Our last tip to our saw an encouragement to make sure your fitness program is comprehensive. This means including Aerobic, Strength and Stretching/Range of Motion Movements in the weekly mix. Excluding any area will make achieving fitness difficult.

One of the 3 areas of service for F.A.S.T. is Corporate Wellness. We are pleased this area is growing, due to a big interest in companies keeping health insurance costs down. We offer 5 incentive based employee programs as well as on sight exercise classes. One of the incentive based programs is entitled the "Holiday Wellness Challenge."

 

This program which has been refined over the past 5 years, rewards folks for practicing healthy behaviors between Thanksgiving and New Years. If this sounds like something interesting to bring to your company please contact us You the reader can take some of the categories and make them part of your personal wellness program.. Following are several categories:
 

No carbonated beverages for the day - employees receive a point for each day without. You gain health as I can't think of a carbonated beverage without either a lot of sugar or some questionable artificial sweetener.

 

Avoid cookies, cake donuts and other baked sweets. We are taking calories per oz. here. Don't eliminate them just ensure they are really an exception.

 

Attend a church/worship service. Peace and joy equal mental health.

Spend 15 min. A day in quiet reflection. This means no cell phone, music, TV, computer and other electronic devise. Find your quiet place and breath deeply!

 

Exercise - indoors and yes still outdoors- employees receive a point of every 15 min. and a bonus if its outside due to the mental health benefits of fresh air and sunshine.

 
There are many more categories which make this a well rounded program. You can also make up your own based on need. The point is that committing to several will help ensure you do not gain the average 6# that a Midwesterner does during the holidays. Plan it, commit to it, act on it.