The Provost’s Pace Team Invites You to Join Wellpower’s “One Step at a Time” Team Challenge!

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

This spring, SMU Wellpower will sponsor the “One Step at a Time” walking challenge from March 26 to April 22. Under the leadership of Provost Paul Ludden, this year’s Pace Team is filled with academic all-stars including Deans David Chard, Gillian McCombs, and Bill Tsutsui. Famous for his “walkabouts,” the Provost may be found locally roaming the shores of White Rock Lake or abroad on a walking safari in the wilds of Africa. He encourages participants to get out and explore the many wonders of nature found all around us.

Create a Team
The Provost’s Pace Team challenges you to recruit three colleagues (staff and/or faculty) to create your own walking team as we take “one step at a time” toward a more healthy campus community. Teams should select a memorable team name and a captain who will be responsible for team communication and for reporting team progress on a weekly basis.

Monitor Steps Using a Pedometer
Team members should count their steps for 5 days out of each week using a pedometer. Participants may wear their pedometers every day and just count the top 5 days. Wellpower will provide the first 100 teams with basic pedometers to use in this challenge. Additional and replacement pedometers will be available until the supply is gone. Participants are welcome to use their own pedometers, as well. The Team Progress Board will be updated weekly so you can see how many teams have beaten the step goal for that week.

Challenge Special Events
Wellpower will sponsor two noontime walks during the challenge, and teams are encouraged to sign up and walk our beautiful campus together. Individuals who are not participating in the team challenge are also invited to attend the Wellpower Walks this spring. Use the link below to sign up for the Wellpower Walks this spring.

Friday, March 30, 2012, will be our official “SMU Start Walking” day, celebrating our partnership with the American Heart Association. Friday, April 20, 2012, marks the last work day of the challenge and Founder’s Day, so join us to get in those final extra steps. We will walk to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Residential Commons scheduled for 12:30pm on Doak Walker Plaza. Please come to the walk a little early if possible and we’ll take the long way around to the ceremony. Participants are welcome to stay for the ceremony or continue the walk on their own.

Wear a Wellpower or SMU t-shirt and and show your support for wellness in the SMU community. We hope to snap a quick picture of the group before we begin each walk.

Wellpower Walk      March 30, 2012     12 noon      Meet on the steps of Dallas Hall
Wellpower Walk     April 20, 2012        12 noon      Meet on the steps of Dallas Hall

Individuals wishing to register for the walks may use the link below. Teams may either sign up for Wellpower Walks when they register their team for the challenge, or members may sign up as individuals later.

Register for Wellpower Walks 

Prizes
All teams who exceed the pace set by our Provost’s team will earn a commemorative challenge t-shirt and be entered into a random drawing for one of two prize packages.

Prize Package 1

  • 30-minute Dedman Center chair massage certificate
  • Wellpower backpack
  • Wellpower water bottle

Prize Package 2

  • $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
  • Wellpower logo stadium blanket
  • Wellpower water bottle

Register Your Team by 5pm March 16, 2012
Register now and team captains will receive additional information to help them coordinate their teams successfully during the challenge.

Register My Team Now!

Additional Challenge Details and Resources


Questions? Email us at wellpower@smu.edu

 

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FSA and HSA – March 31 Is The Deadline for 2011 Claims

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Holly Carter

Don”t Lose Out on Reimbursement for Qualified Healthcare Expenses!
You’ve got until March 31, 2012 to submit qualified healthcare expenses incurred during the 2011 plan year for reimbursement from your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), as applicable. 

Be sure to sign into your FSA or HSA account, as applicable, to:

  •  determine your account balance
  •  download the reimbursement form

 

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA):  
Administered by Discovery Benefits
www.discoverybenefits.com 
Participant Questions:  866- 451-3399

Health Savings Account (HSA):
Administered by Mellon Bank
www.hsamember.com
Participant Questions:  877-635-5472

 

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SMU 403(b) Retirement Plan

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Holly Carter

Maximizing your savings through the SMU Retirement Plan is the best thing you can do to help you meet your retirement income goals. If you are not sure how much you should be saving or how you should be investing your contributions, now is the time to look for guidance and take action. Please refer to Understanding the SMU Retirement Plan on smu.divinvest.com for detailed information on eligibility, SMU matching contributions, loans and much more.

To schedule an appointment with SMU’s on-site participant counselor, go to smu.divinvest.com and click “Sign up for a One-on-One Meeting”

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Ideas For a Heart Healthy Spring

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

Most of us know that being physically active on a daily basis supports better heart health. Sitting all day or even for several hours in a row can be detrimental to our health. Just Google “sitting is killing you” for a list of recent articles on the subject!

Unfortunately, many of us have jobs that are rather sedentary, and our work takes up a great part of the day. So, what can you do to increase your physical activity during your work day?

How about…..

  • Ask a colleague or two to be your wellness partner. Encourage each other and hold each other accountable for following through on your wellness plans such as exercise and eating more heart healthy.
  • Instead of using email, Lync, or the phone, create a habit of getting up and walking down the hall to talk with colleagues on a more regular basis. Not only does it get you moving, your relationships just might improve with some additional face time!
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way.
  • Park in a lot/garage farther from your building than necessary. Take the long way around to your office.
  • Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home.
  • Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch and invite some colleagues to join you.
  • Create a staff/faculty intramural team through Dedman Center or put a team together to compete in a community league.
  • Join Dedman Center for only $10 per month. Check out their offerings for water aerobics , Wellpower and Group X classes. Just want to walk? 6.5 laps around the track equals 1 mile!
  • Schedule exercise time on your business calendar and treat it as any other important appointment. Take your health as seriously as you do your work!
  • Join our Heart Walk community team team and walk with us on September 8, 2012!
  • Participate in Wellpower activities such as Wellpower Walks, and the “One Step at a Time” walking challenge.

References: American Heart Association and WebMD

Questions? Email wellpower@smu.edu

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Wellpower Supports Heart Healthy Activities

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Mary Stall

Did you know that February is Heart Health month?

Wellpower is offering numerous activities that support your heart health throughout the spring.  So come alone or grab a friend – either way you may join others from the campus community in support of heart health!

Heart Healthy Wellpower Events:

February 24    SMU Go Red for Heart Health Day
Be sure to wear RED this Friday and join us for a noontime Wellpower Walk around campus!

March 30         SMU Start Walking Day
This is the first Friday of our “One Step at a Time” walking challenge and a great way for teams to get out and walk together! Walking is a great form of exercise, so celebrate this day with us by wearing your tennis shoes and taking a stroll around campus with us at noon. Don’t forget to wear your pedometer if you’re doing the challenge!

April 20          Step Challenge Round Up Day
Join us for the last Friday of our walking challenge. Grab your team mates and get in a few extra steps before the challenge ends by joining us for this lunchtime walk. Don’t forget to wear your pedometer if you’re doing the challenge! We’d like to see as many teams out for this walk as possible! We will also snap a quick picture on this date, so try to be a few minutes early so you can sign the photo release. Encourage your team to wear the same t-shirt if you can!

Sign up for Wellpower Walks Now!

You will earn 1 Wellpower Body credit by attending each of these walks in addition to the 10 credits you can earn by completing the One Step at a Time Challenge.

Wellpower Challenges:

What is a challenge? A challenge is a designated period of time when you focus attention on building a particular healthy habit. The activities required are completed on your own time and you don’t have to attend a scheduled activity to earn points.

The HeartSmart Challenge is currently in progress! Check it out and discover ways you can start improving your heart health now. Participants who complete the challenge earn 10 Wellpower body credits

The One Step at a Time Walking Challenge runs March 26 – April 23. Create a team of 4 or participate as an individual. Teams will work together to exceed the step goal established by our celebrity academic leadership team starring Provost Paul Ludden, Deans Gillian McCombs, David Chard, and Bill Tsutsui! Earn 10 Wellpower body credits by completing this challenge.

Look for additional challenge activities and information in early March.

Questions? Email wellpower@smu.edu

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Self Defense – Minimize Your Chances of Becoming a Victim!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Lourdes Bravo

Learn how at the Women’s Self-Defense and Awareness Sessions offered at Dedman Center starting Tuesday February 21!  

This class will teach you techniques to escape from a number of holds, grabs, and chokes. Participants will also explore the assailant as a predator and the victim as prey; help women manage a variety of “friendly” but unwanted advances; and review how personality type may predispose a person to becoming a victim.

Where: Dedman Center – Mat Room
When:   Tuesdays (Starting February 21) 
Time:     5:30-6:30 PM

How to Enroll? Drop-in class – no enrollment necessary. Participants are encouraged to attend as many sessions as needed until they are comfortable with the techniques and feel adept in utilizing them.

Taught by:  Lt. Enrique Jemmott (Rico) SMU Police Department  

During these sessions participants will learn:

  • Escape Techniques: Train to escape from holds, chokes and grabs.
  • Sexual Assault Defense: Achieve a striking system that allows quick escape.
  • Distraction Techniques: Learn diversions that work to your advantage.
  • Awareness Tactics: Realize how to spot potential danger and avoid it.
  • Mental Preparation: Discover the right mental attitude to defend yourself.  

This class is empowering and will give women the knowledge and awareness they need to minimize their chances of becoming victims.

Special classes for groups may be arranged through Rico, so if you have a group that wants to meet at a different time, please email him with your request! 

Questions? Email Rico at ejemmott@smu.edu

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Is It a Heart Attack? Recognize the Symptoms

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

A heart attack is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 right away.

DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION. You are at greatest risk of sudden death in the early hours of a heart attack. Immediate care can help reduce the risk of death and further damage to your heart.

DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE YOURSELF TO THE HOSPITAL. Heart attack symptoms may seem manageable at first, but driving adds the risk of an accident in which you can further injure yourself or others.

Symptoms:

Chest pain is a common symptom of a heart attack. However, you may feel pain in only one part of your body, or it may move from your chest to your arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, jaw, belly area, or back.

The pain can range from severe to mild. It can feel like:

  • A tight band around the chest
  • Bad indigestion
  • Something heavy sitting on your chest
  • Squeezing or heavy pressure

The pain usually lasts longer than 20 minutes. Rest and a medicine called nitroglycerin may not completely relieve the pain of a heart attack. Symptoms may also go away and come back.

Some people (people who are elderly, people with diabetes, and women) may experience very little or no chest pain. Or, they may have unusual symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness). A “silent heart attack” is a heart attack with no symptoms.

Other symptoms of a heart attack may include:

  • Anxiety
  • Cough
  • Fainting
  • Light-headedness, dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating too fast or irregularly)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating, which may be very heavy

LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

To help prevent a heart attack:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol under control.
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in animal fat.
  • Get plenty of exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week (talk to your doctor first).
  • Get checked and treated for depression.
  • Limit yourself to no more than one drink a day for
    women, and no more than two drinks a day for men.
  • Stay at a healthy weight. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.

 

SMU RESOURCES YOU THAT SUPPORT YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

SMU offers a wide variety of resources to support your total wellness. Below are just a few examples of programs and services available. We always encourage you to consult with your medical care provider before beginning any exercise or nutritional program.

  • Psychology Department Smoking Cessation Program – SMU research study and treatment program offering free smoking support in Dallas.
  • Wellpower – wellness program for benefit-eligible staff and faculty. Earn rewards while you get healthy!
  • Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports – offers state-of-the art facilities, group exercise classes, personal training, massage therapy and more!
  • Magellan – SMU’s Employee Assistance Program – offers confidential counseling and referral services in addition to online programs that support your overall health and wellbeing.
  • On-campus Screenings/Health Questionnaire – look for emails, blog posts, and information on the HR website regarding the next round of screenings in the fall. Complete the process, and you may earn a 20% discount on your SMU Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas medical deductible in 2013.
  • Naturally Slim program – 10-week on-campus or online class aimed at helping you reduce your risk for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease! This class is typically offered in the spring semesters. The application period for Spring 2012 is already past, but take a look at the program to see if you might be interested next year!

Don’t forget! February 24 is Go Red For Heart Health Day at SMU! Wear RED and if you can, join us on a Wellpower Walk around campus at noon.

Questions about these or other resources? Email wellpower@smu.edu.

Several sources of information were consulted in creating this blog. Sources included Baylor Heart Health Hospital, WebMD, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

 

 

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Take Care of your Heart! Participate in the HeartSmart Challenge – February 13-March 12, 2012

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Lourdes Bravo

Heart disease is one of the biggest risks we face in our society and our university community is no exception.

Some of the main risks factors that contribute toward the development of cardiovascular disease include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, family history of heart disease, gender, physical inactivity, diabetes and age. Although there are some factors that we cannot control such as gender or family history, there are many things that we can do to reduce our risk considerably.

This challenge focuses on building good habits that will help you to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and to keep your heart healthy. Activities include exercise, eating heart healthy, and reducing your stress load.

For this challenge you will need to accumulate 95 points in 4 weeks to earn 10 Wellpower credits in the BODY category.

Participate now in the HeartSmart Challenge!

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It’s Heart Health Month at SMU!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

 

This February let’s have fun while getting serious about heart health! Here are a few simple ways you can get started today:

Are you on Facebook? Click on the image for the Go Red Facebook page and stay current on the Go Red movement.

Sign up for HR’s RSS Blog Feed and get a new blog post every week in February with heart health information and tips on lifestyle changes you can make to improve your heart health.

Take the Go Red Heart Checkup today and start learning about how you can live a heart-healthy life! For maximum benefit, find your recent lab results from a full physical or health screening and have them handy when you begin the checkup.

February 13 – March 12, 2012   Take the Wellpower HeartSmart Challenge!

Heart disease is one of the biggest risks we face in our society and our university community is no exception. This challenge focuses on building good habits that will help you to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and to keep your heart healthy. Activities include exercise, eating heart healthy, and reducing your stress load.

Log 95 points during the HeartSmart challenge to earn 10 Wellpower Body credits.

 

February 24   Go Red For Heart Health Day at SMU

Wear RED to show your support of Heart Health at SMU! Heart disease is still the number 1 killer of women in the US and we’re working to encourage everyone to take their heart health seriously.

Want something fun to wear to show your support? Check out the Go Red Shop or swing by our own Barnes & Noble to pick up the latest in SMU fashion!

Wear RED on Friday, February 24 and you may enter 1 Spirit credit in Wellpower. Make a donation and you may enter 1 additional Spirit credit.

February 24     Wellpower Walks for Heart Health!   12-1pm

What’s better than getting together for lunch with friends? Going on a trek through our gorgeous campus with those friends while wearing RED in support of Heart Health Month! Meet us on the steps of Dallas Hall for a noontime jaunt and some great conversation. The walk usually covers about 1 1/2 miles and takes about 45 minutes or so to complete. We hope you can join us for this opportunity to nourish both your heart and soul!

In case of inclement weather, we’ll meet on the track at Dedman Center.

We will enter 1 Body credit for participants.

Sign up now!

Questions? Email us at wellpower@smu.edu

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It’s Tax Season – Log On To Magellan’s Website to Learn about Available Discounts!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Mary Stall

During the upcoming tax season, tax preparation services are available to SMU employees and their household members through H&R Block At Home™.   This service is provided through SMU’s Magellan Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Access Magellan Services Online

The program offers the H&R Block federal online tax products, Basic + e-file, Deluxe + e-file and Premium + e-file, at a 25 percent discount* when you access the H&R Block link through www.MagellanHealth.com/member. Additionally, for those with less complex returns, H&R Block offers a free version. Online payment is due from users of the service at the point of printing or e-filing their returns. The site will present the retail prices along with the discount so that participants can view the 25 percent savings.

 Logging On is Easy!

  • Log on to www.MagellanHealth.com/member.
  • Use your unique Username and Password or register with the SMU program’s toll-free number.
  • Access Online Tax Filing in the Quick Links section to view the discounts available as well as helpful tax tips.

* Discount applies only when you access the H&R Block link through www.MagellanHealth.com/member.

Questions?  Call Magellan at 1-877-704-5696.

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