1/12/2012 3:52:06 PM

Creating Balance with Food & Fitness On-line Program

Andrea Nisley

Staying fit and healthy can be a balancing act: which foods to eat more of, which to eat less of? How much physical activity is required and what kind of activity?

Helping Nebraskans find that balance is the goal of a seven-week program sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension beginning in February. “Creating Balance with Food & Fitness” is a series of weekly interactive sessions to be broadcast on the World Wide Web on Tuesdays in February and March.

Participants can watch the classes live, or as recorded presentations anytime their schedules allow. They can participate from home, organize their own groups, or join groups that will be participating at some Extension offices around the state. Registration starts now and will continue until January 24.

“Creating Balance with Food & Fitness” is designed to help build skills that adults need for healthy living. Participants will learn about health indicators, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They’ll set goals to maintain health, learn about which foods to reduce and which foods to increase, and how to be more physically active.

“You can take the class alone; get together with co-workers or friends; or a combination of both, depending on your schedule,” Andrea Nisley, UNL Extension Educator. “It is a great worksite wellness class that can be taken over the noon hour.”

“Creating Balance with Food & Fitness” will consist of weekly webinars each Tuesday from noon until 1 p.m. CST for seven weeks (Feb. 7 through March 20, 2012). Recorded sessions will be available for those who want to watch it later at their convenience.

Either way, all that’s required is a computer with an internet connection and a web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. The on-line sessions use the Adobe Connect platform, where participants in the live webinars can submit questions to instructors and interact with other participants. There will also be on-line support where participants can post their thoughts and interact with instructors and other participants and have access to handouts, links and additional resources.

There is a fee. Space is limited and after January 24, 2012, the registration fee increases. UNL Extension in Dawson County is hosting the session at the Dawson County Extension Office, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway, Lexington. For complete details, contact Andrea Nisley at 308-324-5501 or e-mail anisley1@unl.edu.