Physical Fitness
The Basics
Aim to be physically active for 30 minutes every day. To keep things interesting, consider the following:- Vary the activity
- Vary the place
- Vary the time
- Grab a friend
- Lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality
- Lower risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke)
- Lower risk of hypertension
- Lower risk of type 2 diabetes
- Lower risk of cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, endometriosis, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach
- Reduced risk of dementia
- Reduced anxiety
- Reduced risk of depression
- Improved sleep
- Slowed or reduced weight gain
- Weight loss, particularly when combined with reduced calorie intake
Getting Active
When was the last time you moved out of your comfort zone to get active? Exercise is an important piece of your overall health. It is recommended that adults do 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. That means that 30 minutes a day would put you on track to accomplish the recommended amount of exercise, but no one wants to spend their time doing something unenjoyable. Below are some activities that hopefully inspire you to get moving.
- Walking meetings
- Taking the stairs
- Fitness classes (online instructional videos, yoga, dance, CrossFit)
- Biking (mountain, road, stationary)
- Jump rope or hula hoop
- Walking/playing with your pet(s)
- Team sports (tennis, basketball, golf)
- Window shopping (yes, this can be a lot of walking)
- Swimming (free to TAMUK employees)
Recreation Center
Current faculty/staff on-campus at TAMUK and its related properties are eligible to purchase. Faculty/Staff membership includes access to the Student Recreation Center, Rec Sports Field Complex, SPEC Pool, and Gaming Lounge.
Spouses/partners and dependents living in the faculty/staff member’s household are eligible for faculty/staff pricing. Note, the faculty/staff member must maintain active membership as a sponsor of their spouse and dependents in order to receive this pricing tier. Otherwise, they will be considered for the community pricing tier.
Note, children of faculty/staff that are home from college for a short period of time are eligible as well. These instances are usually better purchased as either day passes or punch passes. Again, the faculty/staff member must have an active membership for their children to receive this pricing tier.
Recreational Sports - Payroll Deduction Application Packet
Payroll Deduction for Gym Membership
At this time, a payroll deduction is an option for faculty and staff to pay for a subscription to the recreational facilities on campus. Please see the form linked above for more information. Any questions should be directed to the Student Recreation & Fitness Center.
Wellness Release Time
The Texas A&M University - Kingsville Wellness Release Time program is designed
to enhance the well-being of employees. It is a voluntary program consisting of university-sponsored physical fitness activities and wellness education opportunities during the workday. The policy and form are attached below.
Wondr Health
Wondr Health is a program offered to you by your A&M System health plan that helps participants lose weight and decrease the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. It is based on behavior modification instead of dieting. For more information, visit the Wondr Health website.
There is no cost to use the program. To participate in Wondr Health, a member must be an employee, spouse or dependent that is 18 years or older enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 PLUS plan and/or J plans. Your eligibility will be determined through a Wondr Health application process.
Well onTarget
Well onTarget is a health and wellness resource provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas through your Blue Access for Members (BAM) account. Log into BAM and click Well onTarget under the quick links to find the alternate HA, self-instructed courses on a variety of wellness topics such as stress, nutrition, and improving your sleep. Work with a wellness coach, or earn Blue Points for completing healthy activities. View the Well onTarget Flyer.
Silver Sneakers (Retirees – 65 Plus Only)
The Texas A&M University System offers a fitness program for retirees age 65 and older. The Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness program is the nation’s leading fitness program designed exclusively for older adults.
This program provides A&M System retirees a free, basic fitness membership with access to 15,000 classes in 13,000 locations nationwide. For more information view the Silver Sneaker Flyer.
Airrosti
Airrosti is a combination of highly targeted manual therapy with customized active rehab exercises to target and rapidly resolve the source of your soft tissue pain or injury. It is covered by a specialty copay. It is a voluntary wellness program, so check with your wellness coordinator to see if there is an Airrosti program near you.
Visit http://www.airrosti.com for more specific information on the program.
Omada
Omada is a digital lifestyle change program to help reduce the risks of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and hypertension. Omada brings together the individualized attention of professional health coaches with a researched curriculum and manageable but powerful goals.
- It helps connect the dots between knowing how to get healthy and actually doing it.
- You get the support and tools you need, including an interactive program, wireless scale, health coach, and more.
Participants go through an application process to determine eligibility. Both the program and shipping are free to you if you are accepted into the program, and enrolled in the above health plans. Visit TAMUS Omada Health website to take the one-minute risk screener to find out if you are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit the TAMUS Omada Health website.
*Only available to A&M System employees, retirees, and their spouses enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 plus, and J plans.
Livongo
Livongo is a program specifically for those diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes or hypertension. You will be contacted by Livongo if you are determined to be eligible for the program. You cannot apply to join the program without being contacted.
The Livongo diabetes program includes:
- An advanced meter
- Unlimited strips and lancets
- 24/7 support from Livongo Expert Coaches
The Livongo hypertension program includes:
- Free, connected blood pressure monitor
- Better blood pressure management
- Personalized support
For more information, visit the Livongo website.
*Only available to A&M System employees, retirees, and their spouses enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 plus, and J plans.
Hinge Health
If you experience chronic back, knee, hip, neck, or shoulder pain you might want to check out Hinge Health. This is a 12-week, coach-led digital musculoskeletal (MSK) program based on proven nonsurgical care guidelines. It is delivered remotely using mobile and wearable technology.
Hinge Health is focused on 3 core pillars:
- Exercise Therapy –Wearable sensors and tablet provided for real-time movement feedback.
- Behavioral Health – Cognitive behavioral therapy and unlimited 1:1 coaching.
- Education – Personalized and interactive education curriculum.
Participants go through a clinical screening to determine eligibility. You can submit the screening questionnaire on the TAMUS Hinge Health website if you are interested in the program. Your eligible Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance plan will cover the program cost if you are accepted. View the Hinge Health flyer.
*Only available to A&M System employees, retirees, and their spouses enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 plus, and J plans.
Ovia Health and Family Planning
Your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) health plan includes tools to support you throughout your pregnancy and afterward. You can use the Ovia Pregnancy app to help you learn to take good care of yourself and your baby.
Ovia can help you:
- Track your symptoms, sleep, weight and more
- Get updates on your progress and your baby’s growth
- Explore helpful articles, videos, and health tips
- Check the safety of food and medicines
- Connect with registered nurses about questions or concerns you may have
Ovia Fertility features a fertility tracker, ovulation calculator, and cycle calendar. Ovia Pregnancy monitors pregnancy and the baby’s growth week by week. It also shares clinical information with BCBSTX in cases where members are identified as experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. Ovia Parenting helps chart a child’s developmental milestones from birth through three years old and includes a feature for logging daily feedings, diaper changes, and sleep patterns. Available to all employees, retirees, and their covered dependents enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 Plus, and J plans. During sign-up, make sure to choose “I have Ovia Health as a benefit.” Then select BCBSTX as your health plan and enter TAMUS as your employer's name.
GIThrive
GIThrive is a benefit to help you maintain a healthy gut. A healthy gut helps maintain overall health, weight management, sleep quality, joint health, how we manage stress and anxiety, and more.
What can GIThrive do for you?
- Provide relief from common digestive issues. Do you experience gas? Bloating? Heartburn? The GIThrive app, together with a dedicated GIThrive Dietitian, can help you ease common symptoms without giving up all the foods you love.
- At-home gut microbiome kit and analysis ($150 value at no cost to you). Discover which bacteria are living in your gut, and work with a dedicated Dietitian to understand what that means for your health, based on the latest science.
- Relief from stress and anxiety. Your gut is where 95% of serotonin is produced – commonly known as the happiness hormone. GIThrive includes direct access to a Care Team that will share proven tools for managing stress and anxiety.
- Virtual visits with physicians. No co-pays, no commute, no waiting rooms. Complete care for digestive health symptoms and conditions. Access to physicians including internists and gastroenterologists, all through the app.
Visit GIThrive to learn more or check for eligibility.
*Open to employees, spouses, and dependents (age 18+) enrolled in the A&M Care Plan or J Plan.
Virta Health
Get your life back–and leave diabetes behind. Virta is a virtual clinic that helps members create plans for better health with support from healthcare clinicians, coaches, and digital health tools. With Virta, you can reverse type 2 diabetes, lose weight, reduce medications, and save money so you can get back to what you love.
What Virta members receive:
- A nutrition therapy plan backed by clinical research
- Tips to make meals tasty and healthier
- Personalized clinician care and coaching
- Daily support via mobile/desktop app
- Meter, scale, and testing supplies
Am I eligible?
The Texas A&M University System fully covers the cost of Virta (valued at over $3,000) for you and your eligible family members with type 2 diabetes. To check for eligibility, visit virtahealth.com/join/tamus.
Tobacco Cessation Products and Services
We encourage tobacco users to seek assistance through any of the tobacco-cessation resources below.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield A&M Care Health Plan Participants
- Employee Assistance Program
- American Cancer Society
- American Lung Association
- National Cancer Institute
Blue Cross Blue Shield A&M Care Health Plan Participants may have access to:
- Nicotine replacement prescription medication at no cost, with a prescription
- Online Tobacco Cessation programs
- Individual counseling services
For information on many of our programs, view the BCBSTX Health Program flyer.