Time for a siesta...

Have a heart--take a nap!
A new study released this month from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School discovered midday napping reduces coronary mortality by about 33% among women and men. The next time the mood for a quick snooze strikes you, listen to your heart!

-Melissa DeSutter

The Banning of McDonald's

Sarah here from the WWRT!

With degrees in Kinesiology, it greatly excites me that someone in the limelight is finally thinking what fitness and nutrition professionals have been wanting for several years- banning McDonald's.

The following article gives more details on where and why Prince Charles would like to ban the Illinois-based fastfood chain McDonald's:

Top News- Prince Charles Suggests Banning McDonald's - AOL News "I'm lovin' it!"

It's Girl Scout cookie time...

It's that time of year! I went to the grocery store this weekend and was greeted by two adorable little girls selling Girl Scout cookies. I, being a former Brownie myself, was guilted into buying a box of Thin Mints. What's new this year for Girl Scout cookies is the elimination of trans fat from all varieties. See this FAQ page from the Girl Scout's website for more information. Although I think it's great that the cookies are now trans fat-free, the cookies are still high in sugar and pretty high in fat too. Four of my thin mints equal 150 calories and 7 grams of fat, 4.5 of that being saturated fat. Visit the nutrition information page on Little Brownie Bakers' website to look up your favorite cookie. I'm not the type to count calories, but I'll think twice about eating a whole sleeve of cookies now!
But I'm not about to give up my thin mints. I put my box of cookies into the freezer, where I'll take out just a few at a time. This way, the box will last longer (which is great because the price has definitely gone up since I sold them!) but I also won't be getting my daily intake of calories from cookies alone! For me, it's all about moderation.


Brittany Rhea
barhea@bsu.edu

Resources

Hi Everyone! As you can see from the other posts, the WWR is compiling a list of resources. Not only are we looking at websites that offer free and other low cost materials, we are also looking at DVDs, CDs, and books. One of my favorite CDs has absolutely no words! It is a CD with relaxing nature sounds. Nothing calms me down and relaxes me like the sound of an ocean. Something that is hard to find in Muncie, IN! Finding resources has never been easier thanks to the internet. What resources do you have that you use for stress management or nutrition? You might be suprised at what you already own!

Advantages of Workplace Wellness Programs- A Healthy Fit for Employers and Employees

Sarah here from the WWRT!

As workplace wellness coordinators, I am sure you realize the benefits for wellness programs in the workplace. The following link is an article for you and your employees to read to revisit the benefits of a workplace wellness program at your company. Enjoy the last week of February! Bring on Spring!

http://sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=246

Wellness Resources

Good afternoon, this is Brittany. Right now, the WWRT is working on developing a resource list of free wellness resources. From time to time, our coordinators will need a brochure or fact sheet on a specific item or condition, like sun safety for example. Our goal is to create a comprehensive list of mainly government websites that include this kind of information. I already found a great one- the Federal Citizens Information Center
(http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/). This website has links on the left to free publications that the center will mail you free of charge! For companies on a budget, these brochures are a great idea. I ordered many of them, and I'll let you know which ones I like the most. Have a great day!

Brittany Rhea
barhea@bsu.edu

Expand your opportunities

I recently had an interesting conversation with one of the coordinators who is implementing "Feel Like a Million" in her workplace. She shared a couple concerns about helping people to communicate better (her company chose to divide employees into teams) and reminding them to log their points. After discussing what she had already accomplished, she realized she overlooked an outstanding resource--the company's 24-hr in-house television broadcasting station! She decided she would talk to the internal broadcasting person to design a commercial especially for the wellness program, which would help people remember to log hours and talk to their team members. She also said she wasn't sure how to get some of the male employees involved (many blue collar workers) with the program. I explained that she, and anyone else in her workplace, could expand the activities relating to wellness. Perhaps the program needed to be changed a little so everyone could relate well to the program's goals. Hunting, fishing, watching a football game with friends, seeing a live band, poker night, could all be an example of wellness on various levels. Ask employees for their input on how the program can be changed to fit THEIR needs better. Afterall, the program is for them and you can be as creative as you wish!

-Melissa DeSutter

Sarah here from the WWRT-

Women usually clean up best for a night on the town, but how clean and germ-free are their workspaces when compared to men?

The following link from WebMD.com may surprise you:

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/131/118186.htm

Thanks for reading!

Surviving the Snowstorm

What a week this has been! Ball State actually cancelled two days of classes (which never happens) due to the inclement weather. In honor of the snow, I looked up some winter weather questions and answers:


Is it ever too cold to snow?
Answer: No! No matter how cold it gets there is always moisture in the air. We often associate very cold air with no snow because invasions of air from the northern latitudes are generally associated with clearing conditions. This air is very dense and has little room for moisture. On the other hand, we generally associate heavy snows with air just below the freezing mark.

True or False. It must be 32°F or colder for it to snow.
Answer: False. It has been known to snow with temperatures in the mid 40°s. Temperatures are below 32°F up in the clouds where the snow is forming.

What is the difference between snow, sleet and freezing rain?
Snow: frozen precipitation in the form of six-sided ice crystals form within the cloud. Snow requires below freezing temperatures in all or most of the atmosphere, from the surface to cloud level.
Sleet: frozen precipitation falls as ice pellets. Snowflakes melt into raindrops as they pass through a thin layer of warmer air. Raindrops then refreeze into ice before hitting the ground. Freezing rain occurs when raindrops do not refreeze until they hit the ground.
Freezing rain: rain droplets fall into a shallow layer of cold air near the surface and freeze upon contact with the ground.

What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Washington, DC?
a. -10°F b. -7°F c. 0°F d. -15°F
Answer: After a snowstorm left a foot of snow over the city on February 8, 1899, a record cold wave struck. On February 11, the temperature dipped to -15°F in the District. It was followed by a second great storm called "The Great Valentines Day Blizzard" which dumped another 20.5 inches of snow. That year DC saw a record 54 inches of snow.

On the average, one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow?
a. 10 inches b. 1 inch c. 5 inches d. a foot
Answer: a. 10 inches of snow melts down to about an inch of liquid rain.

Can it snow from clear skies?
Answer: Yes. Ice crystals sometimes fall from clear skies when temperatures are in the single digits or colder.


I hope you enjoyed the winter weather quiz! Stay warm!

~Brittany

Feel Like a Million

Feel like a Million is off to a great start for me. I decided to do some goal setting and brainstorming about what I want to get out of this program. I've set some goals for myself such as reducing my caffeine intake and increasing my water intake. I've also decided to work on not sweating the small stuff in my life. I am very excited for our game night as a social activity. I think it will be a relaxing and fun night! I would love to hear what other people have written for their personal goals for this 28 day journey!

Chrisy

Sarah here from the WWRT.

I ran across this article and thought this might be something useful to try to implement into any of your programs. Below is just part of what the article has to offer.

Check out the link for more info! http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/94/102861.htm

100 Calorie Snacks: 20 Choices
Need some ideas? To get you started on the road to calorie-controlled snacking, our experts offer some suggestions for healthy 100-calorie munchies:

1. Half an apple with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter


2. An orange and a few dry-roasted nuts


3. 10 cashew nuts


4. 10 almonds


5. 2 ounces of lean roast beef


6. Half a small avocado


7. 3 ounces cooked whole-grain noodles with 1 fresh tomato and 1/2 ounce hard cheese


8. 1 seven-grain Belgian waffle


9. 4 mini rice cakes with 2 tablespoons low-fat cottage cheese


10. 3 ounces low-fat cottage cheese and 3 whole-wheat crackers


11. 1/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing with mixed raw veggies


12. 6 Wheat Thins crackers with two teaspoons of peanut butter (or any nut butter)


13. 1 small baked potato with 1/2 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons of fat-free sour cream


14. 1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce with 1 slice of whole-wheat toast, cut into 4 strips for dunking


15. 1/2 cup frozen orange juice, eaten as sorbet


16. 2 large graham cracker squares with 1 teaspoon peanut butter


17. 3 handfuls of unbuttered popcorn, seasoned with herbs


18. 4-6 ounces of no-fat or low-fat yogurt


19. A 5-ounce tossed salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and 1/4 cup fat-free dressing


20. Half a "finger" of string cheese with 4 whole-wheat crackers

Feel Like a Million Luncheon

We held a luncheon on Friday, Feb. 2 to kick off the Feel Like a Million program. The luncheon was held at the Alumni Center at Ball State. Coordinators from several worksites attended and exchanged ideas about how they are running their programs. Our team also gave out incentives for the coordinators to use at their worksites. We had a great time and love listening to new ideas!

Jane talks with Jane and Holly from Fairfield Manufacturing

Lauren, Chrisy, and Brittany wait to check in participants

Chrisy checks in participants from Principal Wellness

Feel Like a Million Begins!

We are starting Feel Like a Million here at the Institute. You have probably read about it in previous posts. We have planned a few fun activities here with our staff:

• Early Birds: Participants that signed up before Friday of last week received a Feel Like a Million stress ball shaped like a $ sign.
• Taste Test: We are giving a healthy snack each week for participants to try. So far, participants have received a 100-calorie pack of cinnamon Goldfish. (Which are great if you haven't tried them!)
• Walking Club: We are starting a Wellness Wednesday Walking Club in Worthen Arena, which is connected to our building. Anyone at the Institute can walk during this time, and we will be charting their progress if they so desire.
• Game Night: We are going to reserve space at the BSU Student Center to have a game night, which will involve bowling, pool, and card/board games. There will be refreshments as well.

We are excited for the companies that are taking part in Feel Like a Million! We will be reporting our progress on this blog, so check back for updates.