McKinley Grapevine

Good Morning Everyone!!

Corporate Step Challenge for JDRF!!!!

How to Participate:

1. MARK YOUR CALENDARS – This will be a 5 day challenge beginning on Monday September, 21^st 2015 and ending on Friday September, 25^th 2015.
2. To join you need to donate $25 to JDRF or have someone sponsor you.  You will use the following link to donate: http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/mckinley
3. You will need a step track or pedometer.  Cigna has provided us with solar clip on pedometers – WooHoo!!! If you do not have a pedometer, please email me ASAP so I am able to mail one to you before the challenge begins (If several people on your team need one, collect a total number so I can send them in one package).  If you are in Orlando or Tampa I will be personally handing them out the week before the challengeJ.
4. Every day there will be a prize awarded to the person who has the most steps for that day.  You will need to email me your total steps for the day by midnight every day to be eligible to win.  The winner will be announced the following morning.  Here are the prizes you will get to choose from:

• Ripped in 30 DVD by Jillian Michaels
• Yoga for Weight Loss DVD by Colleen Saidman’s
• Multi-Grip Stretch Strap
• Pressure Point Massage Wand
• Restore Strong Back and Core Kit

Fundraising Incentives:

• The first person who raises $250 will win:
  • Cigna VIP Wellness Gift Bag which includes a duffle bag, water bottle, stress ball, stretching strap, pedometer, mini tape measure for body measurements, hand sanitizer, lip balm and sunscreen OR
  • Cigna Personal Fitness Kit which includes a duffle bag, jump rope, hand grip strengtheners….
  • The first person who raises $500 will win:
    • Cigna Deluxe Picnic Cooler for Four which includes plates, silverware, cloth napkins, wine glasses and corkscrew OR
    • Fitbit Flex

Don’t Forget About Raffle Tickets!!!

Raffle Tickets = 1/$5 or 5/$20

Prizes include:

• $50 Gift Cards from Amazon and Target
• 1 Kindle Fire
• 1 week at the corporate suite in Orlando

 

If you are NOT at the corporate office and would like to buy or sell raffle tickets, please email me ASAP to let me know how many you would like.  I will be mailing them out by Monday August, 31^st.

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

 

Hi Everyone!

If you’re on facebook you may have seen advertisements for Thrive Market – it’s pretty cool. Thrive Market is the first socially conscious online store offering the world’s best-selling natural and organic products at wholesale prices. They carry over 2,500 of the highest quality food, supplements, home, personal care, and beauty products from over 400 of the best brands on the market, all delivered straight to your door at 25-50% off retail prices. Their mission is to make health living easy, affordable, and accessible for every American family.

How does it work?

Your first 30 days is free.  If you choose to continue shopping after your 30 day trial there is a yearly fee of $59.95 – but here’s the cool thing, with your membership, Thrive will sponsor a low-income family!  They regularly run special offers and have free shipping on orders over $49.

I’ve compared the prices of several of the products to other sites and the majority of them are cheaper – it’s definitely convenient!  Check it out for yourself :-).

https://thrivemarket.com/how-it-works

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

Good Morning Everyone!

Summer is definitely in full swing which means it’s time to go to the lake, swim in the pool, run through the sprinkler with your kids (or by yourself 🙂 ), go hiking, kayaking, camping and so much more!!!  As you start to make your summer plans, make sure you plan to protect your skin as well.  Our skin is our largest organ and it is so important to protect it from harmful UVA and UVB rays but we also need to protect our bodies from many harmful chemicals that are fund in many sunscreens.

Our bodies absorb what we put on our skin, some experts say up to 60%.  Just like we read the nutrition label on the foods we eat, it’s important to read the ingredient list on the skin care products we put on our skin and our kids.  Here are three examples of the chemicals you want to avoid:

• Parabens: They are used as a preservative and you will recognize them on the ingredient list as the following, methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben.  They are cheap so manufacturers love them.  The problem is, in 1998, British researchers at Brunel University discovered that parabens mimic the female hormone estrogen. For men this means a possible increase in body fat and decrease in muscle mass.  For women, too much estrogen can put you at a higher risk for breast cancer. http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/parabens.html
• Oxybenzone: Found most commonly in the sport sunscreens and is an active ingredient. It can penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body.
• Retinyl palmitate: This is a form of vitamin A. Night creams with this chemical may help skin look more youthful. But on sun-exposed skin, retinyl palmitate may speed development of skin tumors and lesions, according to government studies.

Below is a list of 12 toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in common beauty and skin care products:

http://blog.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/wp-content/toxic-skin-infographic.png

EWG (Environmental Working Group) creates a sunscreen guide every year.  They examined 1,700 products this year and the products they deem safe are based on how effectively they can protect our skin from UVA and UVB rays, the ingredient list and the SPF #.  Click the link below to view their “Hall of Shame” list that includes 11 spray sunscreens, 12 lotions and 11 specific sunscreens for kids.  Please read!  Many of the products on these lists are the products most people buy because they’re inexpensive and convenient to buy.  Unfortunately, they could be doing more harm than good.

http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/hall-of-shame/

Now, for their full list of 217 sunscreens they would recommend and why.  Below the link I have listed 9 of the least expensive products you can find on amazon and other local retailer stores.

http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

• Alba Botanica Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30  ($2.32/ounce)
• Alba Botanica Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen, Kids, SPF 30 ($2.65/ounce)
• derma e Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen, Body, SPF 30 ($2.82/ounce)
• Earth’s Best Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 ($1.79/ounce)
• Goddess Garden Everyday Natural Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 ($2.82/ounce)
• Jason Sun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 ($2.13/ounce)
• Safe Harbor Natural Suncare Sensitive Lotion Sunscreen, SPF 30 ($2.50/ounce)
• Tropical Sands All Natural Biodegradable Sunscreen, Coconut Scent, SPF 30 ($2.49/ounce)
• The Honest Company Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 ($2.33/ounce) – You can buy 2, 3oz bottles at Costco right now for $13.99 http://www.costco.com/The-Honest-Company-Honest-Sunscreen-Lotion-SPF-30-2-pack-3.0oz-.product.100157942.html

Personally, I have used the Tropical Sands All Natural Biodegradable Sunscreen, The Honest Company Sunscreen Lotion and the Kiss My Face sunscreen which is not listed above.  Kiss My Face SPF 30 lotion is free of parabens, oxybenzone, fragrance and is not tested on animals ($1.29/ounce).  The Tropical Sands sunscreen is great if you plan on being in the water all day – it definitely protects your skin but it does leave a bit of a white residue from the zinc.  My two favorite are The Honest Company lotion and the Kiss My Face lotion – both apply nicely without a residue and won’t leave you feeling greasy.

Below are sunscreen ‘How To’ tips according to the American Academy of Dermatology:

https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/health-and-beauty/general-skin-care/sun-protection/how-to-apply-sunscreen

1. Choose sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides broad-spectrum coverage, which means it protects you from UVA and UVB rays.
2. Apply sunscreen generously before going outdoors. It takes approximately 15 minutes for your skin to absorb the sunscreen and protect you. If you wait until you are in the sun to apply sunscreen, your skin is unprotected and can burn.
3. Use enough sunscreen. Most adults need at least one ounce of sunscreen, about the amount you can hold in your palm, to fully cover all exposed areas of your body. Rub the sunscreen thoroughly into your skin.
4. Apply sunscreen to all bare skin. Remember your neck, face, ears, tops of your feet and legs. For hard-to-reach areas like your back, ask someone to help you or use a spray sunscreen. If you have thinning hair, either apply sunscreen to your scalp or wear a wide-brimmed hat. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15.
5. Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours to remain protected, or immediately after swimming or excessively sweating.

I hope you plan lots of fun activities this summer – plan to protect your skin too :-)!

 

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

Good Morning Everyone!!

I wanted to make sure you were are aware of the many useful tools available to you through the EAP program!  The contact info is below along with some of the services they provide:

ComPsych@GuidanceResources

Call: 1-800-964-3577

TDD: 800.697.0353

Go online: guidanceresources.com

Your company Web ID: EAPComplete

Are you a parent looking for:

• Child care
• Nanny services
• Before- and after-school care
• Camps
• Financial assistance
• Adoption information
• Answers to parenting questions

Are you looking for help with finances?

• You will find confidential resources to discuss budgeting, debt management or other money management concerns.

Are you looking for confidential counselling on personal issues?

• EAP has a confidential counseling service to help address the personal issues you face. This service, staffed by experienced clinicians, is available by calling a toll-free phone line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A Guidance Consultant will refer you to a local counselor or to resources in your community.

Are you a family member of an elder who needs:

• Home health care
• Respite care
• Community services
• Help determining the right level of care
• Screened referrals for assisted living and nursing homes Hospice information

Are you looking for a place to live? Get help with:

• Finding movers Relocating to another city
• Choosing a realtor
• School and neighborhood information Housing and utility assistance

Are you a pet owner? Get information on:

• Dog walkers
• Kennels and pet care
• Veterinarians
• Obedience classes
• Pet insurance

Are you sending a child off to school? Learn about:

• Choosing schools, from preschool through college and beyond
• Financial aid Scholarships
• Tutors
• Special needs

Are you planning a major project? Find resources and qualified experts for:

• Weddings and other events
• Home improvement products
• Vacation planning
• Buying a home or car

Good Morning Everyone!

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all experienced neck (cervical) and upper back (thoracic) pain at some point in our lives.  For some of you, this is something you deal with on a daily basis…why?  Well, the way we position our heads when we text and how we sit in our workspace might have something to do with it.  Most of us text and respond as quickly as we can to emails on our phones – a tiny little screen that we will lower our heads down to read, right?  Check out the image below found on womenshealthmag.com – the further we tilt our heads forward, the more weight and stress we put on our spine.  Yikes!

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/texting-posture

Your workstation – which image below best describes how you typically sit and work?

 

Solutions:

• From the images above it’s easy to pick out which one would be the most ergonomically correct workstation.  Using that image as an example, get your workspace set up in an ergonomically correct way.  For starters, make sure your knees, hips and elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle.  Now it’s up to you to sit up straight and roll your shoulders back – try not to let them creep up to your ears, even if your stressed 🙂
• Change your texting posture and as often as you can, respond to emails from your computer instead of your phone.

• Every hour, step away from your desk and walk around for 2-5min.
• Watch the video below and learn some simple exercises you can perform with a foam roller to relieve upper back and neck pain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7sBMicSn14

If you’re interested in purchasing a foam roller, click the link below:

http://www.sportsmith.net/ItemForm.aspx?Item=P25023&&gclid=Cj0KEQjwifWnBRCB5PT57KSVw-kBEiQASV7aRJNHfprkdzBvoDSpAq1z_BLRQvVWpZt0dqmiQp_nG5QaAmtt8P8HAQ

 

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith

Dear McKinley Family,

I am in touch today on behalf of both Albert and me with a very important message reminder for all.  As you will remember, last October we participated in breast cancer awareness month.  Many of you showed your incredible support by donating and joining our first McKinley PINK OUT!!  October has passed and while our busy lives persist, we cannot ignore our focus on wellness.  It can be very easy for us to put aside scheduling routine things like a mammogram or screening.  Gentlemen, you may decide to stop reading right now – please don’t.  Read this so you are aware of the things that can be done to prevent breast cancer and can encourage the women in your life to be proactive.  Also, I want to restate how much our CEO cares about your wellness.  We have so many initiatives to be grateful for because of Albert’s focus on health and wellness.   Albert encourages all of our team members to get checked annually, and to ensure we schedule annual mammograms.  He is a husband, father and grandfather of a beautiful wife, wonderful daughter in law, and darling grand baby daughter.  It is not overstated to say he cares about mammograms and breast screening for all. Schedule yours today!

I want to share some statistics with you from www.komen.org and www.breastcancer.org :

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

The good news is the number of breast cancer survivors continues to increase! According to www.komen.org there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today, the largest group of cancer survivors in the country.  Below is the five-year relative survival rate for all women with breast cancer in the U.S.:

1. 99% found at a local stage (cancer that has not spread)
2. 84% for regional disease
3. 23% for distant stage disease

Many of you know my mom passed away from breast cancer at the very young age of 42.  Fear kept her from going to the doctor for months after she found a lump and by the time she went to the doctor it was too late.  Her breast cancer was in the 4^th stage (distant stage) and had unfortunately already spread outside of the breast.

The most important thing for you to understand is YOU ARE NOT DEFENSELESS and we all need to be proactive J.  Make sure you schedule your yearly screening or mammogram so you and your Doctor have an important baseline of what your “normal” is.  Attached to this email is a “Breast Self-Awareness” checklist that the Susan G. Komen foundation sent out.  Use this checklist and share it!  Please note, it’s rare, however, even men can get cancer of the breast.

Information about Screenings:

1. Cigna covers 1 mammogram annually regardless of your age.
2. When scheduling your mammogram, request to have it done where you can receive a same day reading.  Your doctor will be able to advise you which locations will have a radiologist on site.
3. Call Cigna with any questions you have about coverage 1-800-CIGNA-24

 

Statistics:

http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content/AboutUs/MediaCenter-2/BC%20Facts%20-%20082712.pdf

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics

Checklist:

http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/ENGLISH%20-%20Final1.pdf

Please let me know if you have questions.  Have a great day!

 

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Meredith and Albert