Frequently Asked Questions

What is Activate Upper Palmetto?
Activate Upper Palmetto is a FREE year-round healthy living awareness program that targets youth and adult obesity and their related diseases. The program encourages participants to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days per week by completing their daily activity log online.  Participants will receive Healthy Living information about nutrition, exercise and health education weekly on the website.   Participants also take part in weekly weigh-ins for the first 6 weeks of the program and then monthly weigh-ins for the remainder of the year. Participants may also attend, “Health Talks,” a series of lectures by wellness and medical experts that focus on topics related to health and well-being.  Participants will be challenged to begin healthy eating and regular moderate-intensity exercise. They will be supported by wellness experts throughout the year as they jumpstart their quest for a healthy lifestyle.

Who sponsors Activate Upper Palmetto?
The Upper Palmetto YMCA, Piedmont Medical Center, and Winthrop University have combined resources in an effort to address the growing obesity epidemic in our area and to make our communities healthier. The South Carolina Hospital Association is a statewide sponsor and supporter of Activate South Carolina.

Who is eligible to participate in Activate Upper Palmetto?
All residents of the York and Chester Counties are eligible. There is no cost to participate in Activate Upper Palmetto.

When and how do I register? 
Registration is easy. Come to the Kickoff event on Monday, January 14 anytime between the hours of 1:00 pm and 7 pm at the Winthrop Coliseum or on the website beginning January 15, 2008.  

What if I missed the Kickoff Event?
It’s not too late to register. Participants can register all year long. Online registration starts January 15, 2008.

What is my username and password?
Your username is automatically generated and sent to your email address when you register. It is the first letter of your first name plus your last name plus the last four digits of your phone number.  Your password is the last four digits of your social security number or the four digit number your provided at the time of registration.

What happens if I miss a weigh-in?
You can continue to participate but you will not have your weight logged for the weigh-in you missed. 

How do I track my progress?
You can view your progress by viewing your My Page on the website. Click on your Weight Loss Graph or your Physical Activity Graph to see how you have progressed. You must be logged in to view your progress.

How do I enter my activity minutes?
Login with the username and password that was created for you when you registered. Click on My Page.  Click on Track My Physical Activity. To enter Physical Activity choose an activity by clicking on the drop down box for Activity 1. Click on the activity you performed. Then enter the number of minutes you performed that activity in the number of minutes box provided. Repeat for Activity 2 and 3 if needed. Click Save. You must click Save for your information to be added to your calendar. To enter or change an activity for a previous date, click on the desired underlined date and follow the instructions above.

How is my information recorded into my Weight Loss Graph and my Physical Activity Graph?
After each weigh-in you attend, your weight will be recorded by a staff member and shown on your Weight Loss Graph so that you can view your progress. Your physical activity time is recorded from your input on your Track My Physical Activity page. There are 2 graphs on you Physical Activity Graph. The first shows your total physical activity minutes for each week. The second graph will tell you how many days that week you have performed moderate intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes. Your goal is 5 days per week.


What information is on My Page?
You can track your physical activity, calculate your BMI, view your Weight Loss Graph, view your Physical Activity Graph, change your password, access the Healthy Living Guide, and find out dates, times, and locations of Health Talks and weigh-ins.

Should I consult a doctor before beginning this exercise program?
We recommend that you consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program. We have provided a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire in the Healthy Living Guide to help you assess your readiness to participate in physical activity. 

What activities are eligible for the physical activity goal?
Members of the Upper Palmetto YMCA can access a class schedule by visiting the web at www.upymca.org, select the "branch location" of you choice, select "health and fitness" and then click the link to "schedule" under the "fitness classes" paragraph. For those who are not a member of the Y, choose moderate intensity physical activities such as the following:

Aerobics Classes Bicycling Calisthenics (no weight) Dancing Elliptical Trainer Golf, Carrying Clubs Hiking Jumping Rope Lacrosse Martial Arts Other Ball Games Racquetball                                      Jogging  **Non-members will be able to utilize the Y on weigh-in Fridays

Rock Climbing Rowing Running Skating Skiing Soccer Stair Climbing Swimming Tennis Volleyball Walking Briskly Weight Training

What is moderate-intensity physical activity?
When participating in moderate intensity physical activity, your heart rate and breathing are elevated above resting values. You should always be able to talk but not easily sing while performing moderate intensity activity. If you cannot talk, you may be exercising too intensely. If you can easily sing, the exercise may be too easy. Brisk walking or an equivalent activity, would qualify as moderate intensity physical activity for many individuals.

Do I have to perform the 30 minutes of activity at one time?
The Activate program is designed to help you incorporate regular physical activity into your everyday life. You are more likely to adhere to an active lifestyle if you set aside time to be active on most days of the week. However, if you are short on time, you can accumulate the 30 minutes of activity in bouts of at least 10 minutes throughout the day.

Can I accumulate all of my activity minutes in one day?
No. In order to meet the goal, you must participate in at least 30 minutes of activity 5 or more days per week. It is important to be physically active on most days of the week.

Can I participate in the Group/Company Challenge?
Any group of three or more people can register for the Group/Company Challenge. As an employee or a member of a participating group, you must still register yourself in Activate Upper Palmetto. On the registration screen look for your group in the drop down menu under “Group/Company”.

What if I forgot to designate my Group Name when I registered?
Please use the contact us feature on the Activate Upper Palmetto home page and select join a group. Please designate your username, first name, last name, and the group you wish to join.

How do I register a group?
Use the contact us feature on the website, select Group/Company Challenge and provide the following information. Group Name, Contact Name, email address, street address, city, state, zip code, and phone number. Please allow 48 business hours for your group to become registered.

How do I join a team?
Tell your family, friends, and/or co-workers about the Activate  program. Explain your desire to be more physically active and ask them to participate with you. Designate a team leader and follow the instructions below to create a team. If your team has already been created then simply give your username to your team leader. You don’t have to be part of an official Group/Company in order to participate together. 

How do I create my team?
To Create a Team from the My Page menu click on Create/Manage Team.  Click on "Create a Team". Enter your Team name and click on submit.  Once you have created your team you can add members at any time by using the "Manage Your Team" (for team creators) link. As the creator of your team you can add and delete members of your team. To add or remove a member to your team click on "Manage Your Team" (for team creators). A list of members on your team will be displayed. To add a member, enter the username of the member you wish to add and click on Add. To remove a member of your team click on Delete beside the member you wish to remove. To "Join a Team" already created you will need to supply your login name to your team creator. * Please note that you can only be on one team.

What if I am part of a Group/Company but also want to be on a team?
You can be part of the Group/Company Challenge and be on a team. However, you can only be on one team.  Tell your Group/Company that you can create smaller teams within your group to create lots of fun and team camaraderie. It’s easy.