By Neale McDevitt
Although surfing the Internet will never burn as many calories as surfing a rip curl, the University’s new Fit @ McGill website (www.mcgill.ca/fitatmcgill) will help people ride the wave of improved health.
Funded by a grant from the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, Fit @ McGill is an online repository for information regarding nutrition and exercise. Visitors can find expert advice on everything from putting together a healthy meal at home and making smart choices in the cafeteria, to setting realistic fitness goals and staying motivated in the gym.
And while much of the information is geared specifically to students, the website is beneficial to all. “We’re trying to provide information for the McGill community,” said Amanda Unruh, Fit @ McGill Web Co-ordinator. “Health and wellness should be a lifelong pursuit for everyone.”
Work on the website, spearheaded by Student Health Services’ Health Promotion division, began last summer. Browsers have access to Google maps to help them locate everything from local gyms to good tobogganing hills. As well,
users can have their fitness- and nutrition-related questions answered by Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, Director, Student Health Services.
The official launch of Fit @ McGill will be marked by a series of events and workshops on Feb. 15-16. A nutrition fair will be held on Feb. 15 in both the lobby of the F.D. Adams building and the McConnell Engineering hallway from 10:30-4:30. The same venues will host a fitness fair the
following day.
As well, a series of workshops will be presented on both days with topics ranging from heart-friendly foods, bike maintenance and an introduction to Zen meditation to Latin dance classes, tours of the Athletics complex and rowing tutorials given by members of the McGill Rowing Team.
For more information, go to www.mcgill.ca/fitatmcgill. The workshops are free but seating is limited. To read overviews of the workshops and get registration information, go to www.mcgill.ca/fitatmcgill/montreal/exercise/events/workshops/