By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau
Just in time to combat the holiday bulge, Grand Canyon University’s Wellness Committee is inviting employees to sign up for the Fitness B-4 The Feast Wellness Challenge, which launches Monday, Oct. 9.
The five-week event ends Nov. 10 and offers employees more than 20 prizes while enthusiastically encouraging a diverse array of healthy habits.
“It’s right before the holidays,” said Chuck Howard, GCU Corporate Wellness Administrator. “Studies show that people gain five to eight pounds during the holidays, so we’re helping them jump ahead.”
Howard said the committee hopes that 750 or more employees sign up for the contest. To register and get more information, click here.
Fans of former challenges, such as last spring’s Get Fit on Route 66, will recognize familiar features such as points awarded for steps and exercise and the ability to sync FitBits and other devices.
But the new program utilizes a different website, Wellable, and offers a variety of opportunities for earning points that involve more than just walking 10,000 steps a day.
The new challenge gives 30 points for a mile of cycling and 100 for a mile of walking. Eating breakfast is worth 400 points, as is drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses of water.
The really big points – 1,000 – are awarded participants who complete biometric screening by Nov. 10. It’s no coincidence, Howard said, that the challenge is also timed with benefits election, for which biometric screening is strongly urged.
“The program is geared toward nutrition and a total healthy lifestyle,” he said.
Employees can accrue points for attending fitness classes on both campuses and taking part in healthy-cooking classes at 11 a.m. Oct. 5 and Nov. 2 at 27th Avenue. Weighing in, eating whole grains and skipping soda all add points.
The top finishing team and individual will be awarded a grand prize, and more than 20 other prizes will be given away on a weekly basis through the Wellable Points raffle (but only one prize per participant). Anyone who wants to sign up can click here.
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or [email protected].
