Introduction
U@MQ Active had a fantasitc 4 months providing overall health and well-being to the University community by participating in the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) from 22nd May to 23rd September 2008.
The GCC is all about getting the Macquarie community active, healthy and more productive.
The program aims to increase fitness, promote teamwork, foster positive competitive spirit and support the workforce to be active, healthy and more productive. Most importantly, it is fun!!!
U@MQ Active called out to the Campus to get on board and improve the overall health and well-being of our community. By participating in the 2008 Global Corporate Challenge, was just one of the steps we are taking towards creating the healthiest University Campus in Australia by 2015.
Click here to see Macquarie Universities results
How The GCC Works?
· Companies or departments enter teams of seven. The teams need to work, support, encourage and motivate each other for the duration of the GCC.
· Due to the nature of the event, team members don't need to be geographically close. The desk next to them or an office on the other side of the world can work just as well.
· Each team member receives a starter pack that includes 2 GCC pedometers. They wear this and record their daily step count for each of the events 125 days.
· Every day, each team member logs on to the GCC website and enters their step count.
· The site adds their individual step count to their team total. The site then converts this total to a kilometre/mile distance, and plots the teams progression along the virtual tour of the world (the more active they are, the further they go).
· During their travels, participants ‘interact virtually’ with each location, its customs, facts, foods, politics and famous locals.
· Most importantly, participants are exercising more, reaping the health benefits, and developing a healthy habit that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Just some of the Benefits of Exercise
· Physical activity has the potential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
· Moderate physical activity for just 30 minutes a day could save nearly 9000 Australian lives each year
· Regular exercise can be an effective way to treat some forms of depression
· Physical activity burns up stress chemicals, like adrenaline, which promotes a more relaxed state of mind.
· The physical benefits of regular exercise include improved cardiovascular fitness, reduced risk of premature death, reduced cholesterol level, reduced blood pressure, maintenance of healthy weight and improved muscle tone
10,000 Steps to a Healthier You!
The World Health Organisation recommends you take 10,000 steps daily to improve their health and reduce the risks of disease. Using this recommendation U@MQ Active and The GCC encourages participants to reach this target every day of the event. This equates to about an hour and a half of constant walking and 6km from structured and unstructured activities such as:
· Taking the stairs at work
· Walking to the bus stop or train station
· Going for a walk during a lunch break
· Parking further away
· Taking the more challenging path to your destination
· Being more active before or after work
