Start Walking Challenge

The fall weather is finally upon us and it is time to get out and get active.

Join the Start Walking Challenge today!

 What is the Start Walking Challenge? 

The Start Walking Challenge is a District-wide physical activity challenge designed to keep you active through the holiday season and beyond.  This is an individual challenge (no teams required) in which you will track your physical activity and qualify for the chance to earn great prizes!  See below for all the details. 

Start Walking Challenge Rules and Regulations

1.  Any MPS employee may participate.  Participants should consult with their physician prior to participation to determine if a physical activity program is appropriate for them at this time.  

2.  Employees wishing to participate can register for the challenge online at mystartonline.  During the registration process, YOU MUST check the box under ‘Indicate your preferences’ that says, “Your employer will be able to see your name, department, email address, and physical activity.” If you do not check the box, we will not be able to track your activity and you will not be eligible for prizes.  Registration Deadline: November 30, 2011.  

3.  COST: There will be a non-refundable $10.00 fee per employee. Cash only. No checks will be accepted. The $10.00 participation fee can be turned into your school’s Wellness Ambassador or to Karen Turner at the Employee Benefits Office located at the Administrative Services Center (63 E. Main Street, 2nd Floor). 

4.  Each participant of the challenge will receive a pedometer and MPS-WIN! workout bag.  

5.  Any participant that drops out of the challenge for any reason (including medical, emergency reasons or employment termination) will be disqualified and ineligible for prizes.  

6.  Each participant will track their physical activity via the online tracker tool on mystartonline from December 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012. Log your time and steps spent doing physical activity.  The online tracker will track minutes and convert all activities into steps.  

7.  Qualifying activities: Golf , Aerobics, Indoor/Outdoor Cycling, Swimming, Running, Walking, Weightlifting, Dancing, Rollerblading, Climbing Stairs, and Yoga.  

8.  Prizes will be awarded each month (December-February) to the participants with the highest number of  Total Steps and the highest number of Total Minutes and to the Overall Top 30 participants for the entire challenge based on Total Steps and Total Minutes.   

9.  Prizes will be announced during the first week of the challenge as the value of the prizes will be determined by how many participants register.  The more participants, the higher the dollar amount of the prizes.  

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 30, 2011.  

Heart Walk:  Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Tempe Beach Park

 

FREE Wellness Seminars 

Register today 

 

Topic:  Good Food Brands and How to Identify Them 

 Date:  Tuesday, November 8,  2011 - CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT

 

Topic: 5 Amazing Benefits of Resistance Training

Date:  Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011

Site: Administrative Services Center, Room 303, 63 E. Main St., Mesa

Time:  4:30-5:30pm

 

Description: Discover the top 5 benefits of resistance exercises. Along with learning about these amazing benefits, we will demonstrate a few of the most effective resistance movements. It's time to work smarter, not harder — just in time for the holiday.

 

Presenter: Come learn from training expert Richard Morris of the Metabolic Wellness Centers and the Fox 10 "Morning Show." Richard has been in the field of fitness and nutrition for eight years and has helped thousands realize their body’s full potential. Richard is a nutritionist, board-certified holistic health practitioner and certified personal trainer. Richard is also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

 

 

Topic: Stress Relieving Benefits of Meditation

Date:  Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011

Site:  Administrative Services Center, Room 303, 63 E. Main St., Mesa

Time:  4:30-5:30 p.m.

 

Description: This seminar will focus on restorative and meditative yoga techniques designed to help participants understand and achieve the physical and mental pathways that lead to a stress-free life.

 

Presenter: Mary Ann Christensen is a registered yoga teacher specializing in restorative and meditative yoga techniques. Mary Ann leads meditation classes at Floating Lotus Yoga Studio in Mesa. 

 

Quitters Sometimes do WIN! 

The Arizona Smokers Helpline offers FREE telephone and Web-based services to help people quit tobacco.  Whether you are thinking about quitting, you’re ready to quit, or just working to stay quit, the Arizona Smokers Helpline is here for you. They provides free services in both English and Spanish. Their quit coaches are real people located right here in Arizona. Most of them are former tobacco users so they've "been there" and understand how hard it is to quit and stay quit.

In addition to the free telephone-based coaching services, you can also use WebQuit. Create an account, work through activities, set goals, and monitor your progress from your own computer. WebQuit is available whenever you need support – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can quit. The Arizona Smokers Helpline can help.

 

For more Quit Tobacco Resources

 

15 Minutes Could Save a Life!

Mobile On-site Mammography (MOM) is focused on providing the highest quality of  Mammography service with their professional experienced staff, using the latest  Digital Mammography Technology for your safety and comfort.  MOM will be onsite in November at various MPS locations.

 

Dates and Locations:              

Nov. 7, 2011	7:00 am - 5:00 pm	Red Mountain HS, 7301 E. Brown Rd.
Nov. 8, 2011	7:00 am - 4:00 pm	Westwood HS, 945 W. 8th Street
Nov. 9, 2011	7:00 am - 11:00 am	MPS Administration, 63 E. Main St.
Nov. 9, 2011	1:00 pm - 5:15 pm	Curriculum Srv. Ctr. 549 N. Stapley Dr.
Nov. 10, 2011	7:00 am - 11:00 am	Stapley JH, 3250 E. Hermosa Vista
Nov. 10, 2011	1:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Poston JH, 2433 Adobe St.
Nov. 14, 2011	7:00 am - 11:00 am	Taylor JH, 705 S. 32nd St.
Nov. 14, 2011	1:00 pm - 5:30 pm	Skyline HS, 845 S. Crismon
Nov. 15, 2011	7:00 am - 11:00 am	Kino JH, 848 N. Horne
Nov. 15, 2011	1:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Summit Acad., 1560 W. Summit Pl.

 

 

How to make an appointment:        Please contact M.O.M. at: (480) 967-3767 or

                                                           (800) 285-0272 to schedule your convenient appointment.  Please have your insurance card available.  This service is also open to employee’s spouses.

                                                                                                                             

Day of appointment:            Please bring the following with you to your appointment: Your insurance card, your Dr’s name and address, and the location of where you had your prior mammogram films.

 

Cost:                                                   Insurance Coverage with United HealthCare, BCBS, Aetna , CIGNA, and other select carriers.  Non-Insured patients pay $167.00 (includes the Radiologist Reading).                                                                  

 

 

It is your responsibility to consult your individual plan for coverage and limitations.  You will be responsible for any charges that are not covered.  Patients under age 30 must provide a Dr.’s referral.  Baseline mammograms recommended at age 35-39, (unless family history or symptomatic, annual coverage) and most insurance plans cover women every year over 40.

We are now able to accommodate breast implant patients.

 

 

For more information on Breast cancer click Here.

 

 

A Healthier LifeStyle Could Be Just a Few Clicks Away...

By taking a free online Health Assessment, you can identify your personal health needs, learn healthy habits and compare your "lifestyle score" to others of the same age and gender. Plus, you'll have access to several health improvement resources. Everyone who completes the Health Assessment before December 16, 2011 will be entered into a raffle drawing. Prizes will be announced soon.   

UnitedHealthcare members can log onto www.myuhc.com  and click Health Assessment.  If you haven't yet registered with myuhc.com, click "Register Now." It's quick and easy, and you'll gain access to all of your personal health benefits information, a wealth of health and wellness information and of course, the online Health Assessment.

 

We're excited to tell you about this new tool in your benefits plan. Make the commitment today to improve your health for tomorrow.

 

 

Step by step registration instructions for myuhc.com   

Step by step Health Assessment instructions   

 

Recipe of the Month                              

  

Baked Kale Chips 

Submitted by:Jeremy Yocum, Mesa High School, Art Department

Ingredients:

Bunch of Kale
Drizzle of Olive Oil
Pinch of Salt
Dash of Crushed Red Pepper

Instructions:

Wash and pat dry the kale.
Cut out stems and chop kale into chip size pieces.
Put kale into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, add a pinch of salt and a dash of crushed red pepper.
Mix it up and place a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees  for 12 minutes.
Dump into a bowl and enjoy.

Email kelly_kron@uhc.com and your recipe could appear in the next issue of the MPS-WIN! Wellness Newsletter. Please include your name, and school/department.

 

 

What’s New at the Y?                        

 

Don’t forget to take advantage of the discounted membership rates at the YMCA for MPS Employees.  Click HERE for more info   

 

 

 

  

LOOK FABULOUS FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTIES!

Avoid packing on the pounds this holiday by increasing your workouts. Consider enrolling into a Small Group Training or Boot Camps at the Y. Extreme Results, Functional Fitness, MAX EFFORT, and Athletic Conditioning Camps are forming at the Ross Farnsworth-East Valley YMCA and Small Group Training (3-4 individuals) begins this week.

 

HOT TOPIC : OVERVIEW ON METABOLISM

FREE EVENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 at 6pm

Are you experiencing fatigue, confusion, hyperventilation, irregular heartbeat, sharp blood sugar fluctuations, or unexplained weight loss or gain? If so, you may have a metabolic imbalance.   Attend FREE Hot Topic of the Week Workshop on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th at 6pm to learn about Metabolism, create balance, and see the results you hope to achieve this holiday season.

 

KNOW “WHERE YOU ARE” BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS AND LEARN HOW TO AVOID THE UNWANTED WEIGHT GAIN

Visit your Local YMCA to receive measurements that analyze your entire body composition. 

The results can be used to assess your current health and to develop a fitness and nutrition program that, over time, will maximize your health.  

You will receive:

· lean mass

· fat mass

· desirable / healthy body fat range

· target body fat %

· hydration levels

 

Cost:  $15

Schedule an appointment at the Welcome Center by calling 480-649-9622. 

 

 

Any questions or comments, please contact Kelly Kron, our Wellness Coordinator with UnitedHealthcare at 602-255-8510.

 

Discounted Tickets

 

US Airways Arena Events

MPS employees have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to events at the US Airways Arena.  Following are some of the upcoming events.  Please click on the event title for information on purchasing tickets.

December 30-31, 2011: Cirque du Soleil – Michael Jackson, the Immortal World

January 14, 2012: Monster Energy AMA Supercross

January 18-22, 2012:  Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3

January 28, 2012: Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam

Arizona Cardinals vs the Cleveland Browns

The Arizona Cardinals invite MPS employees and friends to an exciting day of NFL action at University of Phoenix Stadium.  Come watch the Cardinals match up against the Browns on December 18 at 2:15 pm.  Please click HERE for additional information or contact Justin Rothbaum at 602.379.1610 | Fax 623.433.7780 | Email JRothbaum@Cardinals.nfl.net.

 

The Wellness Newsletter is published for employees of Mesa Public Schools. The Wellness Newsletter is produced by the Employee Benefits Department.  Questions and comments are welcome.  Please write to Director of Employee Benefits, Judy Cato, Mesa Public Schools, 63 East Main Street #101, Mesa, AZ 85201-7422.