Health & Wellness Information
New items are continuously being added so keep scrolling down to find new features!
The New Lunch & Learn Chancellor's Challenge Program!
Pack a bag lunch (healthy of course) and come on down to join in the fun! Meet each Tuesday until December 14th from 11:30am - 12:15pm to join our UTC Lunch & Learn Program facilitated by Carol Oglesby, Chancellor's Challenge Lead Coordinator/Physical Health Education & Promotion. The weekly meetings will include discussions of the science and genetics behind weight loss and weight management, healthy food options and recipes, as well as exercise routines. Some meetings will be used to get out and walk together to a local eatery and enjoy a healthy meal. If you choose to do so, you may weigh in on our scale and set a weight loss or weight management goal to maintain this semester and throughout the upcoming holiday season. **All weight loss or weight management goals will be kept confidential. If you join our Lunch & Learn Program and attend at least 4 of the 8 total sessions then you can choose to replace any jeopardy board challenge square with your Lunch & Learn participation and get your name entered to win one of our prizes!! Contact Carol Oglesby at 425-2337 or carol-oglesby@utc.edu for further details!
The Employee Assistance Program
One the greatest benefits we have as employees of the state of Tennessee is the Employee Assistance Program. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a consultation service for employees and their eligible dependents, available to all regular University faculty and staff, regardless of whether they participate in the Group Insurance Program, who may be experiencing personal or work place problems.
EAP services are provided through Magellan Health Services at no cost. All services are strictly confidential and can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-308-4934.
Our EAP website provides a wealth of information on topics as diverse as financial issues, diet/exercise, dealing with addictions, parenting issues, aging parents… the list goes on and on.
We encourage you to explore the state EAP website at http://www.state.tn.us/finance/ins/eap.html or Magellan, the EAP provider, at https://www.magellanassist.com/default.aspx
The EAP also publishes monthly newsletters for employees offering advice on financial issues, work/life balance, etc. and The Frontline Supervisor provides supervisors and administrators practical advice on managing the university’s most valuable resource – its employees.
USA Today: Your Health
www.usatoday.com offers a "Your Health" feature that everyone can visit to read recent research and published articles pertaining to a wide variety of health issues and topics. Have a health or medical related question that you do not see among the pages? E-mail kpainter@usatoday.com. Please include your name, city and daytime phone number. Selected questions will be answered in the paper and online.
First March 2010 - Your Health feature:
Many women avoid calling 911. If you think you are having symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, the best thing to do is to:
• Lie down for a while and see if you feel better.
• Call a friend or family member to see what they think.
• Call your doctor's office.
• Drive yourself to an emergency room.
• Have someone else drive you.
• Call 911.
People do all of the above, but calling 911 is the best choice by far, experts say. The emergency medical technicians who respond are trained to assess and treat patients right away. They also provide the quickest route through hospital doors and into the hands of doctors and nurses at a time when mere minutes can determine life or death, recovery or lasting disability. Story continues at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2010-03-08-yourhealth08_ST_N.htm
The bodybugg® State-of-the-Art Calorie Management System
Now you can know how many calories you’re burning with the revolutionary bodybugg calorie management system. Combined with a user-friendly web-based program, the bodybugg makes it easy to manage the calories you consume and burn so that you can stay in control of your weight.
- Uses specialized sensors to monitor calories burned with over 90% accuracy.
- Manages calorie consumption through a web-based program
The bodybugg system uses a patented process to measure calorie burn.
The process is based on:
- Motion: The armband contains an accelerometer that measures motion from multiple perspectives.
- Steps: The accelerometer counts steps by measuring the distinct patterns created by running or walking.
- Galvanic skin response: When you sweat, your skin becomes more electrically conductive. This measurement helps the device understand how active you are.
- Skin temperature: There’s an electronic thermometer inside your armband that monitors how hot you are.
- Heat flux: When you move, your muscles produce heat. Your armband measures the heat that’s flowing from your body into the environment.
After you upload data from the bodybugg armband to your computer, you can use the web-based application to see how many calories you’ve burned throughout the day or during specific activities. The bodybugg system will actually calculate your calorie burn per minute.
After you enter the foods you eat, you’ll be able to see how you’re doing towards your goals. You set your own goals and time frames. The software is completely flexible to your needs.
How to Sign-up:
Send us an e-mail at ChancellorsChallenge@utc.edu with "BodyBugg" as the subject line to let us know that you are interested in using the BodyBugg technology for FREE! The Chancellor's Challenge has purchased three of the BodyBugg systems and we are loaning them out for 72 hours for free to challenge participants. We know that the list of people wanting to take advantage of this great opportunity will be lengthy so we are giving first priority to those who have registered for the challenge, completed the Perceived Wellness Survey, and are completing jeopardy board activities. Good luck!
Physical Wellness
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The Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) is offering Personal Training sessions to Chancellor's Challenge participants! (Not available during the summer semester)
**Start your new year off right by doing something for yourself. The HHP Department is offering personal training and exercise counseling to you for the entire semester for only $10. This will include an Educational Meeting to get you started plus 2 to 3 sessions per week. These sessions could be individual or with a group (your choice). They can train you at your office, in the Physical Activity Center (PAC) or the ARC. If you choose the PAC or ARC, you will need to pay membership fees (ARC memberships are only $20/month for faculty & staff members).
Contact Paula-Collier by e-mail at Paula-Collier@utc.edu to get started!
Taking advantage of this service will improve your physical wellness and get your named entered twice for our monthly prize drawings!!
- The Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) is offering Nutritional Assessments and Educational sessions to Chancellor's Challenge participants! (Not available during the summer semester)
**Get educated about your nutritional health and habits in 2010 for only $10! Please e-mail Laure-Rodebaugh@utc.edu, Co-Coordinator of the Chancellor's Challenge, your interest in scheduling a nutritional assessment and she will help make the appropriate contacts to get you started! But first, review and complete the following forms in preparation for your nutritional education: Nutritional Education-General Instructions, Nutrition Pre-Assessment Form, & 3 Day Food Record.
Taking advantage of this service will improve your physical wellness and get your named entered twice for our monthly prize drawings!!
The Great American Apparel Diet
The Great American Apparel Diet, what is it? We are a group of women who have decided to go on a diet of sorts. A fast really. We are completely eliminating “new apparel” from our diets for one year. Yes, the next time you see us sporting new togs it will be Sept. 2, 2010. Sound easy? Well think again. This is going to be a stretch for most of us. You see, like most women we are attached to our wardrobes in some form or another. In fact buying a new something-or-other is as natural as a dark choclate pick-me-up. We all have our reasons for embarking on this project but it all gets down to this…who are we without something hip and new in our closets? We shall see.
Who are We? We are women, though we have had a few inquiries from men none have been brave enough to join. We range in age from 19 to 60. We are a creative, curious, sometimes hilarious and educated lot. Many of us are self employed, business owners, creative thinkers, writers, producers, executives, lawyers, PHDs, mothers, wives, stepmothers, recessionistas, fashionistas, snowboarders, yogis, students, grandmothers, knitters, sewers and social mavens. Some of us have recently lost our jobs while others are looking to change careers. Our shared interest? We are all collectively reevaluating our habits, shopping habits in particular.
Some of us are motivated to curb our carbon footprint while others are more motivated to curb spending. Some are sick and tired of consumption in general while others are concerned about consumption and the environment. Many of us want to share our trials and tribulations on the blog while others prefer to hang back and observe. We hail from seventeen states in the U.S. and from Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Serbia, Canada and the UK. Specifically we are from: Washington, California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, North Carolina, Idaho, Maryland, Maine, Indiana, Colorado, Virginia, Canada and England.
Find out more at: http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com/rules-for-participation/
Emotional Wellness
The Chancellor’s Challenge focuses on 6 dimensions of wellness that create a whole and complete life. These major life areas are Emotional, Intellectual, Physical, Social, Spiritual, and Environmental. Striking a balance in each of these life areas is what total wellness is all about, and this means being aware of each aspect and what role it has in the way we feel.
When there is a breakdown in one area, or numerous areas, of our wellness anxiety, mood swings, and depression are a common result. The full spectrum of our well-being runs across all 6 dimensions simultaneously. When one area is affected, other areas are affected as well, whether we realize it or not. Think of them like dominoes: when one falls, others will soon follow. The same is true for the contrary: when we work to raise one aspect of wellness, the others will follow suit. Each of the 6 dimensions of Wellness are separate on one level, but on another level they are forever interlocked, and it is nearly impossible to practice health in one area without practicing health in the others.
As breakdowns in our wellness occur, anxiety and feelings of depression can become challenges we must face and overcome. Dwelling on past regrets can cause depression, and thinking only about the future can create feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. It’s important to try to stay present in the moment. Learning from past mistakes, feeling nostalgia for good times of the past, and planning for the future are all helpful, but being present in the here and now is one of the most important things you can do to support your total wellness.
Depression and anxiety can come about quickly and deceptively. Often it seems very hard to get “out of your head” when you’re feeling anxious about tomorrow. Depression too, as many of us can attest, causes hopelessness and may be very difficult to overcome. When there is imbalance in the 6 dimensions of Wellness, we might begin to feel a sense of lack, like we haven’t accomplished something or that something is missing in our lives. This can lead to even more breakdowns in our sense of well-being, as feelings of powerlessness or uncertainty keep us from practicing good wellness-related habits in other life areas, such as self-care, chores, friendships and social activities.
Life is defined by the only real constant—change. Change is the inevitable factor, but our personal growth is optional. In our own constant state of change, we must learn to recognize, accept, and handle the pitfalls that are a natural part of life—the breakdowns in wellness everyone experiences from time to time. When these breakdowns happen, it’s important to step back and determine where we are on the path to positive change, understand what prevented us from making positive improvements in the past, learn how we can make changes in our lives, and predict when certain pitfalls and breakdowns may affect us again.
Learn more about your Emotional Wellness by visiting the online Insight Journal at:
http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/
The Great Outdoors: Get Active Outside and Feel Better Inside
From the moment our alarm goes off until we lie down to sleep at night, many of us spend minimal time outdoors. Most of our routines—home, work, gym, movies, restaurants—happen inside some kind of structure, and the few times we see the sun, it’s through a window. But is being outside really that important, anyway?
Recent studies have drawn real connections between regular outdoor exposure and increased feelings of peace and relaxation. A reduction in anger and fearful emotions has also been shown to accompany exposure to nature. One major key to this is the quality of light outside as compared to indoor lighting.
Light receptors in the brain produce serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood. Individuals need exposure to full spectrum light in order to maintain emotional health. The American Journal of Preventative Medicine reports that even more dramatic differences in mood have been recorded when exercise is combined with fresh air and sunshine.
Accordingly, just a few minutes of sun exposure can make a big difference in your vitamin D levels as well, which are responsible for bone and muscular strength, immune function, and the body’s natural cancer-fighting systems. Exposed to sunlight, the body produces vitamin D rather quickly, too. Twenty minutes in the sun generates 12,000 IU of vitamin D—far more than your daily, or even weekly, requirement.
Skin health is indeed a concern when it comes to sun exposure, and it’s important to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when you know you’re going to be in direct sunlight for a while. And for those who have fair skin that burns easily, paler individuals typically need only two to ten percent of the sun exposure required by darker skinned people. But while sun exposure is indeed linked with skin cancer, the International Journal of Cancer recently reported that regular, recreational time spent in the sun, for reasonable durations, can actually reduce the risk for certain types of lymphoma.
Still, it’s not just the sun exposure that makes getting close to nature so important. Interacting with the natural world gives us a sense of well-being and a connection to processes larger than our individual problems. We bring nature into our own environments through aquariums, plants, fountains and pets, but sometimes it’s good to be surrounded by the bigness of nature in order to have a profound and serene experience.
Getting out into a natural environment could be as simple as visiting a local park on your lunch break. Just being close to trees and so much of the color green can do a lot to rejuvenate us. Our eyes can see more shades of green than any other color. The human eye perceives green using the cones located at the very center of our pupil, making it an easy, restful color to view.
For a more substantial experience, it could be fun to plan a short vacation to a national park like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. Naturally occurring wonders can give us a sense of awe and quiet the mind. Standing in the majestic shadow of a snow capped mountain or catching a glimpse of a mother deer with her fawn—these are the kinds of experiences that stick with us and provide a sense of beauty that has nothing to do with human invention.
No matter where you live, just an hour or two of travel can usually deliver you to an organic setting that will allow you to hike, swim or simply decompress. This is great, not only for your Physical and Emotional Wellness, but also for your Environmental Wellness—your connection to the world around you.
Author: Dan Paul Roberts
Website: http://www.123FeelBetter.net/
A Day without Judgment: Is it possible?
Read an Insight Journal wellness article regarding the elements of judgment and achieving a healthier outlook on life. A snapshot of the article is provided for you below. Read the full article at: http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/articles/health_and_wellness/day_without_judgement.php
You can identify negative judgment when it does one of two things:
- It either debases another being, event or object in an attempt to make us feel better about our own attributes, relationships or accomplishments.
- Or it makes us feel like our own attributes, relationships or accomplishments are unsatisfactory. This is usually followed by feelings of shame, despair or hopelessness, and more judgments are usually formulated in order to soothe the stung ego.
Use your feelings as your guide. Basically, any judgment that would potentially make you or someone else feel bad is negative judgment. Many of us tend to gauge the world in terms of “me vs. them” or “better than/less than”. An alternate way of moving through life would be to see differences in the world as simply that—differences. You might have things that you would prefer, but that doesn’t have to make other things “bad”.
Special Messages for Special Populations:
Older Adults
No one is too old to enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity. Of special interest to older adults is evidence that muscle-strengthening exercises can reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones and can improve the ability to live independently.
Parents
Parents can help their children maintain a physically active lifestyle by providing encouragement and opportunities for physical activity. Family events can include opportunities for everyone in the family to be active.
Dieters
Regular physical activity burns Calories and preserves lean muscle mass. It is a key component of any weight loss effort and is important for controlling weight.
People with High Blood Pressure
Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure.
People Feeling Anxious, Depressed, or Moody
Regular physical activity improves mood, helps
relieve depression, and increases feelings of well-being.
People with Arthritis
Regular physical activity can help control joint swelling
and pain. Physical activity of the type and amount
recommended for health has not been shown to cause
arthritis.
People with Disabilities
Regular physical activity can help people with chronic,
disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle
strength and can improve psychological well-being and
quality of life by increasing the ability to perform
activities of daily life.
This Web site contains information which is provided as a free service to users who agree to abide by the following terms and conditions: The Chancellor’s Challenge assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or usefulness of information, views, opinions or advice in any material on this INFORMATION BOARD maintained by the Chancellor’s Challenge and it does not endorse any opinions, recommendations, or information provided by third parties. Use information obtained from the Chancellor’s Challenge Information Board at your own risk.
