The 90-Day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge ran from July 13 to October 10, 2010. During the challenge, participants were asked to utilize UK Healthtrac Rewards and other UK Health & Wellness programs to help improve their health. They were competing for great prizes, including the first-place healthy prize package valued at $250!
The votes are in! Congratulations to the winners of the 90-Day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge: 1st place -Vida Gay Ledford; 2nd place - Stephanie Edelmann; 3rd place - Teresa Barnhill. Thanks to all who participated!
Here are the Top 5 finalists.
Challenge Goal(s): Lower Body Mass Index (BMI)
Success Story: "I have lost 15 pounds. I started walking 3 miles in the morning 3 times a week. I graduated to 3 miles every day. Now I'm up to 3 miles every day, with 6 miles at
least twice a week.
I've also changed my diet and my family's diet. We no longer eat enriched flour or sugar. We've switched to whole wheat and whole grain products along with using a sugar substitute only when necessary. We've replaced sugary snacks and unhealthy processed foods with pita chips, fruit and veggies. My daughter has lost 5 pounds and my son 11. My husband has lost 10 pounds as well.
I used the recipe ideas that pop up when you sign onto Healthtrac. I also had a BeH.I.P. coach for a little while. He had some good suggestions, but because I stayed so busy, it was difficult for us to connect. But the suggestions he gave — walking for 60 minutes most days, switching to whole wheat and multigrain products, healthier snacks, etc., I implemented and passed on to my entire family. It has been really fun! We also joined the YMCA and used our UK discount. We participate in exercise classes and use the basketball court and the walking track. I record my progress in Healthtrac. I also read a TON of the articles online and try to implement a lot of those suggestions as well."
Stephanie Edelmann, UK employee
Challenge Goal(s): Lower Body Mass Index (BMI); Lower blood pressure, Eat healthier foods
Success Story: "I lost about 18 pounds during the challenge. Lowered my BMI - check! I am still on blood
pressure medicine, but my blood pressure has stabilized at a healthier level as opposed to being high even while on medication. I am definitely eating healthier
foods.
Before the challenge, I was eating hardly any vegetables. Now I have veggies at every meal. I also have apples at work as a snack. I stopped drinking sodas, eating fried snacks and junk food and I am minimizing artificial sweetener. I don't think I've had anything out of a can since June. I have just about stopped eating out of boredom, or frustration. Now I actually eat when I am hungry, and I am now also eating oatmeal for breakfast quite a bit.
I liked the fact that the programs were step-by-step - and I did like getting the reminders. I tend to be an all-or-nothing perfectionist with the attention span of a gnat when it comes to healthier living. If I don't lose 10 pounds in the first week, I'm over it. This time, I was OK with the slow and steady approach and the reminders helped refocus me. I participated the Health & Wellness Program offerings to work on coping with stress --and discovered Tai Chi as a means of doing just that. I still have a way to go, but I am encouraged by the progress I have made so far. My next goals involve physical activity and SLEEP!"
William Calderhead , UK employee
Challenge Goal(s): Lower blood pressure; Lower cholesterol; Cope with stress in healthier ways
Success Story: "I was able to bring down my systolic blood pressure down from a high of 148 in April. During the past 90 days, it has averaged 129. Healthtrac helped me to stay with my fitness program. It provided incentives for me to go to the gym and run in my neighborhood. My main obstacles arose from problems balancing my work and exercise schedules. When I was feeling stressed due to an approaching project deadline, I was tempted to skip going to the gym. I knew, however, that I would not meet my fitness goals if I did not exercise. That knowledge forced me to make time for exercise.
One feature of the Healthtrac website that has helped me manage my blood pressure, weight, and stress is the Health Center with its quarterly quizzes. Often I take a quiz, thinking I will score 100%, only to discover that I answered two or three questions incorrectly. That sends me deeper into the site, looking for explanations. The information I pick up by reading that material has helped me to count calories, plan meals to avoid impulsive trips to fast-food restaurants for lunch and dinner, and find ways to reduce the amount of sodium in my diet. I am now much more conscious of what I eat and how to manage the kind of food I bring into my kitchen. I have learned that preparing healthy meals is a pre-emptive way of dealing with the problems that I spend so many hours in the gym trying to rectify.
On the subject of other Health & Wellness programs that have helped me improve my health, I want to express special thanks to Body Shop Fitness. The graduate assistants who staff Alumni Gym and Seaton Center are always ready to answer questions about my fitness workout. The fitness challenges offered are extremely creative and give me an additional incentive to go the gym on days when I tell myself I am really too tired to workout.My doctor was also impressed when I had my physical in September: Cholesterol = 194 mg/dL; HDL Cholesterol = 61 mg/dL; Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio = 3.2; LDL Cholesterol = 118 mg/dL; Triglyceride = 74 mg/dL.
I feel proud of my improved health. Now that I have seen results from my fitness program, I am motivated to stay with it."
Challenge Goal(s): Lower Body Mass Index (BMI); Become more physically Active, Eat healthier foods
Success Story: "My wellness journey actually began in November 2009, after 4 and a half years of going off the deep end!! I gave up one bad habit and began another. I had smoked for over 30 years and finally kicked the habit with the help of the UK Wellness program in February 2005, and I am still smoke- free, but I began eating to replace smoking and weight then became a problem. (Editor's note: Vida Gay started an exercise program in November 2009 and that got her on the path to weight loss. Since November 2009 she has lost nearly 60 pounds.)
It seemed as though as soon as one (challenge or contest) stopped, another started that kept me going toward my goal of getting back to a good healthy lifestyle. In June, UK's American Heart Association Start! Walking program began and again motivation was there to keep me going. I began to walk and run on a treadmill -- a year ago I would not have been able to do that. I started out walking ½ mile and then running ½ mile each morning before work.
Then at the end on June information came out on the 90-day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge. Again, another avenue was given me to keep going. So on July 13, I began on a new regimen. I wanted to lower my BMI, become more physically active, and eat healthier foods during this challenge. So, I increased my walking and running 1 mile of each at least 5 days a week and began a Water Aerobics class that meet two times a week for 6 weeks , as well continuing to exercise at (a local gym) and things were well on the way to getting into shape.
My records show that from July to October 2010: 5.5 pounds were lost; a total of 15 inches were lost; 2.10% body fat was lost; BMI dropped 2.01 points. My blood work that was done on Monday after the challenge ended showed that my cholesterol levels have improved from tests run in June to: HDL was up to 77 from 58 VLDL was 19 down from 27 LDL was 100 up from 75 (not sure what happened here) Triglycerides down to 95 from 136 So things are looking good there ...
I feel better now than I have in a long time and hope to keep it going. I began to wonder what would motivate me after the 90 day Challenge ended, and I got an e-mail about the UK's American Heart Association Start! Walking fall challenge. So I have enrolled and hope to keep this healthy lifestyle going and have it become a permanent part of my life."
Challenge Goal(s): Lower Body Mass Index (BMI); Lower blood pressure; Lower cholesterol
Success Story: "I am very happy about the cholesterol and blood pressure accomplishments during the challenge. I went from cholesterol of 247 to 193 and blood pressure of 150/99 to 118/80. This was accomplished by significantly increasing exercise (from sedentary to at least 30 minutes 4 times a week of moderate exercise) and keeping a closer watch on what I ate (whole grain in lieu of white products and more fruits and vegetables). The BMI also went down slightly, though not as significantly as the other numbers. But I'm still working on eating healthier, so this will come down more in time.
I used some of the Healthtrac links for information to help achieve my goals and also am currently enrolled in the Weight Loss Matters program (GREAT program). My main obstacles (and solutions) were: Finding the time for exercise (put on my Outlook calendar to do during lunch and worked great); and grabbing fast food due to kids' functions (put meals on a calendar so would remember to thaw frozen items and have all necessary ingredients or at least plan on healthiest items to get from when do have to eat out at a restaurant). I am very happy with the progress and feel much better about accomplishing future goals toward even better health."
What is the 90-Day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge?
Enter the 90-Day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge and let UK Healthtrac Rewards help you see yourself healthier! You’ve read the Healthtrac success stories – incredible health improvements such as lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, healthy weight loss, and just FEELING better. Now it’s your turn to see the new YOU! And you could win great prizes, including the first-place healthy prize package valued at $250!
The 90-Day Healthtrac Transformation Challenge ran from July 13 to October 10, 2010. During the challenge, simply utilize UK Healthtrac Rewards and other UK Health & Wellness programs to help you improve your health. For example, you could use Healthtrac and other Health & Wellness resources to help you: Get more physical activity, eat healthier, lose a few pounds, deal with stress better, lower your blood pressure, or stop smoking. Or set a goal of your own. It’s up to you how you transform your health! Keep in mind, your transformation doesn’t have to be drastic. A few small behavior changes can go a long way.
YOUR votes will determine the winners! The top 5 finalists will be selected and online voting will begin November 8 and close November 19, 2010. Winners will be announced by November 22, 2010. Winners will receive special recognition in UK Human Resources and Health & Wellness print and e-publications.
- 1st place wins a healthy prize package valued at $250.
- 2nd place wins a healthy prize package valued at $175.
- 3rd place: wins a healthy prize package valued at $100.
- You must be eligible to participate in UK Healthtrac Rewards. UK employees, retirees, and their spouses or sponsored dependents enrolled in a UK health plan (UK-HMO, UK-PPO, UK-EPO, etc.) are eligible to participate.
- New and returning users are eligible to win. New users must register for UK Healthtrac Rewards and complete the Health Assessment from July 13, 2010 to September 30, 2010. Returning users must complete the Health Assessment from July 13, 2010 to September 30, 2010.
- You must complete the official entry form by August 2, 2010. The form requires you to provide basic information, set your goals for the 90-day period, and tell us why you want to get healthier. (Submitting "before" photos is optional.)
- After the 90-day period, you must return to this Web site and submit the online contest results form, enter your results, and tell us your success story. The form will be available from October 11 to October 31, 2010. (Submitting "after" photos is optional.)
- You must utilize UK Healthtrac Rewards and other UK Health & Wellness programs to help you improve your health during the 90-day period from July 13 to October 10, 2010. You will be required to explain how Healthtrac and other UK Health & Wellness programs helped you achieve your results.
- You must be willing to allow UK Human Resources and UK Health & Wellness to use your photograph and story in any publications – print or Internet. The winners will be required to sign and return an image use consent form.
- UK Health & Wellness employees or their spouses or sponsored dependents are not eligible to win.
