Page 10 - Nov-Dec 2017 - Reporter - web

Insurance UPDATE

how to stay fit during

the winter months

ccording to a recent Canadian Health Measures
relationships improve as well.
Provided by AStudy, most Canadian adults spend their waking • Take the stairs. Elevators and escalators are
morneau shepell hours sitting down and only engage in about four convenient but they don’t get your body moving.
hours of light physical activity per day. Only 35 • Go winter hiking or on a snowshoeing trip with
percent manage to accumulate about 10,000 steps the family. When the weather’s beautiful, it’s
each day - the minimum number recommended to much easier to get outside for some extra steps.
improve overall health. From walking the dog around the neighborhood
Today, pedometers like Fitbit™ are interactive, to hiking with the family, pleasant weather invites
meaning you can track and sync your activity from you outdoors. Depending on whether there’s
multiple devices. If you have an activity tracker, you’re snow on the ground, consider a winter hike or a
likely familiar with the 10,000 step goal. Here’s a look snowshoeing adventure with your family.
at what studies have shown: • Park at the far end of the mall. A common tip
for getting more steps is to park at the far end of
• People who walk 10,000 steps a day and work out the parking lot. Ice, snow or rain can make that
at the gym three times a week can add five years to an unpleasant option in the winter; however, you
their lives. could park close to the mall entrance but on the
• Completing a 10,000 step program can significantly side farthest from your intended destination. This
increase weight loss, while improving allows you to get those steps in and provides you
"Walk indoors circulation, blood pressure and with a warmer, more welcoming environment.
cholesterol levels. • Take advantage of fitness programs. Check if
when the weather • Equipped with a pedometer, the your employee and family assistance program
is awful. Create a average walker will increase their daily (EFAP) includes fitness coaching; it can help you
steps by more than 2,100 steps a day. understand and improve your mental and physical
mini track in your By setting goals, these individuals are health through fitness. You may also be able to find
more successful at reaching 10,000 organized walking groups at your local community
house or walk laps steps a day. centre.
inside the local • Vigorous physical activity, reduced • Go on indoor walks. Walk indoors when the weather
stress levels and increased brain is awful. Create a mini track in your house or walk
shopping mall." function are positively co-related. laps inside the local shopping mall.
• Set up activity tracker alerts. Interactive
Supported by online and mobile functions and pedometers can be synced to your computer
features, most pedometers make counting steps easy or smart phone. For example, Fitbit™ can send
and fun, and help keep you motivated. Nonetheless, notifications to your smartphone when you’ve hit
unfavourable weather conditions can hamper your 75%, 100% and 125% of your daily goal. Receiving
best intentions and make it more difficult to step, that notification when you’re just 25% away from
step, step. your goal can nudge you to get moving again.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the winter
weather and ensure you reach your 10,000 steps a day: The LBMAO Benefit Program offers many different
coverage options to groups of all sizes, allowing you
• Walk to a colleague’s desk rather than send an to tailor your benefits to your employees’ needs.
email. Need to ask a colleague a question or share All benefit plans include an Employee Assistance
an insight? While email is fast and easy, it is an Program (EAP) serviced by Shepell-fgi and there
inactivity trap. Imagine how many extra steps you are no minimum size requirements necessary for
can accumulate at the office if you walk across coverage under the LBMAO program.
the building to personally ask your question or For assistance in comparing benefit plans or to
share your ideas. Not only can you increase your obtain a no-obligation, free quote, please contact
step count, you may find that your interoffice Morneau Shepell at 1-866-307-1403.
10 LBMAO Reporter - November-December 2017 www.lbmao.on.ca