Sam Rayburn High School faculty and students will be increasing their fitness and monitoring their heart rates with the help of a new program called “In Training … Get Fit.”

“In Training … Get Fit” is a campus wide project designed to train students, athletes and faculty members how to develop and lead healthier lives by using technology such as heart monitors.

Sam Rayburn coach and teacher Joan Propp said she was inspired to create this program because of the increasing numbers of childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease. She said her main goal is to get people moving.

“Today’s children are the first group not to outlive their parents,” said Propp. “A wake-up call is needed. This program will allow the students and teachers to become engaged in learning and will motivate them to lead healthier lifestyles. It will also teach them how to set goals, which will be followed by a sense of accomplishment.”

The program goals are to teach students how to monitor individual resting/exercising heart rates to maximize the benefits of an individualized cardiovascular workout that will lead to a decrease in heart disease and related illnesses and encourage students and teachers to set goals that will improve their lifestyles by using technology to develop an individualized training program.

In addition, the program aims to provide personalized data through the use of technology that can be used for individualized workout programs as well as to reinforce content area TEKS in science, math and language arts. The program is also designed to monitor special needs children with specific health problems to maximize the positive effects of exercise and minimize the risk of injury and to create early detection of heart problems in all individuals.

Heart monitors will be used in physical education classes to help instructors and students train correctly. Patients Medical Center in Pasadena donated $1,800 to purchase eight heart monitors for the project, and CEO Jeff Hausler said he is happy to be able to help.

“I believe this is an opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives,” Hausler said. “We all know the benefits of exercise. This program is designed to provide feedback to the student that they are getting the most out of their exercise regimen, and to provide an instructor with the capability to monitor the activity of several students at the same time. This capability can lead to students developing healthier lifestyles.”

Propp said she was excited about businesses that are helping to fund this program.

“I felt like a kid in a toy store with an unlimited budget when I found out businesses were going to help us get the things we need to make this project happen,” Propp said. “It goes back to the fact that obesity, diabetes and heart disease all have an effect on our performance at work. I think these business leaders realize these young adults will enter the work force and possibly be one of their employees. If they adopt a fitness plan and stay healthy, that means better work and lower premiums for their insurance plans.”

A half marathon class for students and a 100-mile club for faculty as well as fitness classes in the fall will be offered through this program. Participants will be assigned a heart rate monitor on a rotating basis. Students will have the opportunity to download information from the heart monitor at the end of each exercise session, allowing them to compare the information to a heart rate zone chart on the Exercise Pyramid. Each individual will set goals for improving and adjusting their own fitness levels.

Propp said the heart monitors will help the students and faculty achieve their fitness goals by making them aware of what it takes to reach a heart rate that is suitable for them individually during exercise.

“Too many people think exercising is too hard,” Propp said. “Some people push themselves too hard while others will barely push themselves at all. The heart monitor will inform our students and teachers of what they need to do to achieve a level for good cardiovascular fitness.”

Propp said she and her students are going to aim for a fitness day to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.

“Getting fit and preventing obesity and heart conditions among our youth is vital to the health of our citizens and teens,” Propp said. “Obesity is running rapid among our youth, and it’s important for us to teach our students how to lead healthier lives. This group of students will at least be educated on how to stay fit and healthy. I’m excited about this opportunity for our students and staff.”