November 2020, Volume 3, Number 3
Upcoming Wellness Events
Date
Event
Time
Monday, November 30
Health for the Holidays Challenge
Sunday, December 6
Virtual Cooking Class with The Kitchen Studio Cooking School
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Thursday, December 10
Cash Management Webinar Presented by VALIC
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, December 12
In-Studio Paint Class at Hot Fired Arts
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Sunday, December 13
Virtual Paint Class with Hot Fired Arts
Monday, January 4
Right This Weigh Challenge
Spring Into Motion Challenge
Blue Rewards
The Blue Rewards incentive program is available to all Frederick County Public Schools employees and their spouses enrolled in the CareFirst medical plan. You can each earn up to $100! Whether you complete one activity or both, you get rewarded. Ready to start earning? Complete these activities before December 28, 2020.
Log in today to start earning. If you don't already have a Sharecare account, visit www.carefirst.com/sharecare. You'll need to enter your CareFirst My Account username and password and complete the one-time registration with Sharecare to link your CareFirst account information. This will help personalize your experience.
CareFirst Wellness
More and more Americans are being diagnosed with diabetes. 9.4% of the U.S. population has diabetes. That means 30.3 million Americans have this chronic condition.
Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) is too high. The body uses sugar from food as a source of energy. Insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, moves sugar from the bloodstream into cells to be used for energy.
When you have diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin or does not use its own insulin as well as it should. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood. Extra sugar in the blood can lead to serious health complications including:
You may have wondered, what causes diabetes? There are different forms of diabetes but the underlying cause is still unknown. Although we do know that both genetics and lifestyle play a significant part.
Chronic diabetes conditions include Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. It occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin. Your genes may cause this type of diabetes. It often begins in childhood.
About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not use insulin efficiently and as the condition progresses the pancreas does not make enough insulin. People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should. Genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors play a role in type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance that occurs during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. It usually occurs in 2% to 10% of pregnancies and typically goes away after birth. It’s not only important to control gestational diabetes to protect the baby's growth and development but women who have gestational diabetes are at risk of developing type 2, weeks or even years later.
Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than it should be but not high enough for diabetes. More than a third of people in the United States have it, but most don’t know it. Prediabetes can make you more likely to get type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Who gets diabetes?
One in four Americans with diabetes has it and doesn’t know it. You are more likely to develop prediabetes or type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight. Physical inactivity, race, and certain health problems also affect your change of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
It’s important to know your risk factors. The American Diabetes Association provides a free Diabetes Risk Test to see if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Take the free risk test now.
Uncontrollable risk factors:
Risk factors you can make an impact on:
If you think you might have diabetes, you should schedule a visit with your primary care provider (PCP). Some symptoms of diabetes are
There’s no cure for diabetes but with lifestyle changes and treatment you can live a long, healthy life. Some risk factors for these conditions are uncontrollable, such as sex and age. However, there are lifestyle behaviors we can adopt to help reduce the overall risk.
It’s important to talk to your PCP about your risk factors and ask if getting tested is right for you. A simple blood test can determine whether or not you have diabetes. If you do, your provider can work with you to create a treatment plan and recommend lifestyle changes to protect your long-term health and wellness.
?
Deals4U
Looking for some great deals for the holidays? Enroll in Deals4U! Deals4U is an employee discount program especially for Frederick County Public Schools employees and retirees that provides online access to discounts and deals on products and services from national, regional and local merchants. (Think Target, Peapod, Regal Theatres, HP and more!) The Web-based program is administered by PerkSpot, a company that manages employee discount programs for a wide range of business and organizations across the country.
To take advantage of Deals4U, simply create an online account at deals4u.perkspot.com using your personal (not work) e-mail address. Then enter FCPS (if prompted for a code), and create and enter a password. You will then receive confirmation and log-in instructions. After logging in, you have access to all the discount offers available to FCPS employees. If you log in to Deals4U from your work computer, access to some vendors may be restricted for internet security reasons.
FCPS Hike for Wellness
FCPS Wellness is hosting a DIY FCPS Hike for Wellness Challenge. The goal is for each participant to visit at least eight State Parks in the country from now until May 31, 2021 to receive a prize. There are more than 10,000 State Parks for you to explore across the country, and each one presents its own unique opportunities for experiencing nature.
Registration is not required, but registered participants will receive an FCPS Hike For Wellness logo stickers and be on an e-mail distribution list regarding future scheduled group hikes. Click here to register.
Participants must share a picture at the park location via social media with #FCPSHikeForWellness
If participants does not have social media, you can e-mail a picture to benefits.wellness@fcps.org
Photos e-mailed will then be shared on our FCPS Wellness social media
So don't be afraid to lace up your boots and grab a walking stick and a buddy or two, the opportunities and benefits of hiking are waiting for you. All you have to do is go. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu
Mid-Day Movement Breaks
Did you know that a mid-day movement break can increase mood, energy, and productivity and it can decrease stress? Consider participating in one of the scheduled virtual sessions for a mid-day movement break to enjoy a short stretch, mindful minute, and deep breathing exercise. If interested, please click here to register. Sessions will be held every weekday from Monday, September 14th to Friday, January 29th at 12pm or at 12:30pm except on days schools are closed for staff.
Painting a Path to Wellness
Nutrition and exercise seem to be the buzz words for being healthy and maintaining mental wellness. Other advice includes having a good sleep routine, practicing relaxation, and having a good social network. Are you looking for something else to add to your toolbox? Why not try the arts?
Participating in the arts can help decrease everyday stress and anxieties and increase positive emotions. And if you create art within a group setting, you can form support relationships and friendships. Creativity is increasingly being validated as a potent mind-body approach to address a a variety of challenges. Why not give it a try?
FCPS has partnered with Hot Fired Arts in offering a monthly pain classes. Click here for scheduled paint classes. Registration password is FCPS2020.
Virtual Cooking Class
It's important to take good care of ourselves with healthy, filling, and easy to prepare meals. FCPS has partnered with The Kitchen Studio Cooking School in offering a monthly cooking classes. We are hosting a virtual class on Sunday, December 6th at 3pm.
What's on the menu?
Click here to register. Discount code is FCPSHOLIDAY.
Virtual Fitness Class
It's time to get back on track with your health and wellness goals by including physical activity onto your daily routine. FCPS Wellness has scheduled FREE virtual fitness classes for FCPS employees. If interested, please click on the name of the class to register. Sessions will be held from Monday, September 14th to Friday, January 29th. Virtual fitness classes will not be held on days schools are closed for staff, but classes will be recorded and are available for registered participants to access at their own convenience.
Hatha Yoga: Monday at 6:00AM-7:00AM
A gentle yoga that focuses on static poses that is to align, strengthen, and promote flexibility in the body.
Cardio Kickboxing: Monday at 4:30PM-5:30PM
This fast-paced cardio combines martial arts techniques that builds stamina, improves coordination and flexibility, and burns calories as you build lean muscle with this fun and challenging workout. This high-energy workout challenges the beginner and elite athlete alike.
Strength Training: Tuesday at 6:00AM-7:00AM
A full body workout focused on building muscular strength & endurance, cardiovascular endurance, core strength, and flexibility. With a combination of body weight, dumbbells, bands, and then some, each class will focus on a unique training approach which will challenge, engage, and inspire participants to become a better version of their current selves! Equipment is optional (other suggestions will be offered).
Zumba: Tuesday at 4:30PM-5:30PM
A fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. Zumba routines incorporate interval training - alternating fast and slow rhythms - to help improve cardiovascular fitness.
Barre: Wednesday at 6:00AM-7:00AM
A workout technique inspired by elements of ballet, yoga, and Pilates. It focuses on low-impact, high-intensity movements designed to strengthen your body.
Hatha Yoga: Wednesday at 4:30PM-5:30PM
Cardio Kickboxing: Thursday at 6:00AM-7:00AM
Bang!: Thursday at 4:30PM-5:30PM
An urban-inspired mixed fitness class. A fusion of boxing, aerobics, intervals, hip hop, world dance, and body weight training - this class will take your workout to a whole new "banging" level!
Pilates: Friday at 6:00AM-7:00AM
A method of exercise that consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates emphasizes proper postural alignment, core strength and muscle balance.
FUNctional Fitness: Friday at 4:30PM-5:30PM
A combination of high intensity cardio & strength training that is great for all fitness levels.
Follow FCPS Wellness on Twitter
Like FCPS Wellness on Facebook
Visit FCPS Wellness on the Web
The FCPS Wellness Newsletter is published monthly August-May by FCPS Human Resources, 191 S. East St., Frederick, MD 21701.
Brief information, subject to edits, and captioned photos for possible inclusion are due to Phoebe.Barreto@fcps.org by the 15th of the month. For more information: 301-644-5085.