Before the sun has risen and before most students' alarms have gone off, some ACU faculty and staff members exercise on weight machines, stair climbers and treadmills. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. 25 members of faculty and staff work out in the Gibson Health and P.E. Center. Some wear sweat pants and sweatshirts while others wear shorts and T-shirts. They either talk with each other or read as they exercise. But all of them do not waste time before starting to work out.
Members work from a yellow fitness program sheet that is designed for their personal exercise needs.
Each sheet keeps a record of how many calories are burned in the exercises available. It also keeps count of repetitions and how long or how far each person has walked or climbed. Dr. Cleddy Varner, professor of exercise science and health, and two exercise science and health students supervise the workouts and assemble a weekly flyer with specific health issues and tips. Ashley Patterson, senior exercise science and health major from Wichita Falls, instructs the faculty and staff on the various machines and gives help when it is needed. Some are already seeing the results of working out and feeling good about it.