Allison Minardi
Fitness Coordinator
In October we threw out a challenge to Manatee County employees and health plan members...TO NEVER MISS A MONDAY workout for the remaining weeks of 2019. The challenge was simple, but not easy:
- Exercise on as many of the remaining Mondays as you could
- Track your workout on the chart provided
- The more Mondays you participated in, the more chances you had to win in the Grand Prize Drawing
A little background first. Why did we choose this challenge? Why NEVER MISS A MONDAY?
Well, Mondays are generally viewed as the start of your week. Making the decision to prioritize YOU and YOUR wellness on day 1 of the week will help set the tone for the rest of your week. We have all heard a healthy choice leads to another healthy choice, then another. This is 100% true!! By starting your week off “right,” you are setting yourself up for success for the rest of the week. There is tremendous power in a “don’t break the chain” or “keep this going” mentality.
Because Mondays are viewed as the start of a new week, they can also bring a great deal of stress or anxiety. Science proves over and over again that light to moderate exercise can decrease these feelings by increasing levels of dopamine (happy hormone), serotonin (mood booster), and the pain blocking feel good hormone, endorphins.
It’s fun!! Ok, you may not agree, but maybe you just haven’t found your fun movement yet. Exercise does not have to be blood, sweat, and tears if that isn’t your thing. Dancing, walking, playing laser tag with your kids, kickball, practicing your golf swing are all forms of movement that can improve your fitness, improve your mood, and set yourself up for an unstoppable week ahead.
Back to the challenge...
Five fitness centers/worksites participated in this challenge: Downtown, GT Bray, Utilities, Transit, and MSO Jail. The results were fantastic! 155 people participated over the 13 week period, which translated into 919 unique visits across all participating facilities!
Winners were pulled randomly and based on # of total participants at that location. These individuals each won a $25 gift card. The winners are:
Downtown Fitness Center:
Carrie Green
John Baroncelli
Alexis Dwyer
Claudia Lewis
Amanda Craig
George Earnest
Patti Nolan
Lettie Funk
Joshua Tracey
Hoang Le
John Baroncelli
Alexis Dwyer
Claudia Lewis
Amanda Craig
George Earnest
Patti Nolan
Lettie Funk
Joshua Tracey
Hoang Le
GT Bray
Stephen Munyer
Sharon Granberg
Debbie Voorhies
Transit
Kim Iovino
Dan Mersch
Carol Coston
Utilities
Sandra Cenatis
Natalie Chispusio
Juana Robertson
MSO Jail
Teresta Sharrock
Todd Weinert
Carlos Vasquez
Randy Geis
Rojelio Mireles
Schedule your Monday movement session. Make it a weekly agreement with yourself and see how your week of continued success flows from there. Cheers to a new year and more progress towards your best self!
