OXFORD, Miss. – Patricia Stewart, 51, already knows the two keys to getting healthier and losing weight: eat less and exercise more. But, Stewart, a fulltime employee at the University of Mississippi Physical Plant Department, simply doesn’t have the time or expertise to put her knowledge into a workable plan.
Co-worker Tiffany Edwards, 42, a fulltime mother and wife, wholeheartedly agreed, saying, “Yes, I want to lose weight, but I don’t know where to start.”
So when Amanda Hutcheson, a graduate student in health promotions, approached Edwards about participating in the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Healthiest Loser Challenge, she quickly agreed to be team leader, then grabbed Stewart and 14 of their Physical Plant co-workers to join her in the three-month challenge.
“It was my goal to try to get healthier this summer and when Amanda contacted us with this opportunity, I knew it was the perfect time for me,” said Edwards, Physical Plant assistant director.
Stewart, who specializes in safety and training, said she quickly signed on when Edwards explained the challenge.
“I immediately joined because I want to get healthier and my efforts weren’t working,” said Stewart, a 25-year Ole Miss employee. “Also, I hate to ask people to do something I’m not willing to do myself, and this challenge involves safety and wellness, so I knew it would be good for us to try it.”
Hutcheson said the MSDH Healthiest Loser Challenge is simple: grab 10 to 20 co-workers, select a team leader and then register online for the challenge. Each team must weigh-in once a month to be eligible to win prizes, which will be awarded at the Mississippi Public Health Association Annual Conference in September. UM’s team had their official weigh-in on May 31. The challenge ends Aug. 31.
What’s more, the chancellor’s office provided the Physical Plant team with a registered dietitian and Campus Recreation offered a two-month gym membership.
“I know this challenge is about them, but the entire campus is rooting for them,” said Hutcheson, who is working with HealthWorks in the UM Department of Human Resources this summer. “This is not just the Physical Plant team. This is Team Ole Miss! They are full of questions and excitement and everyone has been so engaged. In the end, I hope they learn tools on nutrition and physical activity that will help them after this challenge ends.”
Besides a two-month gym membership, HealthWorks is offering employee-only group fitness classes on Tuesday and Thursdays. The 45-minutes classes are open to all Ole Miss employees and include activities such as Pilates, cycling and weight lifting. Hutcheson also leads a 30-minute campus walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Raymus Purnell, a carpentry supervisor who set a goal to lose 30 pounds in 2013, said he has already picked up healthy tips that will last him a lifetime.
“Two of the best tips so far are to weigh myself every week and weigh my food every day,” said Purnell, a 12-year employee. “I’m determined to do this, to keep going. It’s not just to lose weight; it’s to be healthier for myself, my wife and my children.”
Stewart has similar goals.
“This challenge will give me the momentum to keep going,” she said. “Several of us were already doing our own exercise plan, but this is fun. Being in a group keeps us accountable, plus we talk about our progress. It’s not about competition; it’s about being OK – together.”
The MSDH Healthiest Loser competition began in 2011 with more than 700 participants and some 30 teams. The goal of the competition is to encourage MSDH employees and other participating groups to regain their health one pound at a time through improving nutrition and increasing physical activity. For more information, visit http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/healthiestloser/.
HealthWorks is a wellness and health education program designed specifically for Ole Miss employees. Its goal is to promote a comprehensive health program that encompasses awareness, education and preventative services, provides a working and learning environment that is conducive to making health choices, and empowers and motivates the university community to adopt healthy lifestyles. For more information, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/healthworks/.