16Nov/090
Is There A Weight Loss Plan To Beat The Weight Loss Plateau?
Once you start a weight loss plan or a new diet you will probably find that for the first two to three weeks your weight loss plan worked quite dramatically, weight was dropping off you as the plan promotion said it would; but then you hit the wall.This isn't uncommon as many people find that this will happen every time they start a new weight loss plan; most diets and plans are sold on the premise that you will see quick and emphatic weight loss and this is because ALL diets do have this effect. As the body adjusts to a lower calorie intake it still continues to burn calories at the older higher level; result: weight loss. Unfortunately, weight loss plans generally have great results in the short term and the reason for this is that your body adjusts to survive on the reduced calorie intake and at that the point the body has adjusted and will stop losing weight.When you reach this point, it is generally known as the weight loss plateau, the only way to counter this effect is to alter your lifestyle; changes to eating habits and the type of foods you eat on a regular basis and of course, regular exercise.The scary thing about this weight loss plateau is that many people give up once they reach it and then see that their weight loss plan isn't helping them lose weight anymore.The problem is if they go back to how they were eating previously, prior to starting their weight loss plan, they will probably become heavier than they were before they started as their body has to adapt yet again, but this time to a higher calorie intake. This normally means that a rapid weight gain replaces a rapid weight loss.That is why you need to find a weight loss plan that not only helps you lose weight quickly but also will help you lose weight continuously until your target weight is reached.Most weight loss plans probably consist of the same types of food eaten daily and possibly the same type of exercise routine. The problem is that our bodies are smart and they naturally go into survival mode by adapting to burn fewer calories in order to make the energy reserves, stored in the body, last longer.In order to go beyond this point, you must change the way you eat and exercise, a complete lifestyle turnaround.Here are a couple of methods that will help you move off the weight loss plateau and continue with successful weight reduction.1. Never lower your calorie intake to a point where the body stops burning calories altogether, it can and will happen. You need to find foodstuffs that you can eat as much of as you like, that will take more calories to digest than they actually contain. These are commonly known as 'negative' calorie foods. There are weight loss plans that can help you understand the use of this type of strategy and you can find out more information by using the links at the end of this article. 2. Exercise: Exercise is vital as is increases your metabolic rate and the higher your metabolic rate the more calories your body will burn hence you lose weight, hardly rocket science, but you would be amazed how many people think that all you need to do is diet!By using these two methods you will continue to lose weight and reach your target weight sooner than you ever thought was possible. As mentioned there is a weight loss plan that you may want to consider looking at that concentrates on calorie shifting. Calorie shifting fools your metabolism into burning calories that you haven't eaten and as a result you can enjoy rapid PROLONGED weight loss, something I'm sure we would all give serious consideration to. You can find out more about this program by following the links below.
Beat the Weight Loss Plateau with this calorie shifting Weight Loss Plan proven successful track record in continuous weight loss. Find out more at HowMuchShouldIWeighNow.com or AmIFatNow.com.
8Nov/095
The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet: A Simple 3-Part Plan to Lose the Fat, the Wrinkles, and the Years
- ISBN13: 9780345486493
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Perricone– respected physician, award-winning research scientist, and trusted expert on health and beauty–comes the biggest breakthrough in weight loss since Atkins.
Millions of women and men have restored youthful radiance, smoothness, and suppleness to their skin through Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s advice, care, and transformative eating plan–and all with the welcome yet unexpected benefit of losing excess weight along with the wrinkles! Building on this discovery, Dr. Perricone breaks new ground with his trademark anti-inflammatory program based on the foods, supplements, and lifestyle changes with the proven ability to accelerate fat loss by increasing metabolism and building and maintaining muscle mass.
13Aug/090
Best Product – Skin Care For Mature Women
As women mature the wrinkles begin to appear. Usually the eyes are the first to show signs of aging with crow's feet and small lines just under the eye. Next lines in the forehead begin to appear followed by wrinkles around the lips. In search of the secret to eternal youth, especially for the skin, women will try just about any remedy or products that even hint at success. What is the best product? Skin creams are usually quite effective provided the correct ingredients are included. In addition there are some lifestyle changes that can be made to prolong the likelihood of more wrinkles appearing.
Skin Cream Products
For the best product, skin cream should contain ingredients that are natural. For example look for a wrinkle cream with grape seed extract or acai berry extract. Aloe Vera is another popular ingredient in a skin cream. Make sure the product has been cleared for use on sensitive skin so there will be no redness and blotchiness after application. Finally read the testimonials and see if they make sense. No one is going to apply the cream for the first time, go to sleep and wake up in the morning with no wrinkles. Most of these creams can take a few weeks or months to see a result.
Protect Your Skin
While you may be using the best product. Skin can also be helped by following a few simple steps. Of course drink plenty of water. We have all seen what happens when you take the water out of a grape or a plum. You get a wrinkly raisin or shriveled prune. Water swells the skin cells, plumps them out and this reduces lines and wrinkles. Avoid the sun. The sun's rays not can dry out the skin but lead to skin cancer as well. While we all like a tan it is best to avoid direct sunlight. Finally, if you smoke, quit. Not only will you get those small lines around your mouth but other areas of your face will age prematurely too as the smoke dries out skin.
While all women seek the secret to eternal youth, care must be taken to choose the best product. Skin care companies should be marketing anti-wrinkle creams with natural products. As a matter of fact a good skin cream company will also offer a free product trial (you may have to pay for shipping). Be sure to use the cream as directed too and do not expect overnight miracles. In addition try to live a healthy lifestyle and drink plenty of water. Then you too, will have clean, clear skin with fewer lines and wrinkles.
27Jul/090
How to Become a Wellness Coach
Since switching careers in 2005 I've found it absolutely astonishing the amount of questions I continually get from people interested in becoming a wellness coach. Back when I was in the environmental software industry I can't remember one time that a person had asked me to provide an informational interview! Now it seems that I get a request for this at least monthly - and I love sharing what I do.
With all these requests in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to share my experience with wellness coaching, provide some background on what exactly coaching is, and give those of you with interest in learning more a foundation for making decisions as to how you might want to move forward.
What is a Wellness Coach?
This is an excellent question and a good starting point for these discussions. 'Wellness' has become a popular word as of late - and it carries with it a vast array of meanings based on who you talk to. Wellness coaches support their clients in creating lifestyle change such that they get more of their definition of wellness into their lives. You notice that I emphasize a key element of coaching is to listen to and understand how the client defines wellness as that is really what is important to improve their life.
How does a Wellness Coach differ from a Nutritionist or Trainer?
There are many Wellness Coaches that are nutritionists and personal trainers, however not all trainers and nutritionists are Wellness Coaches (and vice versa). The biggest difference is the approach that is taken towards achieving goals. A personal trainer is typically hired to provide guidance, motivation, education, hands on support and to tell you how to achieve your goals. This support is very appropriate in many cases. A nutritionist has a similar function, they are trained to provide information, guidance and design a recipe for success when someone has very specific dietary needs and goals. Again, they serve a fantastic role in supporting their clients through the questions they have.
A Wellness Coach takes a much different approach when working with clients. Fundamentally a coach assumes that you have your own answers. Certainly there are opportunities for education and sharing information when appropriate (and this information should be shared only in the coaches areas of expertise), however the focus of a wellness coach is one of empowering the client to clearly see for themselves the most appropriate path forward such that they can make sustainable, long term lifestyle changes. This is much different than telling them what they need to do today. It involves discussing goals, a vision, and designing a plan together.
A wellness coach will ask empowering questions to the client that re-enforce their compelling reasons to make healthy lifestyle decisions rather than telling them the reason why they should make change. A coach will provide tools for motivation, goal setting, self discovery and embrace the fact that no two clients will need to have the same approach in making lifestyle change. As you can see the quality and depth of conversation that a wellness coach and a trainer will be very different.
Corporate and Private opportunities for Wellness Coaching?
10 years ago, there were very few people operating under the title of 'Wellness Coach'. For that matter the term 'Life Coach' was extremely rare to come by as well - both are careers that have been recognized in the mainstream today. Many Wellness Coaches operate their own business. They draw from their background, market themselves, and present a coaching offering to clients that benefit from their services. Typically a wellness coach will work with clients in the area of nutrition, exercise, weight control, stress management, and some coach on areas of relationships, sleep quality, disease management, and life balance. If you are interested in knowing the specific areas that a coach focuses on - refer to his/her biography, as the topics can vary. Generally speaking, unless the coach is branching out into other talents/markets, they tend to focus on these primary areas.
With the growing trends towards increased longevity and increased waist size - it seems that the market for these talents would be huge. The truth is that there is a huge need - however as a new occupation just gaining recognition in the mainstream society you still see relatively few wellness coaches in relation to conventional healthcare practitioners, nutritionists, trainers etc. This is often why you see many coaches wear multiple hats.
Many more opportunities are beginning to arise in the corporate environment. A number of progressive companies (including Sutter Health in Northern California) are recognizing the value of designing healthy lifestyle's as a preventative measure such to curb escalating health care costs. A handful of employers are offering wellness coaching programs as an employee incentive. Its simply good business to show this commitment to their employees. Implementing Wellness Coaching programs creates a corporate culture of health and wellness, it facilitates learning, and most importantly is welcomed by employees looking for the key to making sustainable lifestyle changes.
For those wondering if they can get a job with a company offering these services, you may find that these corporate jobs at the moment are few and far between (but there are always opportunities if you create them). I personally expect a number of new wellness initiatives to explode in corporate America within the next decade. A large part of this will be varieties of wellness coaching programs.
What kind of training do you need to be a Wellness Coach?
A good question to ask is what differentiates a wellness coach from a nutritionist or trainer. The fact of the matter is that there are no 'requirements' for an individual to label their business as 'coaching'. We see this trend in executive coaching, life coaching, business coaching, and real estate coaching. There are no laws that require a certain certification to call yourself a coach in any field! So go ahead and call yourself a coach - but be ready to explain why you are a coach and not a trainer etc. when someone asks (obviously this is not my recommendation).
So that is interesting - then what kind of training do I typically need. Well a strong foundation in nutrition, exercise physiology, stress management, or combination of these will be a great starting point. To truly master coaching, I would recommend going through an accredited coach training program to learn the keys to communicating as a coach and supporting people in finding their own answers. Typically one of these courses takes 12 months to 3 years as they require a number of practical application hours as well. There are a variety of programs with different emphasis, so my suggestion is to find one that fits well with you.
There are programs specifically tailored for wellness coaches to learn the fundamentals of coaching in relation to health and wellness. These tend to be shorter courses (on the range of 3-6 months) and are not accredited by the major credentialing organizations. The most popular example is wellcoaches - an online/on phone training program that gives you the basics and foundation of becoming a coach. This is a great start - my personal preference is a full life coach training program as it goes into great depth for developing listening schools and understanding client perspectives and I found the program I attended to be absolutely fantastic.
As a side note - I strongly believe that within the next 10 years we will also see a change in the coaching industry. The International Coach Federation and other credentialing agencies are pushing strongly to honor and recognize the title of 'Coach' or- similar to that of RDA, MFT etc. The current credentials available through the ICF are ACC (associate certified coach), PCC (professional certified coach) and MCC (master certified coach).
The Future of Wellness Coaching
Having a private business and working in the corporate environment I've seen huge changes in the past couple years alone. I have no reason to believe that wellness coaching will slow its pace of growth. As I introduced this article, I mentioned how often I am asked the question of what it is that I do and how can I get involved. This is exciting to me as it shows me how much interest and concern there is in changing our countries wellness perspective. This is exciting to me and seeing the shift in our mentality and lifestyle to one of prevention rather than treatment is a huge step in the right direction.
For those of you interested in knowing more about coaching, there are numerous articles posted throughout this website on coaching models, how to create lifestyle change and personal development. I hope you find these resources useful in your journey in wellness.
"If you've found this site useful, please link to it so that others can benefit!"
Be Well
26Jul/090
Weight Loss in Women Over 40
Weight loss for women over 40 is a different story than when they were 20 and needs to be dealt with as such. Middle-aged women are not just dealing with slower metabolisms, they are often dealing with hormonal imbalances which have side effects such as poor thyroid function, bloating, fluid retention and weight gain. Furthermore, by the time women get to their forties, many are chronically sleep deprived which is another factor that affects weight gain and loss. Most of them are also shopping and cooking for family members who can often effectively metabolize foods that they cannot.
Diets or dieting for women over 40 do not achieve the best weight loss results. The best approach to losing weight for middle-aged women is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Give your body what it needs to function optimally and avoid foods that are nutritionally deficient as well as loaded with chemicals that overburden the liver. Given the eating, sleeping and exercise habits of modern women this change can be quite radical. It means avoiding packaged, processed foods that are high in sugars, fats, and chemicals and low in fiber and nutrients. This includes so-called diet products including diet sodas. Artificial sweeteners are much worse than natural sugars and can in fact be addictive.
A healthy diet for women over 40 will differ slightly to a good diet for a younger person. As we age, the body becomes less efficient in processing carbohydrates. Therefore, in order to lose body fat middle-aged women need to eat fewer carbohydrates. A diet that is high in protein, fruits and vegetables with plenty of pure water is the key to regaining health and fitness. It is also important to eat breakfast to kick start the metabolism for the day.
A number of smaller meals throughout the day are better for weight loss than three big meals. This is because larger meals release a lot of insulin into the blood which can interfere with metabolism. You will burn more fat with lower blood insulin levels. Some women may think that cutting their food right back will mean even lower insulin levels, lower calories and greater weight loss. However, if you cut back on your food intake too much you will lower your metabolic rate substantially and retain body fat. They key to losing weight is to eat only life giving, nutritious foods that your body can easily metabolize.
However, eating healthily is only the first step towards weight loss for women over 40. It is necessary to engage in regular aerobic exercise and strength training in order to increase their metabolic rate, burn fat and build lean muscle which uses more energy than fat.
Sleep is also important. Women who do not get eight hours of regular sleep a night are more likely to be overweight than those who do. If you make these lifestyle changes, yet you are finding losing weight is still difficult, you may be dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Estrogen dominance can cause weight gain which is difficult to shift. If this is the case, a natural low-dose progesterone cream may be helpful in restoring balance.
Weight loss for women over 40 does not have to be complicated. If you adopt a healthy lifestyle, you will be able to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight easily.
12Jul/090
Weight Loss – Why Do We Gain Weight?
There are many factors that cause us to increase body weight, yet three stand out from the rest.
Our genetic make up: Every cell in our body has a central control panel, that is a nucleus that contains our genes and chromosomes. This is the instruction manual for your body and this is inherited from your parents. It is this instruction manual that is largely responsible for how your body, and even your mind, behaves.
The environment in which we live: Our personal environment may also contribute or cue you to adopt poor eating or exercise habits. This is especially true in today's society, which is dominated by speed and convenience. For example, escalators, elevators and remote-control appliances make us less physically active. Also, greater availability and the constant marketing of foods that are high in calories, fat and added sugars, and larger portion sizes promote unhealthy eating behaviors.
There may also be personal reasons why you are consuming too many kilojoules from food and drinks, or not being physically active enough. For example, when feeling down or bored you may eat more than you need, or if you are feeling depressed it is more difficult to get active.
Knowing the reason why you may be consuming excess kilojoules or not participating in physical activity, is an important first step in changing your lifestyle habits to help you reach a healthy weight.
Our lifestyle: What we eat and drink and how active we are. This is the gradual gain in weight as a result of eating food and not exercising enough.
The extent to which we can affect our genetic make up and our environment are limited. However, lifestyle is the area in which we can significantly manage and if need be, improve our body weight to ensure we maintain a healthy weight for our height, age and gender. This is why learning a healthy nutritious eating pattern and adopting it for life, that is, lifestyle changes has a significant impact on our ability to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Gaining and losing weight works according to some a simple biological principle. When you consume more energy in the form of food and drinks that your body uses each day you will gain weight. When you consume less energy in the form of food and drinks that your body requires each day you will lose weight.
Despite what some advertisers would have use believe, weight loss does not occur as a result of any of the following:
* Supplements that will melt the fat while you sleep or while you wash
* Exercises that don't take any effort and cause no sweat
* Unique food combinations that will allow you to eat what you want and still lose weight
In order to lose weight you will need to know approximately your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). Your RMR is the number of calories your body burns at rest in a 24 hour period. When your body gets about 500 less calories than it needs each day as a result of eating less or exercising more, you will lose one pound of weight per week. To illustrate how efficient the human body is in motion, the average female would need to go for a brisk walk for 1.5 to 2.0 hours in order to burn 500 calories.
When you consume 500 calories a day more than your body's requirements, you will gain approximately one pound a week! To illustrate how easy it is to gain weight, one 7oz bag of corn chips has approximately 1000 calories. If you ate a bag of corn chips every day in addition to three square meals its possible you could gain 2 pounds in a week!
9Jul/090
Tips To Lose Weight Fast
Are you looking to lose weight fast? Well, do not get too excited. It is not healthy to lose more than two pounds a week. To lose weight quickly and safely, try the following tips.
Burn More Than You Eat
The first key to lose weight fast is simply to burn more calories through exercise than you consume through eating. It's really as simple as being a poor money manager.
In calories, you need to learn to spend more than you make on a daily basis. It really does not get any more simplistic than this. It is just a matter of maintaining a calorie deficit day after day. The main reason why people like you fail again and again at losing weight is because they are unable to remain consistent to this basic principle over an extended period of time.
Even those who can maintain this practice long enough to lose the weight they want to end up failing in the long term. This is because they start eating more than they burn off after the diet is "over".
Lifestyle Changes
You can lose weight fast, and keep it off, by changing how you live permanently! You are overweight now because of the way you eat and your lack of physical activity. Go on a 'diet' and you will gain the weight back when the diet is 'over'. A diet means that you will eat differently for a set period of time. When that time is over, usually when you have lost the weight that you want to, you will return to the way you ate before.
As a result, you will gain the weight back. Take a close look at what you eat each day and how little exercise you get. Make small changes one at a time then you intend to be permanent. Trying to make too many life-long changes in a short amount of time will only lead to failure.
Take small steps of change that you intend to be sustained for the rest of your life. For example, decide that you will walk or run for 30 minutes 3 days a week indefinitely for the rest of your life. Make this a habit.
Find a Support Group
No one is an island unto himself or herself. Rarely can anyone succeed at achieving a challenging goal without some kind of moral support from others. The same is true if you want to lose weight fast. Join a support group to keep you on track day in and day out. One important function of support from others will be to help you through those times that you want to give up.
In addition, you will need others with whom you can celebrate your successes with. Many of us often lose weight successful, but do not take the time to recognize those achievements. This is a missed opportunity. Celebrating with others your weight loss achievements will give you the energy you need to stay motivated and sustain your progress.
Remember, the safe way to lose weight fast is to limit it to two pounds a week. Do not listen to those who say you can lose more.
25Jun/090
Weight Loss Obstacles – How to Avoid Weight Loss Burnout
Have you ever woke up one day, usually a Monday, and told yourself that this was the day you were going to start living a healthier lifestyle. The extra weight you are carrying is coming off and for good this time. You're going to eat all the right foods and go to the gym loyally. You are feeling highly motivated and you're ready to roll! How long did it last? Was it a month or two, a week or two, a day? You are not alone!
This is a very common problem, people don't live up to their own expectations and then they dismiss it, usually by saying 'I don't have any will power'. So that's it, you tell yourself you don't have any will power and you let that excuse you from what you need to do to get it. The beginning stages of any exercise program are always the toughest. This is when people have the greatest fall off rate. Why? There are a few reasons. The biggest reason is that people do too much too soon. You want to lose weight and you want to lose it now! Well, if one day you're eating pizza and ice cream and sitting on the couch and the next day you're eating bean sprouts and working out for an hour and a half, a red flag should be going up. This is not going to last! These are examples of two extremes and going to the extreme in either direction is not healthy and not necessary.
I cannot emphasize enough how important small lifestyle changes can be if you want to lose weight. With diet, that may mean adding more fruits and vegetables instead of fatty snacks, avoiding red meat and fried food, avoid nighttime eating, if you eat because you are bored, do something so that you are not bored, just to name a few.
With exercise, that may mean going for a walk after dinner or at lunch, exercising 3-5 days a week for 30 minutes, actively playing with the kids, finding an exercise class that you enjoy, just to name a few.
Another top reason that people give up on themselves and their weight loss is impatience. When people start eating better and exercising they tend to think that the results should come very fast. There is a lot wrong with this way of thinking. First of all, it is very unhealthy to lose weight fast. In order to do that you must deprive your body of many calories and therefore vital nutrients as well. This also slows down your metabolism so you will have a greater tendency to gain the weight back. Secondly, you did not get out of shape overnight, it is wrong to expect it come right back to you overnight as well.
On average, a weight loss of two pounds a week is considered healthy. The key is to enjoy the process and all the great things that happen along the way to your goal. It has to be about more than losing weight. You will have more energy and that feels good, you will be in better spirits as well. You may start to feel more confident and strong. These important changes come a lot faster than the final goal, so savor them. Let them act as motivation to keep you going. Remind yourself that when you were eating junk and not exercising that you felt lethargic, out of control, possibly even depressed.
Everyone hits bumps in the road to health and fitness. When you hit one of these inevitable bumps, you have two choices. You can either persevere and continue on your journey or take yourself back to where you started. Obviously, you were not happy at your starting point or else you never would have started at all. We all want to feel good, be healthy and active, have more energy, and be strong and confident. So, the next time you come to a fork in the road, remember this, tell yourself you are worth the effort, and choose the right way, the way towards health and happiness.
16Jun/090
Diets and Weight Loss Products
Many of us around the world are facing problems on weights. Most are suffering from excessive weight gain and obesity. Many try to lose weight but struggle to find an effective weight loss method. Unluckily, there is no easy way. One way to lose weight and keep it off is by making permanent lifestyle changes.
Nowadays, about 100 million people or more go on diet every year. But sadly, only 10 to15 percent tend to maintain the weight loss method. We can not deny the fact that many of us have some misunderstandings on what method of diet is healthy and what is not. As the rate of obesity has increased, so has the market for weight-loss products. Let us say, you choose to use an over-the-counter weight loss product or participate in a weight loss program, the bottom line is that you still must eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.
When selecting a weight loss product or program, gather as much information as possible. Just one thing, beware of high costs, pressure to buy special foods or pills, and fraudulent claims. There are a lot of risks on that. Some examples of ineffective or useless diet products include: diet patches, magnet diet pills, certain bulk fillers, electrical muscle stimulators, appetite suppressing eyeglasses and magic weight loss earrings.
How do we say that they are ineffective? Diet patches have been removed from the market by the FDA because they were ineffective as diet aid. Magnet diet pills on the other hand allegedly flush fat out of the body which is unhealthy. While certain bulk fillers may cause internal obstruction. Electrical muscle stimulators may remove by the FDA from the market if promoted for weight loss. Appetite suppressing eyeglasses and magic weight loss earrings are said to claim colored lenses project image on retina and decrease appetite and control hunger by stimulating acupuncture points respectively.
There are actually a lot of different kinds of weight loss products that are on sale. They are sold over the counter in various retail outlets such as pharmacies, health food stores, grocery stores and are also available online. Under the right circumstances, some of these may be safe and effective when used as part of a weight management program that promotes a reduced intake of dietary calories and an increase in physical activity. But if you are considering the use of weight loss products, you should be aware of potential risks so you can make informed choices.
Above all these, the best weight loss products come in one: natural diet. It is as simple as eat healthier, watch portion sizes, be responsible and be active.
6Jun/090
Worksite Wellness
Employers increasingly are realizing the value that worksite wellness programs deliver as an effective tool to improve employee health, increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and lower health care costs.
A 2003 report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlighted how important it is for employers to incorporate health promotion as part of their business strategy. The report asserts that preventable
diseases place a heavy toll on business, including lower productivity and higher health insurance costs.
The HHS estimates that $1.66 trillion was spent on health care in 2003. and it attributes a majority of those costs to chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and asthma. Sadly, the money allocated for preventing or controlling these conditions is negligible.
In a recent article, American Cancer Society CEO John Seffrin reported two thirds of cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, cancer screening and “especially” tobacco use. A well-designed worksite wellness program, provided by your health benefits company, serves the best interests of both employer and employee.
Bottom line return on investment
Ron Goetzel, a nationally recognized expert in the field of health management, data analysis and applied research, said in a recent interview that with an investment of $100 to $150 per employee per year in health promotion, an employer can expect an average return on investment of approximately $3 for every $1
invested ($300 to $450 savings per employee per year).
Goetzel says, however, that these returns are not typically realized until two to three years into the wellness program.
Legislative incentives
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has been an outspoken proponent in seeking legislative solutions for a strained health care system.
“As a nation, we have a ‘sick care’ system that is focused on helping people after they get sick, rather than a ‘health care’ system which focuses on keeping healthy people healthy,” he says.
Harkin introduced the Healthy Lifestyle and Prevention (HeLP) America Act of 2004. One of the initiatives under Title II - Healthier Communities and Workplaces, provides tax credits to businesses that offer comprehensive programs to promote employee health and grants for small business.
Worksite wellness, getting started
Implementing a worksite wellness program with your health insurance carrier can be accomplished with simple, low-cost strategies.
Offer incentives for participation.
Create a wellness campaign.
Schedule seminars on nutrition, diabetes and cholesterol.
Establish programs such as fitness, sleep diary, smoking cessation and injury prevention.
Offer chair massages or simple stretching exercises to do at the desk.
Change vending machine options to offer healthier, low-fat snacks and drinks.
Work with a health insurance carrier that can implement, manage and maintain your program. Actively promote employee participation.
A successful worksite wellness program can boost company morale, enhance productivity, reduce organizational conflict, attract superior workers and lower the rate of employee turnover. The case for establishing a worksite wellness program is well worth the effort.
Video of the Day
Categories
- Anti Aging (50)
- Beauty Care (178)
- Diet (258)
- Featured Product (208)
- Fitness Videos (164)
- Health and Wellness (132)
- Skin Care (157)
Recent Posts
- A Day At LA Fitness
- Fitness America Pageant
- Evis MD Platinum Red Light Therapy Anti-Aging Device
- US Air Force Basic Training – Boot Camp
- Ocean Potion Anti Aging Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 3 fl oz
Archives
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
Tag Cloud
aging
Beauty Care
Benefit
Bod
Body
Calo
Calories
Care
Cl
Cream
Diet
Era
Exercise
Extra
Face
Faci
Fit
Fitness
Fruit
Grea
Healt
Health
Hey
HIGH
Ing
Ins
Ions
Like
Loo
Lose Weight
Loss
Lot
Lt
People
Product Description
Real
Rough
Skin
Skin Care
Take
Time
Tin
Weight
Weight Loss
Wrinkles
Translator
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 | ||||||
| By N2H | ||||||