Here at my agency, we have started a Summer Slim Down Challenge for the summer. It's a part of our wellness program that we have here at the Agency and it's promoting great health. I've joined under our directorate, as well as a few others, and what we've done is stepped our challenge up a little more by competing against the Comptroller Directorate here on the same floor. It started today and we all record our weight change on a weekly basis for the next 8 weeks. One of our Interns is currently on a 3-month rotation with the Wellness Coordinator and she's sort of like our coach, along with two other folks. We're required to build up our cardio workout by walking for 30-45 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week, and a record our measurements to gain points.
Our "Coach" will be providing extra tips via email to help us earn points and lose weight during this challenge. I figured I would start putting them here in case there are others that would like to gain a healthier lifestyle. I'm not sure if she will be providing tips on a daily or weekly basis, but I'll post whenever we get the emails. Here's the first bonus for our challenge.
Fitness Focus: Stretching is an important part of any workout routine. It helps increase your flexibility and reduce your chances of injury. You should stretch after you've cooled down from your workout. You can also stretch your muscles between sets during strength training workouts.
Assignment: Perform 10 minutes of stretching after each exercise bout this week. You must exercise a minimum of 3 times/week to get the bonus points. Add 100 points to the week’s ending totals.
Food Focus: Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Assignment: Consume 5 servings of fruits or vegetables at least 5 days this week.
If anyone is up for the challenge, feel free to join me. I could use all of the support I can get. Losing weight has always been a challenge for me because I've never been small. But I need to bring down my "good" cholesterol by exercising and I want the numbers to come down by the time I go for my physical in September. I want my weight to come down as well.
So far today, I've been doing very good. I haven't had any sweets or snacks at all, and I've been drinking my water. A couple of co-workers and I walked around our building, which is actually 3 buildings in one, for a half hour, so I've actually met my minimum for today. However, I will be walking on my treadmill (yes, I have one of those and don't use it) and completing an extra mile, which is only 15 minutes, when I get home.
If you like this challenge and want to lose weight or live a healthier lifestyle period, you can do so by joining the 50 million pound challenge. The website is www.50millionpoundchallenge.com. I'm sure you've all heard about it and it's free to register. All you have to do is record your weight loss on a weekly basis. I have been registered for about 3 weeks now and I have yet to record anything, but I will start doing so now since I'm a part of the Summer Slim Down Challenge here at work.
Get those walking shoes out and your cutest (cause we have to be cute when we're out walking in the neighborhood ladies) workout outfit and let's get healthy!
im gonna start walking with my mom in the mornings...and wen i go back to school imma walk around campus everyday with friends...but imma try to do more to have a healthy diet....i just dunno bout recording cuz i aint got a scale...my bro duz n he lives across the street but idk how often imma get to go there...but i will join ya
Here is our Fitness Focus for Week 3, and our Food Focus.
Week 3 Fitness Focus: Participate in 1 water activity for a minimum of 45 minutes this week. This includes swimming, pool jogging, water aerobics, pool/beach volleyball etc. Log your activity under Incentive Rewards bonuses for Week 3 Fitness Focus and collect 100 bonus points.
Week 3 Food Focus: Tuesday-Friday---Consume 5-6 small meals per day at approximately 200-350 calories per meal. You should be eating every 2-3 hours. Do not eat within 2-3 hours of bedtime. Claim 100 points at week's end.
