Atheneum | Archived_newsletter | Coastal Carolina University

Chart your fitness journey through ChantFit: Part I of II

by Pippo

Some of us find it difficult to hold ourselves accountable to our New Year’s resolution to get fit. Coastal Carolina University’s fitness program, ChantFit, seeks to change that.

ChantFit is a six-week health and fitness program that started Jan. 28 and runs through March 8. It is open to students, faculty and staff. The program combines individual accountability with guidance from personal trainers at the HTC Fitness Center. The cost is $65.

Whether participants are seeking a basic introduction to working out in a gym, advice from a professional on how to lose weight, or a challenge to take their workout to the next level, ChantFit can help.

According to Tara Josey, associate director of University Recreation and creator of ChantFit, even if a client has never stepped foot into a gym before, this program is a great way to get started.

“In this program, we educate people on how to use the machines and have good form and technique when lifting weights,” said Josey. “Whether you’re trying to lose weight or get stronger, all programs should have resistance and strength training included in them.”

Before the intense ChantFit journey can begin, fitness assessments must take place. During this time, participants meet one-one-one with their trainers to learn what they can expect out of ChantFit and to understand what is expected of them. Beginning capabilities are tested, such as push-ups per minute, so the client can chart their progress.

Trainers will modify any workout for beginner, intermediate or advanced participants. “If two people sign up for a time slot and one person is more advanced in their fitness journey than the other, they can still be doing the same workout – one person will just be lifting a lot more weight than the other,” said Josey.

Six certified trainers from University Recreation lead workouts for two participants during one time slot. The time slots are one hour long and are held two days per week. Time slots are selected at the beginning of the program and they will be the same for the duration of the program.

For those who are looking for even more of an incentive to work hard, the top three males and top three females who earn the most points will be awarded merchandise from University Recreation and be entered into a drawing for 12 free sessions of personal training from University Recreation trainers.

First, an easy five points are awarded to participants when they attend their scheduled weekly workouts with their trainer. They can also earn points by attending group fitness class at the HTC Center. Participants will receive group exercise cards, and if they complete 10 group classes, they are awarded 25 points.

Finally, participants earn points when they record workouts that they do on their own time. By using fitness tracking apps, they will be awarded one point per week for completing two workouts on their own. They will turn in a log of their activity at the end of the program.

The ChantFit kick-off event on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. was an opportunity for trainers and participants to meet, then start sweating with a group workout in the HTC Center.

This is the seventh year University Recreation has been helping people reach their health and wellness goals through this fitness program. By the end of ChantFit, participants in the program will know how to come up with effective workouts by themselves and hold themselves accountable to continue their fitness journey.

In next month’s issue of The Atheneum, we will be tracking the fitness journey of one CCU staff member for an inside look at ChantFit. See the program from the perspective of Kenneth “Tad” Reed, a captain in CCU’s Department of Public Safety and ChantFit participant. Through weekly check-ins, Reed’s progress and overall experience with the ChantFit program will be documented.

For more information on the ChantFit program, visit coastal.edu/recreation/fitness/specialevents/chantfit.
Click here to view a description and a schedule of the group fitness classes at the HTC Center.

Visit coastal.edu/recreation/fitness/personaltraining to learn more about personal training offered by University Recreation.

Chart your fitness journey through ChantFit: Part I of II

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