Welcome to 2012 and the new IMA Wellness Blog. Formerly IMA’s Wellness Memo, the new format reflects our efforts to provide IMA members with timely, relevant and thought provoking information in a form that is accessible for easy reference. IMA’s Wellness Blog will be updated on a regular basis. Periodic emails will be sent out to notify subscribers of new information posted on the blog. IMA members are welcome to submit material for the blog, or request specific information. Simply email Editor Stefany Henson at shenson@ima-net.org with your information or request. Editorial submissions are subject to review. CLICK HERE to access past Wellness Memos.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2:08PM The Walk Across Illinois Challenge, Governor Pat Quinn’s health and fitness challenge, invites all Illinois residents to participate. In 2001, Governor Pat Quinn walked 167 miles from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan to call for decent health care for all. Now in 2012, he’s calling for you to get in shape and live healthier!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2:06PM The forming of a healthy habit is like links in a chain. As you repeat an activity, it’s like adding another link to the chain. The chain becomes stronger and longer. Pretty soon, you’ve formed a healthy habit. Motivational experts contend that it takes about 30 days for a habit to form. So the odds increase that you’ll hold on to a habit long-term if you can be consistent for about a month. These tips may help you get pumped up enough to start walking, get on your bicycle or hit the gym.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2:04PM WELCOA, the Wellness Council of America, has available a variety of free resources and useful information. In fact, over the course of the last five years, WELCOA has distributed more than 2.5 million articles, case studies, incentive campaigns, expert interviews, and white papers at no charge. Go to: http://www.welcoa.org/freeresources/. There you’ll find a wide variety of useful information that can assist you in your quest to build a results-oriented wellness program.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2:03PM Every year as the ball drops, people around the country make New Year’s resolutions. Join a gym. Spend more time with the kids. Clean out the garage. And then, life gets busy. If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution, you know how hard it is to keep one. But 2012 is going to be different.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 1:55PM Celebrate National Wear Red Day® on Friday, February 3, 2012 when Americans nationwide will wear red to show their support for women’s heart health. Show off your favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or Red Dress Pin (http://emall.nhlbihin.net/ProductInfo/56-075N.aspx) to raise awareness that heart disease — the #1 killer of women — is largely preventable.
Join the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and many other groups to promote National Wear Red Day in your local community. Host a local National Wear Red Day tribute with your co-workers, with your families, or with your larger community. Find out how with the National Wear Red Day Toolkit (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/materials/wear-red-toolkit.htm).