'Healthy by Design'

Center News

The 12-week, 2008 Healthy Challenge begins Jan. 21

Center News File Photo Exercise options include a combination kickboxing and weight-training class taught by Judith Davies, an occupational health nurse in the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

New Year's resolutions come and go, but the sixth annual Healthy Challenge will soon be here to help you build sustainable habits and become "Healthy by Design."

Starting Jan. 21, the challenge will provide 12 weeks worth of opportunities to focus on daily choices designed to improve overall health.

"This year's theme recognizes that while most of us want the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, we are often thwarted by unrealistic attempts to change, said Jonathan Sheppard, compensation and benefits manager. 'Healthy by Design' is about recognizing who you are, then creating a healthy routine that is aligned with things you enjoy."

Last year, more than 900 Hutchinson Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance employees participated in the event, which promotes exercise, good diet and general health habits through the camaraderie of being part of a team. While some people enjoy the competition, the challenge is more about helping people create, renew or continue a personal commitment to good health.

Taking the challenge is simple. Just join or form a team of co-workers or family members, set a personal goal and start earning points for various healthy lifestyle choices. Although some people enjoy the competition, the challenge is more about helping people start, renew or continue a personal commitment to good health.

Participants can earn mental-health points by engaging in at least 15 minutes of activity that provides stress relief and/or mental rejuvenation (excluding any activities for which they claim physical activity points). Examples include stretching/breathing exercises, meditation, reading a book or walking your dog.

Examples of point-earning activities from the other categories include sustained physical activity, eating one or more whole-grain foods daily and attending any four of eight scheduled special events. Points also are awarded for meeting personal fitness goals or keeping a simple journal in which the participant reflects on his or her efforts and records progress made toward the accomplishment of weekly and long-term goals.

Employee advisory committees at the Center and the SCCA sponsor the Healthy Challenge, which will feature many special events that are open to all Center and SCCA staff. These brown-bag events will highlight research findings on exercise and nutrition and offer practical ways for people to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines.

As in past years, participants can go on lunchtime walks as a means to earn physical-activity points. This year, anyone who goes on a 30-minute lunchtime walk three out of five days in the week will be eligible to enter a weekly raffle drawing. Participants can also earn points by joining one of several ongoing exercise programs at the Center, ranging from Pilates to yoga. The challenge ends with prizes for teams with the highest averaged scores.

Register by Jan. 18

The registration deadline is Jan. 18. Employee teams can range from three to eight members. Home teams must include a minimum of two people with at least one member being a Center or SCCA employee. Each team picks a captain to serve as contact person. The captain receives and relays information about challenge events, collects individual scores and reports team scores.

Access all of the details related to the Healthy Challenge — including the rules, point system, maps for lunchtime walks and schedules for events and classes are online at centernet.fhcrc.org/CN/depts/hr/healthy/challenge. These tools, along with the support of your teammates, can help guide you toward the goal of living "Healthy by Design."

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Health, Wellness Fair Jan. 31

Increase your awareness about health, wellness and the resources in your community. Attend the Health and Wellness Fair, Thursday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Arnold Building, M1-A303/305/307.

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