Happy New Year!

Here’s hoping you had a chance to recharge your batteries and at the same time spend some time with family and friends over the holidays. I am sure there are some of you who have started with some health and wellness resolutions for this new year, so here are some workplace tips on how to turn your resolutions into a habit!  

• Initiate a healthy-recipe swap within your team or department. Not only will this encourage healthy cooking and eating at home, it’s a great way to persuade those who are less inclined to embrace nutrition.

• Hold a weekly lunch meeting (healthy food included) and invite employees to share their personal fitness and diet challenges, goals and successes.

• Create a workplace workout room where you can do the ‘Get Fit at Work – Stretch and Strengthen’ program. Outfit an empty office with the program and posters (contact the Wellness office, SU020E, 403-332-5217, for materials) and utilize one break a week to go through the program as a team.

• Feed motivation with cold, hard facts. Distribute information about disease risk and prevention, the benefits of weight loss and how to make lifestyle changes that really work.

• Reward achievements. Have a team contest and recognize accomplishments with some sincere kudos. Positive reinforcement can make all the difference.

Be inspired by Doug Berry, Housing Services.

Doug went through the vascular screening program because he felt he was getting to the age where he might have to pay attention to his body. He first participated in the screening in the fall of 2009 and had his eyes opened. Finding both his weight and total cholesterol level higher than normal, Doug admitted he had been living more of a sedentary lifestyle. As a result, he decided that he would concentrate on losing some weight and focused on making small manageable changes to his life.

He started by using a side plate for meals (portion control) and had an apple or other fruit for a snack. He also started getting outside more and becoming more active.

In the fall of 2010, Doug went through the VR screening once more and with even these small changes to his lifestyle, was pleasantly rewarded. He lost a total of 18 pounds, his waist circumference was reduced by three inches, and his total cholesterol levels decreased by more than two points.

By utilizing the resources here on campus and incorporating small changes to his eating and exercise habits over a long period of time, Doug accomplished an overall lifestyle change. Look for another VR screening event in February.

Upcoming Wellness Events

Wednesday, Jan. 26
Lunch and Learn: Terra Sol Body Talk. Noon to 12:55 p.m., Andy’s Place (AH100)

Theresa Spencer, CBP,  provides information about this amazing form of health care that is safe, non-invasive and can be used to overcome many health challenges. The main focus of BodyTalk is to restore communication and re-synchronize the functioning of the body/mind thus activating the body’s innate ability to heal itself on all levels. Find out more at www.terrasolbodytalk.com  

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
Winter Walk Day

This year the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) will be presenting challenge awards to a workplace, school and older adult. The AMA is also sponsoring five community awards (based on population size) where communities will be eligible to win $500 for a charity in their community. Let’s team up and get folks on campus involved.

Please send your comments, suggestions or feedback to wellness co-ordinator Suzanne McIntosh at suzanne.mcintosh@uleth.ca or wellness@uleth.ca

For a full look at the January issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.