Improving Lives through the Wolfpack H.O.W.L.

“Now I know that it’s possible. Before it seemed like an impossible task, what I have learned is that I do have time and that I can.” Realizing in order to thrive in her commitments and as a mother, Renesha Bowmen needed to make the time for self-care. The Wolfpack H.O.W.L. enabled Bowen to improve her knowledge on healthy lifestyle management.

The Wolfpack H.O.W.L. (Healthy Opportunities for Weightloss) is a collaboration between fitness and wellness programs to educate students on healthy lifestyle management. The program combines instruction from personal trainers, registered dietitians and wellness coaches. The goal is to equip students with knowledge on how to maintain a long-term healthy lifestyle management, rather than focus on the number on a scale. 

The six-week program includes semiweekly small group meetings in which students receive advice and build community with other participants. They are equipped with the knowledge to choose healthy options on campus, how to avoid stress-related emotional eating, and specific advice on what they are struggling with. Also, newsletters related to healthy lifestyle management are assembled for the participants as an additional resource throughout the program. 

The program introduced the physical aspect by starting out small, increasing in intensity as the program increased. According to wellness coordinator Suzanne Hunt, “participants are able to realize that they are capable of working out.”  The group was introduced to various types of exercise and encouraged to explore the variety of group fitness classes offered at UREC. 

The weekly meetings held Bowen accountable to progress in the program, prompting her to build her schedule around H.O.W.L. time commitments. Week two proved most difficult, as she struggled to keep with the program after missing a group meeting. After recalling times when she directly applied lessons from H.O.W.L. in her everyday life, Bowen is thankful she pushed through. The community among the group also provided accountability throughout the program as well. 

From attending group fitness classes to providing words of encouragement, the community among participants plays a large role in the continuing success of the program.  According to Bowen , “The group aspect was a wonderful part because you do feel connected and there is the aspect of accountability from other people who are working on a goal similar to what yours is and they understand where you are coming from and can help you when you feel like you can’t move forward.“ The program helped her to build relationships and not feel alone on campus. The group still communicates through their group chat and coordinates attending group fitness classes together. 

Bowen is excited to continue her journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a mother of two boys, she now has the energy to keep up with their active lifestyle. This gave her the confidence to commit to coaching her son’s baseball team. A commitment she would not have made before the program. Having firsthand experienced the benefits of the Wolfpack H.O.W.L., Bowen wishes more students would learn about and take advantage of the program.