GU WIN Wellness Program

GU WIN Employee Wellness Program

The purpose of GU WIN is to improve the health and well-being of Gallaudet University employees' lives through health education and activities that will support positive lifestyle change thereby resulting in improved employee productivity and morale.  Putting a priority on wellness will build a healthier workforce.


2nd Annual GU WIN Competition: Mix It Up

What is it?
To encourage employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle, Gallaudet University is launching its 2nd annual GU WIN competition called the Mix It Up Challenge.  The Mix It Up Challenge is designed to help employees improve their eating habits with fruits and vegetables so that they can become healthier and feel good.  This 8-week wellness competition will run from March 11, 2013 through May 3, 2013 and is in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. 

The goal is to eat at least five servings of produce each day.  You will have access to an online nutrition program.  Easy-to-remember daily food selections include more than 120 possible fruits and vegetables.  You can click on images of the foods you've eaten, drag them to a virtual blender and process your choices.  Mix It Up will do the rest by totaling numbers of fruits and vegetables consumed and tracking progress over time.

How do I sign up?
Open registration will run from March 4, 2013 through March 18, 2013.  Beginning on March 4th, employees can register through gallaudet.gomixitup.com.  All participants will receive a free fast food nutrition guide. The 36-page guide features 24 popular, low-cost restaurants, including McDonald's, Panera Bread, Chic-fil-A, Subway, and Starbucks. The guide is updated with the latest menu choices, gives the calorie, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate and fiber counts for over 1,000 foods and drinks. You can compare nutrition information and make smart choices in fast-food and take-out meals.

There will be a Kick-Off event on March 4, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the JSAC, Multipurpose Room.  Employees can receive free screenings (weight, BMI, and blood pressure) anytime during that time frame.  From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the competition and participate in a free 30-minute belly-dancing demonstration. 

Can I participate alone or in teams?
Yes, you may participate individually or in teams.  However, we strongly encourage team participation (must be from 4 to 10 employees per team).  Team members can encourage and support each other throughout the competition.  There should be one team captain per team.

What are the competition categories?
There are four categories in this competition: Most Improved Individual Wellness (Male), Most Improved Individual Wellness (Female), Top Individual in Nutrition and Nutrition Team Champions. Each participant can select to participate in the Most Improved Individual Wellness category and either the Top Individual in Nutrition in category or the Nutrition Team Champions category.

Do I have to enter the Most Improved Individual Wellness category?
No, you can choose to just participate in either the Top Individual in Nutrition Individual category or the Nutrition Team Champions category.  However, in order to participate in the Most Improved Individual Wellness category, you must attend the pre-competition and post-competition screenings.  The pre-competition screening will be held on Monday, March 4, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  The post-competition screening will be held on Monday, May 6, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Both screenings will take place in the JSAC, Multipurpose Room.  The winners for this category will be determined by the overall improvement in terms of weight, BMI, and blood pressure.

How do I report my progress?
You keep track of your own progress by entering your results online daily through the Kaiser Permanente Mix It Up website. 

Will other people be able to see my weight online?
No. Only you and the Kaiser representative will have your personal records.  We know this is a sensitive topic, so we protect your privacy.

What are the awards?
Most Improved Individual Wellness (Male and Female): 1st Place--Kindle Fire HD; 2nd place--One-year free membership to the Gallaudet University Fitness Complex

Nutrition Team Champions: Catered lunch; Gift certificate to the Bison Shop

Top Individual in Nutrition: Gift certificate to the Bison Shop

During Week 2, 4, 6, and 8, we will hold a raffle for active participants.  Prizes include Ozeri Touch Professional Digital Kitchen Scale, Hamilton Beach Digital Steamer, Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper, and the Polar FT4M Heart Rate Monitor Watch. 

What if I have other questions regarding the competition?
You can contact Shana Daniels at shana.daniels@gallaudet.edu and/or Christina Shen-Austin at christina.shen-austin@gallaudet.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS
*Classes and workshops will be from 12 PM to 1 PM (unless otherwise noted)*

3/4/2013: GU WIN Mix It Up Kick Off Event (10AM to 12:55 PM) @ JSAC, Multipurpose Room

3/12/2013: Tai Chi Gong @ Field House, Delta Zeta Dance Studio
Easy to learn low impact exercise that diffuses stress and promotes balance, control, flexibility, harmony and cardiovascular fitness. 

3/19/2013: Healthy Aging @ JSAC, Room 1011
Explore the components for life long healthy living including, physical activity, healthy eating, and recommended tests and screenings. 45 minutes.

3/26/2013: Health Benefits of Sleep and Massage Therapy @ JSAC, Room 1011
Learn about the importance of sleep to your physical and mental health.  Build awareness about sleep disorders and tips for getting a good night’s sleep with the use of massage therapy.     

4/2/2013: What is the truth about sweeteners, sugar replacers and sodium in foods? @ JSAC, Room 1011
Food labels can be very confusing and often, we can’t pronounce half of the ingredients in a product! We will discuss all of the sweeteners and sugar replacers on the market and dissect them to reveal how they are made, if they are natural, and what the best choices are. We will also discuss sodium in terms of what an acceptable amount to consume in a day is and where sources of sodium are hidden in packaged foods and condiments.

4/9/2013: Get Moving, Gallaudet (12:30 PM to 2:00 PM)
This event is sponsored by the Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Physical Education and Recreation. 

4/16/2013: Stress Management @ JSAC, Room 2212
Come to this introductory program to help you identify stressors, methods to manage stress at work and ways to prevent stress using relaxation, imaging, breathing, and exercise. 

4/23/2013: Introduction to Yoga @ Field House, Delta Zeta Dance Studio
This demonstration teaches the participant to combine meditation, stretching, and breathing exercises in order to relax, refresh and rejuvenate them. 

4/30/2013: Eating to Maximize your workout @ JSAC, Room 1011
Exercising is a key component to weight maintenance and weight loss. The food you are eating can dictate how affective your workout is and the wrong fuel can prohibit weight loss and the creation of lean muscle mass. Learn how to build a meal plan that will set you up for success so you have continuous fuel and adequate protein to sustain you through any exercise.

5/6/2013:  Post-Competion Screening (11AM to 1PM) @ JSAC, Multipurpose Room

5/9/2013: Closing Ceremony (12PM to 12:45 PM) @ JSAC, Multipurpose Room