CFITS: Creative Fitness IT Solutions

A cutting edge way to engage employees in a corporate wellness program is through technology. This concept will transform corporate wellness programming. By combining social media and fitness you will open up numerous avenues for employees to engage and participate in your company wellness program as well with coworkers. This will bridge the gap between the physical fitness facility and your employees.

With the blend of social media and fitness, your employees can communicate with each other online which will create team building, bonding and even healthy competition. Each participating employee will have access to online nutrition, health and fitness tools. This electronic tool includes educational health and fitness blogs, networking with colleagues, forums, and a comprehensive calendar of healthy events within the company community. This type of platform will tie together the entire corporate wellness program through open communication between coworkers, education, rewards and incentives.

Your corporate wellness program will become a desired commodity within the company which will encourage the engagement and participation necessary to drive results and eventually the ROI the company is looking for from the investment. For additional information, call 610-355-3236 or email info@factsfitness.com.

Written by Deborah MacArthur, ISSA, AAAI/ISMA
Director of Marketing and PR for FACTS Fitness

3 Ways to Engage Your Employees in a Wellness Program

The first step in creating a successful wellness program is the support of management. Once you have strong management support for the corporate wellness program, you will have to plan how to engage employees in the program. As you plan your wellness program, it is important to keep in mind that you need a variety of options to offer the workforce.

Below are a few suggestions to encourage employee engagement. You may also come up with an original idea that will speak specifically to your workforce:

Education: By educating your employees, especially the sedentary or non-wellness population, you can draw them into the program. This is a vital part of any successful health and wellness program. The sedentary population of your workforce needs to know and understand the many benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and how to make those changes. This will be the most challenging group to reach, but once you do it will be the most rewarding.

Incentives: Depending upon the culture of your company this can be a fundamental method to engage your employees in a wellness program, especially when the incentive is monetary. But keep in mind that this can also provide a temporary motivation when the goal is to create long term positive behavioral changes.

On-site fitness professional: Whether you have a fitness center within your company or not, you can hire someone to perform fitness assessments, personal training or to teach classes. This shows each employee that you are serious about the wellness programming. Having a fitness professional on-site also gives your employees a resource for health and fitness information, support and motivation.

Once an employee engages in wellness and fitness programming, he or she will feel better about life and work. The employee will exhibit a more positive outlook regarding work product and the work environment. There is a two-way benefit for the employee and the company. A win-win, if you will.

Written by Deborah MacArthur, ISSA, AAAI/ISMA
Director of Marketing & PR for FACTS Fitness

Make New Habits Permanent

Set your goal and go for It: Know exactly what you want...improve health, lose weight, gain strength etc. Make sure goals are specific and measurable.  Write down what needs to happen along with dates and review this often.

Set both long term and short term goals: Reaching certain goals can take longer than others. To stay motivated, be sure to set realistic short term goals that will lead you to your final goal. Develop a plan and brainstorm strategies to keep you moving closer to that goal.

Reward Yourself: Be sure to attach a reward to each part of your goal. Select small rewards for short term goals (going to the movies, new clothing etc.). Plan bigger rewards (vacation, buying new furniture etc.) for long term goals.

Track Your Lifestyle Habits:Keep a daily log of what you eat and feelings that contribute to your food choices. Many people do not realize how negative feelings and thoughts can trigger emotional eating and bad food choices. Keeping a log of this will help you make better choices.

Talk Yourself Into Success: It is perfectly natural to talk to yourself! What you say is very important. Be your own cheerleader! Self talk is critical to changing your lifestyle habits! Your thoughts will directly change your attitude and overall feelings of well being. This will keep you focused and help you succeed!!

So set those goals and get ready to succed!!

Written by Jennifer Washburn, Personal Trainer and Instructor at Steel Fitness in Bethlehem, PA

The Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients

In recent years, exercise has been nationally promoted, due to the excessive obesity rate. Though many people associate exercise with weight loss, there are many health benefits, as well. In fact, exercise is now a factor for recovering cancer patients.

Of course, exercise does not only benefit recovering patients. Health experts recommend cancer patients in every stage to maintain a regular workout routine. However, patients who are undergoing aggressive treatment may require an assigned trainer to help them. For example, patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment will be subject to different types of radiation treatment and surgery than a patient who is undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Nevertheless, exercise benefits patients in a few primary ways.

1. Increased energy

Exercising for energy may seem like an oxymoron to many people, especially cancer patients, who often suffer fro extreme fatigue. However, it is widely known that people who maintain a regular workout routine are benefited with increased energy.

When you become inactive, your body's metabolism slows down. It is a natural safety mechanism in cases of emergency, where you may be deprived of a reliable food source. As a result, the inactive body becomes used to not using energy, so it does not require much energy to survive. When you become active, your metabolism kicks into gear and your body gets used to the increased flow of energy.

2. Relieved pain

Treatment and surgery do well to remove cancerous cells, however, it can cause some pain and discomfort as a side effect. Most cancer patients can attest to the pain from which they suffer during times of recovery. In fact, even some patients in remission still suffer from slightly painful side effects.

Exercise increases blood flow, which carries essential vitamins and minerals to the other parts of the body. This results in a better immune system and a greater white blood cell count. These two things combined can help relieve the pain for cancer patients.

3. Better outlook on life

If cancer patients are entitled to only one thing, it should be to feel depressed. Such a condition can naturally cause a person to become anxious. However, being optimistic during times of treatment and recovery are very important. Studies show that optimistic people typically heal faster, as well as have a greater immune system.

Exercise releases endorphins, a natural hormone that helps people stay positive. Most patients claim they feel better about themselves and their condition after a good workout.

Conclusion

Fitness is not a cure for cancer. Only a professional cancer center can help cure a patient. Regardless, fitness can greatly benefit a patient. Here is an article that lists the benefits of fitness for cancer patients.

 David Haas, Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger http://about.me/haasblaag