MANY OPTIONS AT CHRISTMAS TO GIVE GIFT OF HEALTHY LIVING

There are a spate of options to give the gift of good health this Christmas.

For example, there are biometrics programs to lose weight and learn a healthy lifestyle. Both area hospitals run six-week biometrics programs that combine a regimented, personal diet, exercise and weight training.

St. Francis Medical Center wellness coordinator Bill Logan says about 400 people have been through the Center for Health and Rehabilitation biometrics program this year.

Coordinator of outreach and wellness at Southeast Missouri Hospital, Debbi Leoni, says about 130 people have gone through Southeast's program since its inception in July 1996.

Both biometrics programs offer follow-up or extended programs for a second six weeks so people can continue their programs.

Logan says about 70 percent of those who took the biometrics program have remained active. St. Francis biometrics instructors encourage those completing the programs to join the Universal Health & Fitness Center. Another 50 people have continued at the rehabilitation center.

Generally, Logan says, those who have completed the biometrics programs have committed to changing their dietary habits and have moved to an exercise lifestyle.

Leoni says once participants get through the initial program, they learn how to exchange foods -- baked potatoes for rice, etc. -- to meet their dietary requirements. Many who have completed the program join Southeast's Main Street Fitness in Jackson.

Both hospitals offer gift certificates for their biometrics programs and many of their other programs.

Both fitness centers, Universal and Main Street, also offer a variety of fitness programs, services of personal trainers and racquetball courts. Universal has tennis courts and offers martial arts classes. Main Street also has wallyball courts.

Universal manager Doug Friese says the idea is to have something for the whole family. Universal offers a program for children aged 6 to 12 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

At Main Street there are a variety of programs for all ages, including Easy Does It, a low-impact aerobics class; Coming of Age, a comfortably paced aerobics class for older, active adults; STEP-Reebok, based on the popular stair-climbing concept; and the FitKids program for children aged 2 through 12.

Besides the two health clubs, there are still other options to help you get and stay fit.

Healthsouth, started as a physical therapy center, has opened its center and equipment to club memberships.

New club members undergo a health assessment, which is put into a computer for analysis and development of a fitness program. A fitness instructor leads the new member through the program the first time, shows the member how to use the equipment. After the initial run-through, the program becomes self-directed.

Healthsouth also offers an aquatic fitness program for people with arthritis, aerobics classes and work hardening classes. The work hardening classes teach people how to use the large muscle groups more effectively.

At Future Fitness, which owner-manager Eleanor Jones says is the oldest such facility in the city, the emphasis is on free weights and nutrition.

Jones says her facility -- begun in August 1979 by her son under the name Cape Girardeau Weight lifting -- has the most free weights in the city.

A would-be member at Future Fitness would have to answer questions about health before Jones would do an evaluation and prescribe a fitness program.

Future Fitness has programs in conditioning, weight control, body building, sports training, power lifting and nutritional aids.

The city parks and recreation department offers aerobics and swimnastics classes and opens its A.C. Brase Arena Building and Osage Centre for other physical activities.

Lance Gragg, a recreation programmer at the Osage Centre, says the function of the center is to serve the public in getting a worthwhile fitness and recreational experience.

For a dollar a day, people can use the weight room or basketball and volley ball courts. Fitness and weight training programs are self-directed, but there are monitors available during workouts.

The aerobics classes cost $3 a day or $20 a month and are taught by a certified aerobics teacher.

There is no fee for walkers.

The theory, Gragg says, is to offer a way for anyone who wants to do a fitness program to have a place to do it.

Another option is the Southeast Missouri State University Recreation Center.

Students pay an activities fee to use the center, but the public can buy two types of memberships, says L.G. Lauxman, director of the student recreation center.

The red membership is a full membership, which provides the same access as students receive.

The black membership is a limited membership, restricting facility use hours to 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week and when it is open on weekends or during school vacations -- Thanksgiving, Christmas.

In addition to a basketball court, there are racquetball courts, weight room, exercise equipment and a climbing wall.

Members can also join aerobics classes and water aerobics classes at the Parker pool.

The wellness programs at both hospitals give screenings for cholesterol and glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure.

The Center for Health and Rehabilitation offers exercise and water aquatics programs for people with arthritis.

The gift of good health comes in many packages, allowing the giver to tailor his gifts to fit that special someone.