Frank Campanella lowered his blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Richard Holton lost 24 pounds and is closing in on his high school weight. Diana Mirabile went down several dress sizes.
All three gained energy and incentives to stay fit and healthy, thanks to a new program run by Facilities Services that’s got a lot of folks pumped up and feeling good.
“Since I started the program, my energy has skyrocketed,” said Holton of Building Services. “I no longer get tired at 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening.”
Campanella, Holton, Mirabile and dozens of other employees who help keep Union’s historic buildings and grounds pristine year round are “Facilities Fitness Fanatics” – and proud of it.
Their motto, emblazoned on the pink and blue T-shirts they wear to work out: “We don’t just maintain buildings.”
The fitness and health program was launched in the fall by Director of Facilities and Planning Loren Rucinski after he took full measure of himself.
“I looked at a photo of myself taken on vacation and decided I was heading for the point of no return. My wife and I started the South Beach Diet and began going to the new Alumni Gym fitness center, and I dropped about 38 pounds,” Rucinski said. “Not only did I feel great physically, but I felt good about myself as well. I wanted to share that experience with my staff.”
The program that Rucinski launched is not for the feint of heart. Participants must agree to combine a regular exercise routine with a healthy diet. They must sign a contract, keep track of their workouts and stay focused for three months.
They must exercise before or immediately after work or during lunchtime at one of Union’s many fitness and athletic facilities or within a five-mile radius of campus.
Workouts must last 45-50 minutes.
Would-be cheaters, beware: Supervisors initial each participant’s program log to certify that all efforts are genuine.
The perks, in addition to dropped pounds and inches, include a set of earphones, the custom T-shirts, a water bottle and, if the program is successfully completed, 12 hours of time off, as approved by the College’s Administration. That’s one hour of paid time off for every three workouts completed. Also available are three-ring binders with healthy recipes and exercise advice. The program has the full support of Diane Blake, vice president of Finance and Administration, who oversees Facilities.
“The time off is a nice incentive, but it’s not just about that,” said Guy French, Building Services set-up specialist and trucker. He also likes the intangible benefits, such as maintaining relationships. “I don’t go out to bars, so the gym is a way for me to socialize,” he said. “The program is convenient because the facilities are right here, and they’re free.”
Donna Sichack, a cleaner at College Park Hall and a member of the committee that oversees the Facilities Fitness Fanatics, said her 15-pound weight loss has given her new vitality. “I started to take a night class at Schenectady County Community College, which I never would have done before the program,” she said.
“Working out is the easy part,” said committee member Connie Schmitz of Grounds, who contends that eating right is the biggest challenge. Schmitz was struggling to lose the last five pounds to reach her goal of losing four dress sizes, “and that’s when I needed more incentive. This program gave it to me.”
Holton couldn’t agree more. He started out at 220 pounds and is down to 196. He’s aiming for 186, a number that hasn’t appeared on his scale since high school, but he’s confident.
“It’s all about portion control,” said Holton, who has made some diet changes in addition to walking more often.
Of Facilities’ 110 members, 52 signed up for the first fitness program, and 33 completed it. This term, 34 staffers and nine managers are signed up. They walk, bike, run, play squash, swim or do other cardio, strength-building or weight-bearing exercises. Family members often join their fanatical quest for health and fitness.
“My husband joins me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Richie’s wife joins him at the College Park Hall gym,” said Mirabile, a scheduling coordinator and buyer who chairs the program committee.
“This has improved communications and created new bonds,” Mirabile said. “We’ve got people excited about working out, getting healthy and just feeling good about themselves.”