Local challenge looks at whole health picture
Defined Fitness program can be implemented in workplaces to help employees develop healthy habits
Defined Fitness is taking a more holistic approach to healthy resolutions. The local fitness club giant is launching programs this month under the Defined Wellness banner that aim to get people looking at the big picture of their health.
“These are not quick-fix programs,” said Laura George, a longtime fitness professional who, with her husband, Mark, are running the initial workplace-based program “Commit to Get Fit.”
The pilot edition of “Commit to Get Fit” was run for a small group at Honeywell during the fall. And the results were stunning.
“We didn’t just go for pounds lost,” George said. “We used a variety of fitness and health markers.” As a group, those in the 13-week program: Lost 36.46 total inches in hip circumference Lost 49.62 total inches is waist circumference Lost 163 pounds Went from blood pressure of 134/84 (borderline hypertensive) to 123/79
Went from total cholesterol of 221 to 200 The program takes place on the campus of the contracting business and classes meet once a week for lectures or workouts. During the 13 meetings, participants are exposed to a variety of exercise types (including body-weight training, use of resistance bands, yoga and circuit training), along with seminars including nutrition, stress and goal-setting. “Before” and “after” markers, including blood tests, are taken of each participant.
Jenny Larsen said she joined the class as a way to stay motivated.
“I know it takes time to develop habits,” she said in a phone interview. “I used the class as a way not only to learn more — especially about nutrition —but also to use the encouragement of the group to maintain some healthy habits.”
She said the biggest take-away for her was the realization that, if she plans to age well, she needs to put some solid habits into place.
“I thought I knew about nutrition, but I found out that I wasn’t getting enough protein and I learned good sources for that,” she said.
Steve Sparks also used the program as a continuation of healthy habits he had been working on for nearly three years. He said his efforts stalled as he got closer to the weight that he wants to maintain.
“Being exposed to different types of exercise
made me add some things to my walking and running routine,” he said. And instruction in strength training helped him be more confident in his ability to do that type of exercise on his own.
The nutritional information was also a big component for him.
“I started looking at food from a different perspective … not just the calorie content but what nutrition it provides,” he said.
Both Larsen and Sparks have started the second part of the program at Honeywell called “Commit to Get Fit II.
his program builds on “Commit to Get Fit” and adds stepped-up workouts, deeper nutritional information and new content, including financial wellness, personal self-defense and emotional wellness, George said.
Defined Wellness will be opening a headquarters soon in the Defined Fitness location at 4930 McLeod NE, and will offer in-house and corporate-based programs to individuals and businesses.
In addition to “Commit to Get Fit” and “Commit to Get Fit II,” the company will be rolling out:
The Wellness Revolution: A 90-day competitive fitness and wellness program in which participants have weight loss or improving physique as their primary goals.
Health Risk Programs: These seminars focus on managing specific health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, cancer prevention and management, and smoking cessation.
The company will also design a la carte programs to meet the needs of individual companies. For information, call the Defined Fitness corporate office at 505-349-4444.