Colin Lynch

 Busy college students can overlook aspects of their day while they are going from class to class or completing homework.  Nutrition is one of the most overlooked aspects.  Many college students (not in our major) don’t realize the importance of proper nutrition and the benefits you could receive.

 Although there is no numerical data published on the percent benefits that proper nutrition can provide, it is known science that carbohydrates provide the main source of our energy.  Uninformed and unknowledgeable students may not care to make the time in the day to provide their bodies with these necessary nutrients because they don’t understand the benefits.

 According to “Nutrition Today” a bi-monthly periodical, “not eating before a workout” is in their list of “Top Nutrition Mistakes Made by Active People”.  Giving the body food allows for a better and more productive exercise session.

 “Run and FitNews” explains that when you are pressed for time (like many college students can be), just packing along a snack to have on your way to the gym could be enough to supply your body with at least a little energy for the upcoming workout session.

 Survey was handed out to 10 Rowan students involved in a weight training program.  Results showed that students were interested in learning about many aspects of proper pre-workout nutrition.  This includes the science of it within the body and what proper nutrition is before a workout, but most importantly the shortcuts for when they are pressed for time.

 “This program is aimed to help college students understand the importance of pre- workout nutrition and help them get a general understanding for how they can use that to improve their workout performance”

 1.To increase knowledge about nutrient consumption before working out in college students  Process objective: Within the next month and a half, I will show about 10 college students a PowerPoint on the importance of pre-workout nutrition.  Impact objective: Within a week of completing the workshop, participants will report having consumed at least one time, a small amount of nutrients before their workout.  Outcome objective: By the end of the spring semester, each participant will have spread the knowledge that they learned to a minimum of two people each.

 2.Give college students a foundational knowledge so that they can make good decisions about what to consume before a workout. Process objective: Within the next 2 weeks, a PowerPoint presentation will be created that outlines strategies for consuming proper pre-workout nutrition to optimize performance. Impact objective: By the end the presentation, 80% of participants will be able to provide an example of a good pre- workout meal or a “shortcut snack”. Outcome objective: By the end of the semester, 80% of the participants will be consuming proper or better pre-workout nutrition than previously consumed.

 My program was based on the Theory of Reasoned Action.  The theory basically takes into account “Attitudes, intentions, behavior, and beliefs”  If people have a negative attitude towards the idea of nutrition (too time consuming, not worth it, etc) then they are less likely to participate in it.  Explaining the importance and the shortcuts could change their beliefs about the idea.

 As stated, my target population are college students participating in a resistance training program.  Those are individuals who perceive pre-workout nutrition to be unimportant or not worth their time to include in their busy lives.

 With the help of friends who are accounting majors, I was able to reach out to non-HPFM majors for this workshop.  They posted in their Accounting group Facebook page with a small description of the program and provided my address  8 responded via saying they would attend.

 Budget was kept very low.  I had the Exercise Physiology Textbook and online resources to compile information for the PowerPoint presentation.  Only real cost was $2.40 for printing of 8 pre-tests, 8 post-tests, and 8 other surveys.

 Upon arrival, a pre-test was administered, asking questions like “What is the body’s main source of energy?”, and “Which of the following is an ideal meal before a workout?”  After completion, the PowerPoint presentation was presented.  It began with the science behind the nutrition, then proper pre-workout nutrition, then the “shortcuts” to pre-workout nutrition.

 After the presentation came a small break and then the post-test. These questions were the same questions as the pre-test but in a different order.  Before leaving, a short open ended survey was handed out, asking about perceptions on pre- workout nutrition after the presentation along with asking for some examples of possible pre-workout nutrition ideas.  Many, but not all, had expressed a changed perception and stated they would try to consume something before their workout.

Nov. 22nd Thanks giving break Implement program

 Average pre-test score (10 questions) was a 70  Average post-test score was an  Average increase of points

 I am currently waiting for the impact survey results to be ed to me for whether or not the participants began to adopt any pre-workout nutritional habits.  I will send out the outcome evaluation survey once the semester is over to check on any progress (or lack of) in terms of perceptions and current habits.

 NUTRIENT intake. (2005). Running & FitNews, 23(4), 2  Slater, G., & Phillips, S. M. (2011). Nutrition guidelines for strength sports: Sprinting, weightlifting, throwing events, and bodybuilding. Journal Of Sports Sciences, 29S67- S77. doi: / )  Top Nutrition Mistakes Made by Active People. (2004). Nutrition Today, 39(6),