Looking for ideas for work programs

SHBoss1673

Hello all, Many of you know me already, for those that don't I'm a Personal Trainer who is also (primarily) a full time DBA for a company, well this company has a wellness committee and I have recently been elected as the chair. Of course with that responsibility comes some requirements. We are required to come up with the occasional program for the company to increase health and wellness.
Now I already have 4 or 5 lunch and learn presentations that I am going to schedule over the next 6 months on various nutrition and exercise related topics, but I was also looking for something else to do with the company. Things I can do to help get people into the healthy frame of mind.

I COULD go scour Google for ideas, but really, I'd first like to ask my compatriots here on MFP, what have you done in work (or some other group) to promote health and wellness, what programs have you been a part of and enjoyed. How many people participated in your programs, and what was the overall thoughts of the program by the employees(people) involved?

Before I go any further, I would like to rule out TBL competitions (I.E. weight loss competitions), while I'm all for people trying to lose weight, for various reasons I'm not a big fan of making it a competition, especially in the work place. So if your program focused on weight loss (or more specifically, competitive "loss" type competitions), it's not something I'm going to be interested in. Other than that though, fire away, give me what you got, if I'm interested, I may PM you for details, or may just ask on this post.

please feel free to PM me if there's something you want me to know but don't feel like making it public either.

thanks guys,

-Banks

SHBoss1673

and bumping because it's left the recent posts wall so fast.

KiyaK

If many people at your job work at desks, you could have some sort of stretch session. Teach people stretches they can do in/around their desk to keep from getting tight throughout the day. Or every couple hours, lead a stretch session.

I started a desk job a couple months ago, and that has been one of the most challanging aspects. I go to the restroom a few times during the day just to stretch my back & do some trunk twisters. I just get so tightened up throughout the day

SHBoss1673

Thanks K, good idea.

jessihoover

At our work we have done the "Biggest Loser" competition over a couple month period. We also just started a 5k race where we will run a 5k at our on-site fitness center on a treadmill to compete for the fastest time. You get points for training minutes and points for the race minutes this gets put into a contest for cash prizes.
we've also done "step" contests where we form teams to see how far (i.e. walk to our sister plant in california from ohio) we can walk with the goal of 10,000 steps a day - we give away pedometers to help with the step counting.
we also did a "maintain not gain" during the holiday season, you get workout points, maintain/lost weight points, food diary points - with check-ins every week.
good luck!

tgh1914

My work started a runners club that has the company's sponsorship. Basically one person emails out to the group the info about an upcoming local race that the company will pay the entry fees for (if your company is willing). And all who want to be included just reply and the entry fee gets paid. It encourages running and since it gets paid for more are willing to do it. And it gets employees together outside of work that otherwise wouldn't.

byHISstrength

I agree about not doing competitions, but the idea of challenges is great. For years I have struggled, but what really jump started consistent exercise and healthier eating habits for me was taking part in a challenge.

The challenge I did involved a month's worth of mini challenges...every day there was something to do. For example, one day it was eating completely raw, another day was logging your food intake. Anyway, at the end of the month if all mini challenges were met each person received a goodie bag of healthy treats.

If you are interested I think I still have the daily mini challenges somewhere, as I did complete it.

SHBoss1673

My work started a runners club that has the company's sponsorship. Basically one person emails out to the group the info about an upcoming local race that the company will pay the entry fees for (if your company is willing). And all who want to be included just reply and the entry fee gets paid. It encourages running and since it gets paid for more are willing to do it. And it gets employees together outside of work that otherwise wouldn't.

Ohh, I like that one. I'm going to write that down. And heck, why stop at running, I could do that for bike races, triathlons (there are quite a few sprint triathlons around this area), and other charity sporting events as well.

taso42

A couple years back my company gave out pedometers and had prizes for the people who walked the most steps over some time period (1 month I think). It's potentially a good way to get sedentary people moving...

TankGirl71

You'd have to rely on the honor system, but you could have a system where people logged their exercise hours, and got some cool swag after x number of hours, like water bottles, mouse pads, mugs, gift cards. The company would have shell out a little bit of coin, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?
My Y is doing this right now, once you fill up your punch card, you drop it in the box for a chance to win a $300 Visa each week.

heidiberr

At my work, they sponsor programs that go along with the Live Healthy Iowa program--here's some information on what they do: http://www.livehealthyiowa.org/

SHBoss1673

All great suggestions guys, I'm taking it all in. Keep em coming!

melbhall

My husbands company did something like TBL competitions. You could just take this info for what it is and adapt it to make it non competitive. They formed teams, and were given pedometers that could be uploaded on the computer. The "contest" lasted for several months. The teams had periodic weigh-ins and the winning team was declared atbthe end. However, once this tram was established they had to maintain that weight for another month. In the end the company did a write up in the newsletter with a photo of the person who lost the most ( this was my hubby). Like I said, I get that you don't want a competition, but it really got people moving. My husband and a coworker even began running together. Just something to think about. Maybe you could get the big wigs to sponsor it, and if enough people reach their goals they could offer incentives or purchase something the office needs...

melbhall

Sorry for the typos, darn iPad.

heidiberr

Another idea would possibly arrange to meet up for a trip down to a local farmer's market--while down there you could talk about the benefits of eating fresh food and get into smart ways to shop in grocery stores (sticking to the perimeter, etc)

Another group activity could be hiking on some trails together.

The company I work for did a 5k run/2k walk related to education (we're a textbook publishing company) where they asked everyone to either run, walk, or cheer people on--most people walked and ran and they did a company matching for any donations we made to the cause. It was a great way to get people moving and bring the company together.

LadyoftheDisc

If many people at your job work at desks, you could have some sort of stretch session. Teach people stretches they can do in/around their desk to keep from getting tight throughout the day. Or every couple hours, lead a stretch session.

I started a desk job a couple months ago, and that has been one of the most challanging aspects. I go to the restroom a few times during the day just to stretch my back & do some trunk twisters. I just get so tightened up throughout the day

I work at a desk job all week and was looking into some sort of desk exercises I could do whilst sitting all day long. Here is a great link to 20 different exercises and stretches you can do from your desk... I found them quite helpful and have incorporated several into a routine now every afternoon.

http://www.ondd.org/20-simple-at-your-desk-exercises-for-web-workers/

Hope this helps!!!! :happy:

Kkmama

The hospital that I work at brings in a Personal Trainer to give great Low Impact Aerobics class on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Mondays and Wednesday a Yoga instructor gives a class. They are only 30 mins each, so you get active but still get your lunch time too.
There is a $4 drop in rate, which is managable.
I think it is great! Not too many of the staff from my area go, but their loss. I think leading by example hopefully more will join me.

Good luck!

mroper

We did the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less program at my job. Its a 15 week program that included different sessions to help us learn about healthier meal options, recipes, and about meal planning. It also included three 30 minute exercise programs per week that taught us things we could do at home (or in our office) with hand weights, resistance bands, and the exercise ball. We also had tips on buying healther foods without spending a fortune. There are endless possibilities. :bigsmile: Getting the information out there and arming people with knowledge that they can put to good use is the key. Good luck. :drinker: