Testing, testing
You may be aware of recent news stories documenting a new change in policy for all employees of CVS Pharmacy, which now requires all of the nearly 200,000 workers who are on CVS’s health plan to submit their weight, body fat, glucose levels and other vitals or (if they don’t submit these test results) pay a monthly fine of $50 a month (which adds up to $600 a year in additional insurance costs).Employees who agree to the testing will see no change in health insurance rates.
When I first shared this story on the Just Stop Eating So Much! facebook page, some readers expressed outrage, noting that CVS Pharmacy was enlisting a sort of “Big Brother” approach to health insurance. News reports state that other critics call this new policy coercion — worrying that the company could potentially use the information to start firing unhealthy workers.
Yet 12NewsNow reports that CVS, which is based in Rhode Island, claims the health screening is voluntary and that the company would never actually see the test results in question. 12NewsNow goes onto report that in an email to ABC News, CVS explained that its “benefits program is evolving to help our colleagues take more responsibility for improving their health and managing health-associated costs.”
What’s more, according to ABC News, CVS insists that the use of health screenings by employer-sponsored health plans is quickly becoming a common practice. This set internet chat on fire with chat boards boasting questions from posters wondering if similar programs and policies are legal.
Although contrary to public opinion, I personally do not see the harm in these sorts of tests. The fact is, many of us are overweight and don’t realize it — either because of denial, misinformation or simply not having access to test results like these that are real indicators of our overall health. Somewhere along the line, we have given up our personal responsibility in matters of our own health. Take it from me, someone who used to weigh over 450 pounds and was completely “out of touch” with the reality of my situation — much less the potential health hazards of being that morbidly obese. It all began with not being informed. And I was happily ignorant. Or so I thought. (Turns out I wasn’t so happy with all the side-effects of weighing that much as many loyal readers of this blog know.)
Since CVS Pharmacy has gone on record stating that these numbers will not be used against employees, it seems there would potentially be legal recourse if that did not turn out to be the case.
But just as important as the potential legal issues, it’s time we stopped lying to ourselves and living in denial. Our obesity problem is worse than ever before and yet many of us do not realize we are overweight or refuse to acknowledge it as the real health crisis that it is. The more we know about our medical conditions and our overall health, the more we can start making small, significant changes that will help us feel better and live longer.
ABC News’ chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser commented on this matter to ABC News, stating, “The goal of these kinds of programs is to end up with a healthier work force. If your employees are healthy they’re going to work better and they’re going to cost the employer a lot less money.”
Is that really such a bad thing? To be healthier? If this kind of free testing helps us be more informed, where’s the harm in that?
As always, I welcome your opinion and insights. So whether you agree with me or not, I’d love to hear from you on this and any other similar issue. In the meantime, here’s to all of us being more informed and, as a potential result, healthier!
Photo Source: BasicSpine.com
You’re worth more than gold
Having a rough moment – or worse, yet – day?
Take a minute to watch the video below and/or listen to this song, “Gold,” by singer Britt Nicole. This has definitely been a go-to song for me over the past year. I love everything about it – including the lyrics, which remind us all what really matters… Us. No matter what you’re facing or how high the potential mountains in your way, I hope that this video, song and lyrics will help you remember that you have everything it takes to move forward – to victory. Perhaps the song’s lyrics say it best:
“All the rain in the sky can’t put out your fire,
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter”
You can also link to the video by clicking here.
Here are the full lyrics to this motivational song (I sincerely hope they help when you need them to):
You were walking on the moon,
now you’re feeling low
What they said wasn’t true,
you’re beautiful
Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you’re feeling
Words like those won’t steal your glow, you’re one in a million
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it’s your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you’re gold)
You’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold you’re gold)
Well everybody keeps score, afraid you’re gonna lose
Just ignore they don’t know the real you
All the rain in the sky can’t put out your fire
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it’s your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you’re gold)
You’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold you’re gold)
So don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not loved
And don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not enough
Yeah there are days when we all feel like we’re messed up
But the truth is that we’re all diamonds in the rough
So don’t be ashamed to wear your crown
You’re a king you’re a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh,You’re gold
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold
(So hold your head) So hold your head up high
It’s your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you’re gold)
You’re worth more than gold
(Gold gold you’re gold)
So don’t be ashamed to wear your crown
You’re a king you’re a queen inside and out
Do you have a song or video that you rely on for powering through challenges or reminding your of your worth? If so, I’d love for you to share it below. (Thanks!)
Photo Source: B96.com
Success is contagious
I’m thrilled when people reach out and make contact – either through the contact page on this blog or through Twitter or the Just Stop Eating So Much! facebook page.
One of the beautiful things about being in touch with readers and fellow (and female!) dieters like you is that when it comes to inspiration, it’s definitely a two-way street. I am always motivated and inspired by the people I hear from – whether they’re facing a challenge or sharing a success story.
I recently received an email from 17-year old Trisha and was filled with said inspiration. After reading (and re-reading) her words of triumph, I quickly contacted her to see if she would mind me sharing her wonderful and inspiring words with you. And I’m happy to report that she was more than happy to share her story with others. So without further ado, here’s the email I received from Trisha:
“You are such an inspiration! You gave me hope that I could get healthy, too. I’m 17 years old, and as of December 1st, I was 437 pounds. Today is March 1st, just 3 months later, and I am now 377! 60 POUNDS GONE IN 3 MONTHS! All from eating less and only eating healthy foods, and exercise. Not even any crazy work out plans! Just walking every evening. I never could have done any of this if I hadn’t heard your story and been inspired. I plan on continuing this path to getting healthy, and maybe someday I can do for someone what you have done for me. Thank you so much!”
Besides having an attitude that shines bright, I love that Trisha has put together a plan that is working for her (and her lifestyle) – while incorporation the basic tenants of losing weight in a healthful fashion:
• Eating Less
• Moving (Exercising) More
• Getting Plenty of Rest
• Drinking Lots of Water
Trisha is a reminder to us all that any goal can be reached – and that the “end goal” isn’t necessarily what it’s all about. Whether we’ve lost a half pound or more of excess weight, that number (and triumph) is worth celebrating – no matter how many more pounds-to-lose we have ahead of us. It’s all about living in the now, loving ourselves as we are in this moment and enjoying the journey toward lasting health.
Do you have a success story, pictures or even a challenge that you’d like to share or have me respond to publicly? If so, please reach out and tell me – no, tell us – your story. Whether we’re working to lose the excess weight or working to keep the excess weight we’ve lost off permanently, we’re all in this together.
(Thanks again, Trisha! Please continue to keep us posted on your journey and know that we’re all behind you every step of – and pound on – the way!)
When we lose, we gain
Too often when dieting, we focus on what we’re giving up rather than what we’re (for lack of a better word) gaining. In fact, medical research has shown that we don’t even have to reach our goal weight before our bodies will begin to benefit from the healthy perks that can come about after losing just 7 to 10% of our body weight.
In a compelling writeup on WebMD, Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD reports that best selling author David Katz, MD, MPH, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center and the Yale Preventive Medicine Center confirms, “’Lifestyle changes that include healthier diets, regular physical activity, and weight loss of 7%-10% have shown phenomenal health benefits that can be more effective than medications.”
In fact, Katz confirms on WebMD that 90% of all diabetes, 80% of heart disease, and 60% of cancers are preventable with healthier lifestyles and normal body weights.
Researcher Catherine Champagne of the Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center reports to WebMD that “We have seen a consistent pattern in our weight loss studies that when patients lose 5%-10% of their body weight, they lower blood pressure, reduce LDL [AKA "bad"] cholesterol, improve glucose tolerance, and in general, lower the risk for cardiovascular disease.”
Champagne went onto tell WebMD that some doctors have reported that they have successfully taken patients off blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications after the patients lost small amounts of weight.
Article author Zelman goes onto suggest that we consider how much harder it would be to climb stairs or simply to walk if we were carrying around a backpack filled with 5- or 10-pound bricks. Now imagine how much lighter we would feel without the backpack. That’s the feeling we could get from losing as little as 5 pounds or 10 pounds.
Zelman also recommends that we think in terms of “progress,” rather than “perfection.” This translates to ignoring stricter diets along with the dated notion that I takes “All or nothing” to truly achieve success on a diet.
Zelman also reports that Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, of Northwestern Memorial Hospital Wellness Institute, affirms that “Anyone who actively makes healthy lifestyle changes will begin to see and feel the improvements in 8 to 12 weeks.”
To conclude her insightful article, Zelman includes five simple health tips from Katz that you can read by clicking here.
So next time you start thinking about what you’ve given up (food-wise) or what you’re doing without (treat-wise), focus in on the medical benefits that you’re going to gain by eating healthier and moving more. And, it turns out, you won’t have to necessarily reach your goal weight to start feeling – and enjoying – the perks.
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