Are You Fit for Spring?

Spring Fitness 2012 is coming! Registration starts April 2.

Spring Fitness is the State of Montana’s annual physical activity program and is one of the best things you can do for yourself this year – whether you’re already very active or just starting out. Improve your health and encourage others!!
We have great prizes to motivate us this year! Yak Traks, fleece vests, flashlights, socks, water bottles…

Go to http://mine.mt.gov/programs/SpringFitness/default.mcpx for details and registration

Team Captains: Thank you for making Spring Fitness a reality that helps improve the health of the State of Montana.

All team captains get a $5 discount off the 2012 registration fee!
• PLUS, if you captain a team of 2-7 people, you get a pair of Superfeet socks.
• If your team is 8-10 members, we’ll give you socks AND a water bottle!
Teams can be a single member or up to 10 members.

What does it cost?

$5 – Registration
$15 – Registration + pedometer*
$10 – Registration + water bottle**
$20 – Registration + pedometer* AND water bottle**

*To save money, use your pedometer from last year, but if you need a new pedometer we have brought back the ever popular and very reliable DIGIWALKER!
**We also have Camelbak “better bottles” available for purchase this year. Buy them for less than they cost in the store! Click here to learn more about the pedometer and water bottles:
http://mine.mt.gov/programs/springfitness/pedometers.mcpx.

Who can participate?

Anyone who is a member of the State of Montana health care plan may participate.
The team captain must have access to MINE to register their team and put in the weekly step totals. Click on the Spring Fitness link – if you get there, you have access! http://mine.mt.gov/programs/SpringFitness/default.mcpx

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
April 2 - Team registration opens
April 25 - Deadline for team registration
April 30 – Spring Fitness Begins
June 24 - Spring Fitness Ends

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Questions?

Contact Health Care and Benefits Division:
benefitsquestions@mt.gov
(406) 444-7462
(800) 287-8266
TTY (406) 444-1421

Runs For Cookies

Good afternooon SOMHELP Members,
Many of us struggle with our weight, so I like to share good resources when I come across them.  This is an interview with a lady named Katie who has lost 100 pounds. I thought the interview itself had some great ideas. Check out Katie’s interview here: http://workoutmommy.com/2012/02/27/need-some-inspiration-see-how-katie-lost-over-100-pounds/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Workoutmommycom+%28workoutmommy.com%29  

Katie’s “runs for cookies” blog is a work of art (at least in my opinion) and has SO many great ideas and things that may inspire you. Check it out: http://www.runsforcookies.com/p/about-me.html. I know I’m going to add it to my blog watch list!
Enjoy,

2012 Health Screenings Open!

Attention State Employees:
Registration for 2012 Health Screenings is now open!
January/February screenings include Helena, Missoula, Anaconda, Whitefish and Kalispell. Employees, Retirees, spouses and dependents the age of 18 or over on the State of Montana health benefit plan are eligible for one State of Montana sponsored health screening per year. Health screenings are sponsored by the State of Montana Healthy For Life Wellness Program.
REMEMBER! $5 Discount
Participants covered under the State of Montana health care plan have another opportunity to get a $5 discount off their monthly health care contributions! The discount will be given for the 2013 plan year based on participation in a health screening during 2012. To be eligible for a $5 discount, the member must participate in a health screening during 2012. To be eligible for a $10 discount, the member and a spouse or dependent age 18 or older covered under their plan must participate during 2012. Discounts will not exceed $10 per month per member. For questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at www.benefits.mt.gov/wellness.mcpx.
Important! Registration for appointments is essential to ensure your spot, and appointments can be made for anytime during the year. There is even a convenient option to add a “reminder” to your Outlook calendar right on the registration system. Don’t wait until the last minute; please make your appointment today!
To Register:
VISIT WWW.BENEFITS.MT.GOV/WELLNESS.MCPX AND CLICK ON “REGISTER FOR HEALTH SCREENINGS.”
First Time Users: Click “Create An Account.” Create a User Name & Password for yourself, along with the other requested information. You will need a copy of your benefits card handy.
Returning Users: Click “Login.” Enter your username and password. (If you’ve forgotten them, use the “Forgot your user name?” or “Forgot your password?” links.)
1. After following the directions for “first-time users” or “returning users” (depending on if you created an account last year) you will reach a section that asks for your Company Code. Use Company Code: 3711786
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to select a screening to attend.
3. If you are registering yourself and a spouse, a separate account must be created for each of you. Simply start at “Create An Account” again when registering your spouse. Due to federal privacy regulations, an e-mail address may only be used on one account. If you share an e-mail address, one account can be created online and the other may be set up via the It Starts With Me toll-free number, (866) 932-6467.

Screenings take about 20 minutes with an appointment, and you will need to bring a copy of your benefits card and a picture ID with you to the screening. Employees, retirees, spouses and dependents on the health plan over the age of 18 are eligible for one free health screening per year.

For assistance with registration please contact
It Starts With Me
(866) 932-6467 (10 AM – 4 PM MST)
info@itstartswithme.com

For other questions please contact:
Health Care and Benefits Division
(406) 444-7462 - or - (800) 287-8266
TTY (406) 444-1421
healthregistrations@mt.gov

Nordic Walking Poles

Dear SOMHELP Members,
Robert Sweetgall, who came and did our Spring Fitness walking presentation, has offered this deal on Nordic Walking poles through December 9, that I thought some of you may be interested, either for yourself, or as a gift.
If you are interested in keeping your walking going during the snowy months, Nordic poles can be especially beneficial. Check out our recorded Lunch n’ Learn on walking if you’d like: http://mtdept.na4.acrobat.com/p27143780/.
Please feel free to forward to anyone else you think may be interested. Thank you!
******

Here is a special deal for State Employees who are interested in Nordic Walking:

Nordic Walking is for everyone, but you might be a strong candidate for Nordic Walking if …..
• You have foot, knee, ankle or hip sensitivity and wish to take a load off your joints;
• Your walking program has plateaued, and you really want to see better results;
• You are concerned about osteoporosis and want stronger bones and connective tissue;
• You want the cardio benefits of running with a lot let impact stress;
• You want to reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high body fat and high blood sugars;
• You want to improve your balance and posture while toning your core muscles and firming up your abs.

A Christmas Gift Suggestion: If employees have parents or friends with compromised balance, orthopedic issues, sensitive knees and hips, giving them a pair of Nordic Walking Poles might be the “health gift” of a lifetime.
Price
The poles are being offered at a special discount rate of $49/pair; unless one needs x-long poles, which are $54/pair. The instructional DVD, manual and baskets come with each set of poles. Deadline for ordering is December 9, 2011.
For those wishing to ship poles to relatives and friends, we can supply a special shipping box if desired. These boxes run approx. $2 each at cost so specify if you’d like any of these custom boxes and add that to the pole cost. One box can accommodate 2 pairs of poles.

To order:
Contact Teri Palmer at ttpalmer@msn.com or (406) 459-0253.

Here is some concise info on Nordic Walking:
A) In Nordic Walking, one plants and pushes off on specially designed shock-absorbing poles, which in turn engages all the muscles in the upper body, toning the arms, stomach, back and chest muscles – much more than in walking or running. The workout parallels cross-county skiing, except you can do it 365 days a year. The net result is you burn 40% more calories than plain vanilla walking (due to the upper body muscle engagement); and you take significant pressure off your feet, ankles, knees and hips. Superior cardio-conditioning too.
B) Technique is important which is why we supply both an instruction book and a DVD with each pair of poles.
C) Equipment : Our Exerstirder poles have the most comfortable ergonomic grip, a sure-lock telescoping design that will not permit the poles to collapse, and super-durable shock-absorbing tips.

Maintain, Don't Gain This Holiday Season

One of the best ways to maintain your health is to prevent weight gain during the holiday season.  The best way to do that is to commit to it, and think of strategies to get you through the holiday season, enjoying all your favorite activites and treats, but not to excess.  North Carolina has a great, free resource if you are interested in signing up: http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/HolidayChallenge/index.html  
Happy Holidays!

Holiday Strategies Lunch 'n Learn November 9, 12-1

Please Join Us!
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but sometimes we can all be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of food, activities, and expectations. Would like you like some strategies for a fresh perspective and positive frame of mind? Please join your State of Montana Healthy For Life Wellness Program Leaders to learn more about strategies to sleep better, eat better, and just feel better this holiday season.
What: Holiday Strategies Lunch N Learn
When: Wednesday, November 9 at 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Who: Anyone who wants to come
Where: On the day and time of the presentation, from a computer with speakers and access to the Internet, just click on this link: http://mtdept.adobeconnect.com/hflm5/.

This webinar will be recorded and will be available for viewing later if you cannot make this day and time, or if the room fills up: http://benefits.mt.gov/healthwealth.mcpx#webinars_and_education.

For more information:
Health Care and Benefits
State of Montana Healthy For Life (HFL) Program
Web site: http://www.benefits.mt.gov/wellness.mcpx
Toll Free Telephone: (800)287-8266
E-mail: benefitsquestions@mt.gov

Annual Change is Now Underway! Deadline is October 26

Annual Change for this year’s State of Montana health care plan elections is currently underway.
Please plan to attend one of the presentations, either in person, or via Webinar. The full schedule is available here: http://benefits.mt.gov/annualchange.mcpx.

The due date for 2011 elections is October 26. For complete instructions, please see your annual change booklet or http://benefits.mt.gov/annualchange.mcpx. Remember you must re-enroll every year if you want to participate in Vision or the Flexible Spending accounts.

If you have already submitted your elections, great! Take this time to go for a quick walk and refresh your mind – but make sure and attend one of the presentations anyway – you may find new information that will change your elections (which you can do, online until October 26).