Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Now that we're deep into the holiday season, it's safe to say that your employees aren't as focused on health and wellness. But given that most Americans gain weight between Thanksgiving and New Year's, I think it's especially important for employers to stay on message.

We've recently launched several "Maintain, Don't Gain" employee challenges, and the response has been tremendous. (Competitions with prizes and incentives are always a hit, even during this hectic time of year.) The goal of a "Maintain, Don't Gain" challenge isn't to lose weight during the holidays--that would be a little too much to ask. Instead, we try to help employees maintain their weight until January 1st.

For those who feel they don't have time for regular exercise, the Washington Post has a suggestion: Wearing a pedometer to track your steps. According to a Stanford University study, wearing a pedometer encouraged participants to add about 2,000 steps per day to their routine. We use pedometers in many of our corporate fitness challenges, and people love using them.

So how do you plan to stay fit during the holidays? I'd love to hear from you, so drop us a line in the comment section.