Share this story. 
|
Aerobics Point People
Compiled by Jadell Forman 90
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
James Barber 97 DMin
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I was a jock. So I worked out all the time--three to four times a week.
What did you think of the HPE requirements while a student? At first I thought the requirements were little annoying aerobics classes, until I read the book Fitness and Faith. It helped me put into perspective aerobic exercise versus the anaerobic exercise I was used to. I gained a lot of knowledge I still use in my exercise routine.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I continue to exercise with weights and cardiovascular training. I had a hip replacement in June 2005. So I do low-impact exercises like swimming, stationary bikes, stairs machine, and elliptical machine.
What's your motivation? I feel the energy flow from it. I sleep and perform better in every area of my life. I look forward to the payoff from the work.
What's your current game plan? I have a regimen of at least three times per week in the gym for cardio. I have weights at home I daily use for aerobic weightlifting for twenty minutes nonstop. Sometimes I do free weights at the gym with the guys.
Anything else you want to say? Diet is a part of my regimen. Everyone who says, "Diet," has a different opinion. But finding what fits your biological makeup is important. Add that to your exercise regimen and, in my opinion, you have good quality of life.
Tina (Butler) Keller 90 MBA
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I first came to ORU as a graduate student in business at the age of twenty-three. Prior to that I played tennis and racquetball fairly regularly and walked and jogged three or four times per week.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? I am very task-oriented. So I preferred the HPE requirements as a means of giving me a goal in my workout process. I had never run a mile before ORU. So it was good for me. That introduced me to running as a good, quick means of exercise, and I have been running ever since-- eighteen years. I have even entered the Tulsa Run and several 5K runs. I even run with my kids. My oldest two girls have entered several 5Ks with me. They can now probably run faster than I can (22 minutes for a 5K).
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I try to run five times per week for two to three miles. With five children, some weeks are busier than others.
What's your motivation? I am motivated to run in order to stay healthy and energetic. For most of the last eight years, I have had a running partner in the morning. For almost six of those years it was another mom who I am friends with. We were able to share our hearts and even pray during the cool down for our day and other concerns. As a busy mom, sometimes I was motivated just for the socialization [aspect] of the time.
What's your current game plan? The plan is Monday through Friday to run about two-and-a-half miles with a friend of mine who drives to my house at 5:45 in the morning. I am back inside ready to shower and pray and start the day by 6:30 or so. If the morning run does not occur, I usually wait [until] the next day.
With whom do you work out, or alone? See above. I do prefer to run with another mom. I have had times when I run alone. My current running partner is going back to work in the fall. So I may have to consider running alone. I'm sure I could use the extra prayer time. But it is harder to motivate myself to get up and go by myself.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? I'm pretty sure that I would have never taken up running without the HPE requirements. It was the fastest way that I found as a graduate student to earn enough points in the least amount of time. That is probably why I still do it. As a mother of five, my time is very limited.
Anything else you want to say? I hope that ORU still emphasizes the importance of physical fitness. I do believe that it gives you much more energy throughout the day, as well as encouragement in your life to know that you are taking care of the body that God has given you. Thanks to ORU for Fitness and Faith.
Tim McKitrick 97 MA
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I would play basketball fairly regularly and run now and then--usually in fits and starts.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? I thought they were a pain, and a wonderful idea--exactly what I needed. They taught me how to work out. My workouts actually got easier, but more frequent.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I have been active almost ever since. And when I have been off for a while, I know how to start slow and follow proper progression again.
What's your motivation? I like how I feel when I am in shape. And I don't like how I feel when I am carrying too much weight. Come July (he said in June), I will be hitting it again--diet and exercise.
What's your current game plan? Run four times per week. And now I need to add some weight training in there somewhere.
With whom do you work out, or alone? I run with a group from Runner's World.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? I have developed the habit of getting those aerobic points. Over the years, that habit has stuck. And I really enjoy it now.
Andrew Nimick 85 JD
How much did you work out before attending ORU? No workouts on a regular basis; just a fairly active lifestyle.
While a student, what did you think of HPER requirements? The requirements were okay; sometimes it was hard to work everything in, especially around exam time.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? Upon graduation, I went on workout hiatus. Joining the working world, plus having a child, sort of shut things down, from a workout perspective. I added regular workouts back to the weekly routing about ten years after graduation.
What's your motivation? My wife (Daleen)! She gave me a fitness center membership for Christmas. Now what does that tell you?!
What's your current game plan? As often as possible; daily even if I can pull it off. Three to four times a week is not uncommon.
With whom do you work out, or alone? I'm very used to going alone and just chatting with whoever is there. I've become a fitness center regular. So I know the other regulars and I can pick out the newbies as well.
What impact did HPER requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? Not sure. It probably gave me the discipline to find time for myself even if I don't have a workout buddy.
Anything else you want to say? Having a fitness goal, such as my annual hiking trips to Colorado, has really helped me stay on the wagon, so to speak. There is, after all, a certain amount of peer pressure to make a good showing while hiking to the summit of a 14,000-foot mountain.
Daleen Nimick 82 BS
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I played competitive volleyball in high school and any other non-competitive sport I could find. So any official workouts were dictated by coaches. I did not work out other than that.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? Some of the HPE requirements I disliked, as I was not a runner (due to volleyball knees). But overall, as I gained understanding of the importance of aerobic training, I adopted the requirements and reasonably complied with them.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? In my twenties I worked full-time as a CPA. Two years after the birth of our son, Stephen (now seventeen years old), we moved to Minnesota, where I took on the role of full-time mothering. Two quick moves later we returned to Tulsa in 1994. Workouts were practically nonexistent during that timeframe. I began working out on a regular schedule once Stephen was in full-time kindergarten.
What's your motivation? My motivation is general wellness and physical and emotional health. Also, my husband, Andrew, has a goal to hike all fifty of the 14,000-foot mountains in Colorado by the time he's fifty-something. Our family has gone along on some of the hikes. They require an incredible amount of aerobic conditioning--something one doesn't start a week before the hike.
What's your current game plan? I strive for three aerobic workouts each week with a long-distance walk thrown in on another day, unless I'm training for a hike.
With whom do you work out, or alone? If our schedules match up, I enjoy working out with Cindy Nussbaum and Claire Paulson on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. What is crucial is getting to the AC in the morning. Otherwise, it's hard to work it in.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? I know the importance of maintaining a healthy body, mind, and spirit. When one is out of sync, the others are affected, oftentimes negatively. The HPE requirements gave me a foundation on which to build my personalized wellness plan.
Cindy Nussbaum 83 BS
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I was very athletic. I played high school basketball and softball. However, I did not run until attending ORU.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? I enjoyed the HPE requirements. It was more of a challenge to me to see how many aerobics points I could get, as opposed to just getting enough. I loved ORU intramurals.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? Let's just say I still would not have a problem getting aerobics points!
What's your motivation? My motivation is a combination of staying healthy, trying not to gain weight, and enjoying time with friends.
What's your current game plan? Currently, I exercise two to four mornings a week at ORU, and walk and bike the other mornings.
With whom do you work out, or alone? At least two days a week I work out with some ORU alumni friends. The accountability of meeting someone helps out quite a bit when my alarm goes off early in the morning. Exercising with friends helps the time go by quickly. Some days I walk with friends and we pray for each other and our families as we walk.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? I think the atmosphere of physical fitness at ORU is a great influence on the students. Everywhere you look people are playing intramurals, running, walking, lifting weights, or playing a Division I sport. It's a fun environment, and it's hard not to catch the spirit.
Anything else you want to say? I have a daughter who cheered at ORU and a son who played soccer. It was a great experience for them. My son's floor has won the all-school intramurals championship several years. I think they both--like their mother and father--plan on using their alumni card [to work out in the Aerobics Center]. We, as alumni, appreciate the opportunity to use the Aerobics Center, as long as we are not required to run a field test.
Claire Paulson 83 BS
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I ran track in junior high, but hadn't done much exercising in high school. So I started running with my dad, who was a big runner, to get ready for ORU. The summer before I came to ORU, he would wake me up at 5:45 every morning to run at my high school track.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? I honestly don't remember. It seems like they were just another source of stress in my already-stressful schedule.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I have "done life" while working out. Through three pregnancies and births and all of life's changes, working out has remained a constant. It has changed its form over the years, though. I used to run exclusively. But I've moved more to walking and jogging and [using] mainly the elliptical machine at the Aerobics Center.
What's your motivation? Exercise helps everything--my mental outlook, my physical well-being, and, of course, weight control. When I go to the doctor and she asks about my medications, and I can say, "None," I know that is in large part due to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What's your current game plan? I always exercise on the elliptical twice a week, and then walk/jog in my neighborhood, along the river, at ORU's track, or at LaFortune Park.
With whom do you work out, or alone? I always meet Cindy Nussbaum on Tuesdays and Thursdays for our Aerobics Center workout. We probably miss only four or five days a year, other than summer vacations. When I'm tempted to hit the snooze button on those snowy or rainy mornings, I'm motivated by the fact that Cindy will be in the AC parking lot waiting for me. And on those days when I'd like to quit after ten minutes, she keeps me going for the full workout. Daleen Nimick meets us sometimes too. I also like to meet a friend to walk along the river or at LaFortune when it's convenient.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? I think ORU and HPE gave me a love for exercise. Being a non-athlete, I didn't understand the rewards of being physically fit. While I was at ORU, I ran the Tulsa Run, and have done it twice since then. I never would have discovered that I was capable of that if I hadn't attended ORU.
Calvin Roso 97 MA, 04 EdD
How much did you work out before attending ORU? Inconsistently, two to three times per week. On and off again (three months on, and three months off). This was a never- ending cycle
What did you think of the HPE requirements while a student? I was fine with them, because I knew they would help me become more consistent. (My student life at ORU was as an adult master's and doctoral student in my thirties and early forties.)
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? My workouts have only improved since ORU. As an adult, I like the challenge of pushing myself physically.
What's your motivation? My motivation is to try to physically stay ahead of the aging process. I want to be healthy in the long run and never have to slow down.
What's your game plan? I run three to four times a week and lift weights three lunches a week.
Anything else you want to say? I don't necessarily enjoy exercise any more in my forties than I did in my twenties. But I enjoy the results more. I know that consistent exercise is a byproduct of the HPE requirements I had during my graduate studies at ORU. The benefits of the exercise include extra prayer time when I run and being healthy enough to help others.
Rachel Wagner 73 BA
How much did you work out before attending ORU? "Workouts" before my ORU days were high school marching band and walking about a mile to the school bus stop!
What did you think of the HPE requirements while a student? I had no problem with them. It was fun to try new things to see what I liked and enjoyed, and what I didn't care for. I never could make it across that balance beam in gymnastics class!
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I have always tried to stay active, whether playing tennis, taking aerobic exercise classes (when that was so popular in the 80s), or trying Pilates with my daughter. But walking for exercise is something I have done consistently for at least twenty-five years. Even when we lived in Wisconsin, I would bundle up and get out even in the winter.
What's your motivation? I walk two miles about five times a week in a neighborhood park. My motivation is maintaining my weight, keeping my lower back healthy, and using this time as a continuation of my personal prayer time. I take small scripture cards along with me and/or worship music on my iPod. The time goes quickly. I get my exercise and fresh air, and I enjoy the extra time to pray. Oh, having some dark chocolate in the afternoon keeps me motivated, too!
What's your current game plan? At least five times a week when at home. When traveling or vacationing, I can still get in my two miles, whether on the deck of a cruise ship or along the shores of Lake Michigan.
With whom do you work out, or alone? I walk alone because I need a flexible schedule. However, I am delighted to have the company of my husband (it's good "talk time") on weekends or evenings.
Anything else you want to say? Walking is a great way to exercise at any time or anywhere you happen to be. It doesn't require any special "gear," except good walking shoes. And there are no membership fees!
Bill Zehner 97 MA
How much did you work out before attending ORU? I really didn't work out with any regularity before attending ORU. With great irregularity I would begin a weightlifting program or attempt to start a modest jogging program. But it never lasted.
While a student, what did you think of HPE requirements? I appreciated the firm stance on not just teaching about promoting a healthy body but also the requirement. That's what makes a lasting difference for many.
To what degree have you maintained your workouts since ORU? I certainly cannot say I have maintained a great workout program every month since graduating from ORU. But all in all, I have had a workout program in place each year and stuck to it more than at any other time in my life.
What's your motivation? I enjoy exercising, especially when I can do it with someone else. One of my aims is to stay physically fit throughout my entire life. I appreciate the extra energy I have after exercising. It makes the workday so much more enjoyable. Part of me doesn't ever grow up. So I like to still try and keep up with the high school students, physically. (Zehner is the superintendent of a Christian school in Wisconsin.)
What's your current game plan? During the summertime, I run three mornings per week (with some of the high school students) and ideally one more time on weekends by myself. The runs usually are three to four miles. As the summer progresses, my runs with the students increase in length from three to four miles, and then between five and eight miles. In addition to running three to four times per week, I add in some bike riding and some weightlifting. I also golf a lot during the summer (three times per week), and I always walk the course. During the school year, I cannot be as ambitious with my workout schedule. If I can run two to three times per week and also work in some weightlifting, I consider that successful.
With whom do you work out, or alone? I love to include some high school students when I run. During the school year I run after school and a few students have joined me. This summer I currently have three students who are joining me in the Monday-Wednesday-Friday runs before work. Since I commit to running between 7 and 8 a.m. on these three days, even if they don't show up on a given day, I am already at school. So I run by myself. I bike and lift weights by myself.
What impact did HPE requirements play in your current level of physical fitness? HPE had a great impact on my level of physical fitness. Before I started the HPE requirement I could only jog ten laps in our school gym before having to stop and walk a couple of laps and then jogging another ten laps. Now, I am able to run three to eight miles without stopping, and the pace is much faster than before. I am more conscious of my body fat percentage and my diet. I watch my cholesterol more closely.
Anything else you want to say? I really appreciated the requirements of HPE and the progression that was laid out for the student. I could so easily follow a written regimen. And it made the difference in my life! Going from being able to jog five minutes to sixty minutes is incredible! I enjoy having a more physically fit body, less body fat, and more energy for my daily duties.
