Crystal Petrello, Author at Be Well Solutions

COVID-19 Vaccine, April 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Read Time: 2 minutes 4 seconds Undoubtedly you are aware that the National Vaccination Program is underway. Distribution and administration of the three COVID-19 vaccines is daily news. Currently in Ohio, anyone over 16 years of age can get a vaccine. For national updates on COVID-19 vaccine availability, visit Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Website or vaccinefinder.org. Be Well Solutions encourages anyone reading this newsletter to follow the recommendations of national health experts regarding vaccination. Currently that advice is that all people should be vaccinated as soon as possible with any of the approved vaccines. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will protect you, your friends, family, and coworkers. Are All Three Vaccines Identical? The three vaccines available for use in the United States are different in several ways. They are manufactured by three different companies; each vaccine is [...]

Laugh Off Your Stress

Laugh Off Your Stress Read Time: 2 min 16 secs Feeling stressed? Tense? Depressed? According to The American Institute of Stress, 80 percent of US workers suffer from work-related stress. Women tend to express more difficulty with stress, perhaps because of the many hats they have to wear. Not to mention that 62 percent of people end their day with neck pain and another 34 percent report difficulty sleeping. Stress can rear its ugly head in all ages and stages of life, causing an array of effects on our bodies, minds, and overall life. April recognizes National Stress Awareness Month and its goal to raise awareness of how stress directly can affect our health and overall wellbeing. During April, we also recognize National Humor Month! It is a great time to recognize how important laughter is in your life. Laughing [...]

Tags: coping, corporate wellness, laugh off stress, laughter best medcine, stress|

Get Moving with the Whole Family this Spring

Get Moving with the Whole Family this Spring Read Time: 2 minutes 4 seconds Spring is great time to increase your activity and exercise and carry it through the rest of the year. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, only 1 in 3 children are physically active each day, and less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Getting the whole family involved in exercise helps create a support system, healthier habits, and lasting motivation. Give These Family-Friendly Activities a Try Go Hiking or Biking. Hop on your bike or grab your gym shoes and hit the trails. It is a great time of year to walk or cycle on nearby sidewalks, bike trails, or even at a park. If it has been a while since you have had your [...]

Tags: bike, biking, corporate wellness, exercise, fit family, fitness, fitness family, hiking, outdorr exercise, scavenger hunt, spring cleanring|

Vegetables for Breakfast

Vegetables for Breakfast Read Time: 1 minute 32 seconds Vegetables are not just for lunch or dinner anymore. They can be a great sidekick to eggs and multigrain toast as well! It can be challenging to consume the total recommended daily amount of vegetables (1-3 cups per day), especially if there is only 1 serving being consumed at lunch and dinner. Vegetables contain many different nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, that are important for health. These nutrients can also prevent certain cancers and decrease risk of heart disease. They come in an array of colors and pair well with many different foods. Consider grating zucchini and carrots, then bake it into a favorite muffin or pancake mix. If you are in a hurry, blend up a smoothie with spinach, kale, and rhubarb, then add frozen [...]

Tags: breakfast, clean eating, corporate wellness, vegetables|

Weigh of Life, Midpoint Success Measures

Weigh of Life | Midpoint Success Measures Read Time: 1 minute 06 seconds Our January Weigh of Life participants are more than halfway through the 12-week program and have covered topics including the basics of weight management, the purpose of your plate, physical activity, grocery shopping tips, meal planning, dining out, and stress management. Over the next several weeks, we will cover how to work through a plateau, fueling workouts, preparing for special events, and more. We have compiled data from the first 6 weeks and are excited to share the following success measures. Midpoint Success Measures Produce consumed has increased by an average of 2.4 servings each week Recorded weekly exercise has increased by an average of 44 minutes Participants from three organizations have collectively increased produce consumption, exercise minutes, and have lost an incredible amount of weight! [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, habits, healthy habits, lifestyle change, weight, weightloss|

Stress, Screens, and Sleep

Stress, Screens, and Sleep Read Time: 2 minutes 06 seconds What do our stress levels and screen time have to do with sleep? Both can have a significant impact on the quality and quantity of our rest. Nighttime Stress Management Stress levels can build throughout the day, and if not managed properly, they can linger on to cause sleepless nights. While we can’t get rid of stress completely, there are strategies that we can practice to help manage stress and give our minds a break. The keyword here is “practice” since relaxation techniques work if you do them regularly. Try these stress-busters for a better night’s rest: Meditation. From guided videos to progressive muscle relaxation, meditation can be a beneficial tool for managing stress. Meditation teaches focusing and being present in the moment. When our minds start to wander with [...]

Tags: blue light, corporate wellness, screen time, sleep, sleep health, stress|

Spring into Action

Spring into Action Read Time: 2 minutes 58 seconds Spring is in the air, and it is the perfect time to get moving. As you find more motivation to get outside, you might be wondering how to keep that motivation going as you build a lasting exercise routine. A few simple steps of preparation can help you get started and stay on track this season. Finding Motivation Finding motivation can be tricky. While we might have that initial spark to start moving, how do we stay motivated? Busy days, unexpected schedule changes, and fatigue can all steal our motivation. Use the tips below to help find long-lasting motivation: Choose Your “Why.” Think about why exercise is important to you. You might have goals that you want to reach or an example you would like to follow. No matter where your [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, exercise, exercise routine, good weather, hike, outdoor exercise, spring, spring cleaning, wamr|

Personalize Your Plate

Personalize Your Plate Read Time: 2 minutes 45 seconds Happy National Nutrition Month®! Each year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics creates a campaign to engage the public in learning how to make more informed food choices. This year’s theme, “Personalize Your Plate,” emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. By personalizing your plate, you get to create the type of food adventure you want to have. Outside of adding more veggies or increasing healthy protein, try using new spices, a new fruit or vegetable, baking instead of frying, different whole grains, or even healthier fats – the options are endless! How to make it happen Start with a plan. Meal planning is a great way to organize you and your family's food preferences for the week. When we meal plan, we can ensure [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate wellnss, healthy habits, myplate, national nutrition month, nutrition|

Weigh of Life | Our Healthy Lifestyle Program

Weigh of Life Participants Begin Month Two Read Time: 1 minute 8 seconds On January 11, a new class began Weigh of Life, Be Well Solutions’ 12-week lifestyle management program. Current participants are focusing on incorporating purposeful eating, self-monitoring, and physical activity into their lives as they develop long term strategies for health. So far, participants have logged thousands of exercise minutes, consumed bushels of produce picks, and have completed a weekly challenge to put health knowledge into action. Weigh of Life is a self-paced program and can be completed virtually anywhere with a smartphone or computer. The program provides resources and support for a safe and sustainable journey towards better health. Weigh of Life is sold on an organizational basis. Individual memberships are not currently available. Weigh of Life graduates have experienced an average weight loss of about [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, lifestyle change, weigh of life, weight|

Stress and Heart Disease

Stress and Heart Disease Read Time: 1 minute 6 seconds Stress can cause our heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure to rise. This is a normal response and can be necessary at certain times. However, when stress sticks around for long periods of time, it can start to take a toll on the body. This includes many of our internal organs, including the heart. How Stress Affects the Heart When stress is prolonged and poorly managed, a higher level of the hormone cortisol lingers in the body. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, “Studies suggest that the high levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure.” An elevation in these factors leads to a higher risk of heart disease. Chronic stress has also been shown to increase the rate [...]

Tags: corporate welllness, heart disease, stress|

About Crystal Petrello