Greteman Groupers taking a yoga break at our
most recent retreat.

Participating in the Wichita Business Journal’s first-ever Healthiest Employers awards has us more pumped than ever about wellness. (Which is really saying something.) We were jazzed to be among 25 local businesses nominated and honored at this high-energy, motivating event. It was great to mingle with and learn from other companies that make health a workplace priority.

The mix of small, medium and large-size businesses offered great insights to the variety of programs out there – and creative means to incentivize participation. (more…)

Still pumped after the recent 6th Annual Working Well Conference. I was especially inspired by Dr. Will Miller’s keynote presentation on social relationships. He discussed the weakening of close personal relationships in America and its impact on our health. Miller believes that modern culture is luring us into a lifestyle of isolation and separation. We’re losing the strong social support systems that are fundamental to our well-being. We’re moving away from our families and communities. We’re distracted by television, the Internet and other activities that pull us away from deep, personal human connections.

When It Comes to Relationships, More Is Better
And, he says, we rely on too few relationships. One person can’t be the “emotional load of you.” You need a full array of close intimate relationships. The kind with “refrigerator rights.” People you trust and would welcome in your home. Those with whom you’ve shared experiences over time. Those who will hold you accountable. Those who keep you centered. Those who mentor you. “These are the relationships that help chisel you, smoothing out your rough edges.”

His words hit a cord with me. Wellness isn’t just about our own physical fitness and nutrition. Deep personal relationships require us to look outside of ourselves. They strengthen us, motivate us, connect us and grow us in ways we wouldn’t grow alone. They give us more than we can give ourselves.

What relationships help you be your best?

Greteman Group won the Working Well Innovative award in 2009

Royal Caribbean’s ongoing dedication to helping its teammates live better, healthier lives led to some big changes in this year’s annual wellness fair. Fresh, bold creative set the tone and let staff know at a glance that this was one not-to-miss event.

A fun, compelling teaser email kicked things off, while posters throughout the Miami headquarters built anticipation and kept interest high. Each employee received a personal invitation with event details sure to drive attendance. Supersized banners helped attendees navigate the event while a Fit4Life handout tied everything together with great tips to inspire ongoing healthy lifestyle changes. Which, let’s face it, is a great benefit for the company, too. The campaign was a huge success: participation in the employee health assessment more than doubled over the previous year.

Fit 4 Life

Randy secures his ride to the impromptu bike rack outside GG headquarters.

OK, I’ll admit it. I’ve been a slug. I planned to ride my bike to work through the winter, but as soon as the weather got a tiny bit nippy, I wimped out. So the bike’s been an efficient dust collector while I very effectively forgot my brave resolution.

But today is Bike to Work Day in Wichita, and that finally pushed me to haul my bike down off the hangar and pedal it to work. It’s an example of the effect you can have by getting out and promoting a good idea. If a few folks hadn’t felt passionately enough about the value of exercise and the benefits of reducing energy consumption to organize a day of awareness, my bike might still be hanging uselessly in the garage.

Instead of just quietly going about their business, they got together to Do the Deed for a great cause. I’m glad they did. My legs will be glad, too. In a couple of days.

Did you ride your bike to work today? Tell us about your experience.

What a great way to break up the workday! Wednesday, Greteman Groupers celebrated National Walk at Work Day with a brisk stroll along the river and through the Keeper of the Plains Plaza. Brown bags in hand, we strapped on our tennis shoes, threw on sunglasses and set out into the wind tunnel that is Kansas. OK, wind aside, the day was beautiful and perfect for outdoor exercise.

Along our journey we saw a growing mass of people, and soon the paths were filled as far as we could see with smiling, chatting, health-minded walkers. Seems Blue Cross Blue Shield hosted a rally and one-mile walk. It was awesome to see so many Wichitans stepping out for health.

The GGers make their way to the Keeper of the Plains Plaza.

Farmer Shelley gets ready to pick some carrots for her trick-or-treaters.

I do a pretty good job controlling my obsession with sweets, but this time each year – with Halloween just around the corner and the holidays quickly approaching – I find it’s difficult to escape the temptations around us. And it never fails that I’ll end up with a bowl full of Halloween snacks that didn’t get handed out. I’m trying to hold fast to the mantra of moderation when it comes to enjoying these holiday sweets. If not, I’ll at least be partaking in options from this list of healthier food choices for trick-or-treaters. Most of these options can be purchased in large quantities at any store.

• Dark chocolate
• Mini-pretzel packs
• Cheese/peanut butter and cracker packages
• Trail mix
• Yogurt-covered raisins
• Mixed nuts
• Mini-bags of popcorn (unpopped)
• Dried fruit
• Fruit cups

What are your favorite healthier Halloween options?

I’ve been a beginner golfer now for about seven years (since I married a director of golf instruction). I’ve always enjoyed the sport as a spectator, but didn’t want to take it up seriously until recently. Not too long ago, I was only willing to go to the driving range or course with my husband/instructor in tow; I was completely intimidated by what others would think of me.

Then one day it hit me: it’s just a game.

When the opportunity to play in the Young Professionals of Wichita scramble golf tournament came up, I decided to go for it. How can I get any better if I don’t jump in and try? So I convinced one of my girlfriends to form a team.

Gearing Up For Game Day
Tournament rules stated that each member of the four-member team had to select the same three clubs to play with the entire round. She and I agreed would be a good idea to have a couple of men on our team to assist with the longer shots. Scramble format means all team members tee off and the best ball is selected. Then everyone hits from that spot and the best ball is selected again. This repeats until you get to the green and everyone putts in.

When my alarm went off at 6 o’clock on Saturday morning I seriously questioned my sanity. Then I arrived at the executive course (featuring only par 3 and 4 holes) to find the rest of the field was 95% men. I made the conscious decision to ignore the rest of the field and focus on having fun. While the round started out a little rough, I was on a roll about six holes in. I started hitting the ball exactly like I do when my husband is there instructing me. My team even used a few of my drives and putts.

By the time we finished 18 holes, I wondered why I’d waited so long to get out and play on my own. It was a good reminder that I shouldn’t let my lack of confidence hold me back from taking chances.

When was the last time you tried something out of your comfort zone?

Ever just want to jump and shout? Then you know how we feel. Tuesday we were one of three companies honored with a Working Well award (alongside Westar Energy and longtime client Royal Caribbean).

We love the plaque (office manager Carol Farrow has yet to release it from her grip). Even more, we love the energy that comes from being in a room full of people committed to making their workplaces healthier, happier places.

Our office manager spent most of Tuesday at this, the fifth-annual Working Well Conference; Sonia and I attended the luncheon and keynote speech. Here are just a few motivating employee comments overheard.

“Work will always be there. If I don’t take care of myself, I won’t be very good at work.”

“You have to make a commitment and stick with it.”

“On the days I don’t feel like exercising, I do it anyway.”

“What’s there to lose? There’s everything to gain.”

A Healthy Team Creates a Healthier Bottom Line
Speakers shared motivation strategies and tools. How to change attitudes. Measure and monitor results. Involve families. That latter point really made us think. We focus so much on team members, but they only account for 40 percent of a company’s healthcare benefit costs. The other 60 percent come from spouses and dependents. If we want to maintain affordable coverage, we need to broaden our outreach. And when you think about it, how great is that? Healthier homes as well as healthier workplaces. It’s a win for all.

Learning What Works
Horizon Air was held up as an example of a company that has realized tremendous savings through its wellness initiatives. Maybe it’s because we serve so many clients in the aviation industry, but the phrase they use really resonates with us. “Running out of runway.”

None of us may have as much time – or runway – as we think. If we need to make a lifestyle change – kicking the cigs, shedding some pounds, exercising daily – let’s do it. So we feel so darn good we really can jump for joy.

What helps you be the best you?

Click here to learn more about our award.

I’ve been ecstatic all day. The Health & Wellness Coalition just announced that our firm’s been selected for a Working Well award. What an honor to be recognized for a program that I helped launch and one that’s so greatly benefited our team. None more than myself.

My metamorphosis began when we started our worksite wellness program in October 2007. You can’t lead a wellness initiative, encourage employees to be healthy and then light up a cigarette. So I quit. And haven’t looked back. One bad habit extinguished.

Who knew yoga would captivate me so? I was addicted to our on-site yoga classes right from the start. Yoga isn’t just for the limber. While it does builds muscle and core strength, it’s also meditative and calming. Nothing like tuning out the busy world and focusing on your inner flame to find and maintain balance.

Eliminating the Negative
I recently finished a week-long detox diet. Not a hardcore detox mind you – I ate food, but cut the salt, caffeine, sweets, processed foods, alcohol and meats for a week. (I know it sounds severe, but it wasn’t so bad.) When the week was over my taste buds celebrated with the delicacy that is food. It never tasted better. I swore I was eating the best, juiciest apple in the world and then realized it wasn’t the food that had changed.

And this butterfly keeps gaining momentum. Once I started making healthy changes and feeling better, I wanted to do more. Now I’m riding bikes, running 5Ks, hula-hooping in the back yard and trying new healthy recipes. My latest passion is cooking Indian food. And thank you Manjula for the best recipes ever.

I’m grateful that I work at a company that embraces wellness, and I look forward to where this journey leads next.

What motivates you to make better health choices? What are your success stories?

After glugging our way to victory in the YMCA’s August “Eight-A-Day Water Wellness Challenge” the October “Stretch to De-stress” challenge had us competing against other local businesses to see who could complete the largest number of stretches over a five-day period. We came out on top with 30 percent participation and averaging 12 stretches per person.

We may have looked a little odd doing stretches at our desks, but that made the non-stretchers among us laugh, which added to their stress relief as well.

The YMCA’s traveling corporate cup will grace our offices once again throughout the month of November.

Do you have any tips for staying happy and healthy this winter? We want to hear them!