Staying healthy on a college campus can at times be a difficult prospect for both students, faculty and staff.

With easy access to the all-you-can-eat Pirate Cafe, the Pirate Grounds coffee shop with its delicious treats and beverages, and the Smart Market with every snack imaginable, it’s easy to gain the freshman 15 plus some.

Luckily, several faces on campus have found ways to keep off unwanted weight and stay moving.

For some, the most efficient way to slim down on a hilly and sprawling campus like Park is to utilize the ideal surroundings.

Florenda Jarrard, assistant director of academic support services and a mentor in the StepUP program, lost 90 pounds over the course of the last 10 months doing just that after a health scare that motivated her.

Her ongoing “Flo diet” that coworkers dubbed after her name has been a long yet simple process of walking and proportioned eating.

“What better area, what better campus to walk in than Park University,” said Jarrard on how she got in shape after discussing on to change her health patterns with her doctor. “You’ve got the underground in inclement weather, you’ve got hills, you’ve got flat surfaces, you’ve got stairs; there was every option for me. I started out flat and progressed up.”

Jarrard also attributes her FitBit to keeping her accountable and on track to reach her goal of 10,000 steps a day, wherever her daily course may take her.

Another part of her contribution to encouraging healthy activity on campus is helping with the Park University Staying Healthy committee.

Activities and events provided for all students range from Pilates and yoga classes taught in Labor Hall to a walking club held at the English Landing Park three times a week.

Another staff member on campus who not only keeps himself healthy through his work but also contributes in his own part to helping students have access to fitness equipment and activities is Ben Zibers, coordinator for Student Engagement and manager of the Pirate Fitness Center.

Easy changes in his everyday life, such as the use of a standing desk in his office along with the walking that takes him over all over campus, have been the actions that keep him healthy.

“Over the course of the summer time I did some reading on it, particularly the health benefits of standing desks and I found that was the route I wanted to go,” said Zibers. “I move more and I feel better. It helps the day go by.”

Zibers said little changes such as drinking more water, getting better sleep and using a FitBit  to hit his step count help him stay active. He encourages students to consider making these types of changes in their own daily lives.

“Tracking your body and building your fitness into your lifestyle is where I operate,” he said.

One student on campus who finds health important in her life is Lindy Moncado, a sophomore in the athletic training program.

A new transfer this semester, Moncado said she stays fit by adhering to what she learns from her classes and by running and participating in 5K races.

“I eat smarter decisions from the cafe, which can be difficult, but not eating burgers and fries every day and not drinking soda helps,” said Moncado. “I ran track in high school and after that I just started running 5Ks for hobbies.”

As winter rolls in and wraps the university in an icy grip, it becomes more difficult to go out for runs without freezing.

“I don’t like running on treadmills so it’s difficult because it’s cold,” she said. “I try to do more lifting in the winter than running because it’s definitely a lot harder in the winter unless it’s a nice day.”

For more information about fitness or other related services at Park University, contact Zibers at 584-6375 or visit www.park.edu.