a trip for two to anywhere in the U.S. Students can also enter in the sweepstakes to win Schwinn Bikes, valued at over $400 each.

The Fitness Rewards Cards are available at the front desk inside Taylor Gym. Although the contest began the first week of October, students can still begin tracking workouts and winning these prizes with the ACIS program and sweepstakes lasting through the end of April.

Tinactin Chill, the antifungal foot-odor spray, acknowledges male college students for their fitness and intramural accomplishments and dedication by naming a winner each week. The winners of this contest will not only receive a Tinactin Toughest Male Athlete of the Week T-shirt and have their photo displayed in Taylor Gym, but winners will also be entered to win a $100 Nike.com gift card.

Strange said the students are nominated for these awards and prizes by none other than their fellow workout peers and other students.

"Originally, we had the Taylor Gym staff and fitness instructors nominate these students, but we realized it would be more effective to have students nominate other students for their dedication to working out and involvement in intramural activities," Strange said.

To nominate a male student for this contest, you must pick up a form at Taylor Gym and explain briefly why the potential candidate is worthy of such recognition. On the form, students should also indicate the name of the person they are nominating, the nominee's phone number and e-mail address.

Two Lehigh seniors, Amir Bagherzadeh and Matt Blair, are two of the most recent winners of the Tinactin Chill Toughest Male Athlete of the Week.

"I typically go to the gym five days a week," Blair said. "I think it's a great program and hopefully it will continue to motivate students to go to the gym."

On the women's side, ACIS and Playtex Sport recognize outstanding fitness dedication among female students in the Playtex Fit Female of the Month competition. Winners will receive a Playtex Sport T-shirt, prize pack including feminine products and will have their picture displayed in Taylor Gym.

Like the Tinactin winner, the Playtex Fit Female of the Month winners will also be entered in a monthly sweepstakes drawing for a chance to win a $100 Nike.com gift card.

Along with these contests, Taylor Gym also offers Friday afternoon recreation events free of charge. The gym staff encourages students to participate in fun, engaging activities to stay fit along with the chances to win free products. Friday recreation events include spin classes, hip-hop classes, yoga and Zumba, an upbeat dance class, all free of charge.

Strange said all of these programs and activities are ultimately to get the students motivated.

"These programs help students get into a regular activity pattern and it's a good incentive to stay in shape," Strange said.