"Maintain, Don't Gain!" Holiday Fitness Challenge

Registration
Begins: November 4, 2009
Ends: November 25, 2009

Fitness Challenge
Begins: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 
Ends: Wednesday, January 6, 2010

HR Wellness will again offer all FCPS employees an opportunity to take part in the "Maintain, Don’t Gain (MDG) Holiday Fitness Challenge". This is the fourth year we are offering this virtual challenge, and the goal is simple: to avoid holiday weight gain!  MDG has proven to be a successful strategy; many FCPS employees avoid the post holiday “tight clothes syndrome”.  Last year, a post challenge survey of the 1400 MDG participants revealed that more than 90% were able to either maintain or lose weight over the holiday weeks.

Need inspiration? Here’s what some former challenge participants had to say:

“I used the Maintain Don’t Gain challenge to jumpstart my healthier lifestyle.”

 “This challenge helped me to be more aware, and therefore more controlled, through the holidays.”

“My clothes fit sooo much better.”

“...it created a neat sense of a wellness community...and that always helps in an 'overall' level of wellness.”

 “It was a lot of fun participating with my colleagues.”

I usually gain between 5 - 15 pounds over the Holidays and this year I did not gain!

How does the challenge work?

First, register on My PLT – see directions below.

Then, from Wednesday, November 25th to Wednesday, January 6th participants pledge to do the following:

• Perform an aerobic activity for a minimum of 30 minutes for at least 5 days a week or more. The activity can be broken in to 2-15 minute or 3-10 minute intervals.*
• Consume a minimum of 5 servings (combined) of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Perform at least one random act of kindness each day - after all it is the holiday season! 
• Perform a confidential, self monitored weigh in every Wednesday morning for the length of the challenge. Your weight is not collected or shared because this is a virtual challenge. Only you, your scale, and your clothes will know if you are cheating!

*Although data is not collected at a main site, individual sites can form their own teams and compete against each other to see who gets the greatest number of exercise minutes and/or fruit and vegetable servings each week.

If you are unable to exercise 30 minutes or more a day due to a physical challenge but would like to participate, you can join in by pledging to perform an exercise routine which coordinates with your physical abilities and your physician’s advice. If you are already performing at least 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise five days a week, you can challenge yourself to cross train or increase the time or frequency of your sessions. 

What You Get For Your Efforts!
To help you stay on track with the challenge requirements throughout the 6 weeks, HR Wellness will e-mail you:

• A daily “health coach tip” on fitness, nutrition, and stress management strategies. 
• A weekly reminder to do your Wednesday morning weigh-in.
• Healthy recipes and interactive tools to help you succeed.

Lots of Prizes!
Registered participants will have their names placed in weekly prize drawings for health-related prizes, such as cookbooks, lunch bags, exercise gear, water bottles, and more. 

The site with the highest participation rate based on total headcount will receive a plaque, a healthy breakfast, and a wellness goodie bag for each of the participants.

Register Here!
You must be an FCPS employee to register for this fitness challenge and to be eligible for the prize drawings.

How to register on My PLT for the MDG fitness challenge:

• Register for the challenge by going to My PLT: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/plt/MyPLT/index.html and logging on.
• Then type MDG in the course offerings.
• Once on the MDG registration site, you will click on “view sessions” and register for the session that contains the first letter of your last name.
• Please ignore the Gatehouse location, 8- 4 time slot, and instructor’s name on the registration page. This information is there only as a set up function. Please do not call the phone number listed on My PLT.
• Once you have successfully completed your registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.

Never logged on to MY PLT?

• If you have never logged onto My PLT before, simply click here: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/plt/MyPLT/index.html  for log on directions.
• Once logged on, follow the above instructions. You will receive a confirmation e-mail once you have successfully registered.

Once you are registered, you will receive all of the materials you need to begin the MDG challenge, including an MDG Pledge and a daily fitness and nutrition log. 

By using the support of friends and co-workers, receiving strategies and motivational tips, as well as putting together a plan to keep active, you will be on your way to maintaining your weight during a tempting 6 weeks of holiday food. So, get ready to Maintain, Don’t Gain and remember: You’ve really got nothing to lose!

Please refer any questions regarding this fitness challenge to mdg09@fcps.edu