1. Start Small – You may find that it’s a bit harder to run as fast or lift as much as you used to. Take time and build your body again. Starting too big can lead to injuries. Read More→
A personal training client wanted to ride his bike to work twice a week and once on the weekend. When I asked how the cycling was coming along, he threw his hands in the air and listed all the reasons why it wasn’t happening:
Sometimes we are so busy solving work challenges we need a little help with solutions for our own health and well-being. Curtis Health Personal Trainers can help with accountability and solutions to help you meet your fitness goals.
My name is Charles Curtis, founder and President of Curtis Health. For more than 30 years I have been reading, consulting, discussing and writing on the ever increasing costs of poor health in the workplace and improving workplace well-being.
We know that costs associated with employee health continue to rise regardless of the overwhelming evidence of the positive return on investment (ROI) from effective workplace wellness programs.
So how can we determine what programs result in the positive outcome companies now must strive for?
A 2011 Sun Life-Ivey Business School study, Canadian Wellness Return on Investment Study, identified the five best practices to support optimal wellness strategy, design and implementation as:
Leadership
Over the past 30 years, some organizations I’ve worked with exist through a philosophy of wellness for everything they do. Starting from the top, leadership believed that organized wellness activities were to be woven into the fabric of the company. The result was continuous growth, positive energy, pride and better outcomes resulting in organization wide cost savings while allowing the wellness budget to continually grow.
Contrary to this winning approach, I have seen cases where a very small budget was given to outfit fitness centres and see how the attendance would be before any more funds were injected into the program. This “build it and they will come” philosophy without strong leadership or investment usually results in little engagement, accountability and ownership of the program. Simply put, a fitness centre, the odd education communication, a weekly class and workshops as a “wellness program” does not result in positive changes in the workplace.
Policies and Practices
A strong business case with solid policies and practices is a must in order to sustain a wellness program over time. The strongest programs have a team of dedicated employees supported by leadership and an outside expert to help guide them through the pitfalls of a start up or refresh. Forming a committee to establish guidelines sets the tone for a strong program. The key to this is having a solid plan and committee members that are committed to the program, the company and the people. Without a dedicated group willing to work hard and support the policies it is an uphill battle.
Communication
The best programs have the strongest methods of communications. If the communication system is not effective then it doesn’t matter if you have the greatest programs available.
One example of this I have seen, had a middle management who believed in the program but there was little budget to promote the services. That created a situation where the organization had little “skin in the game” and left the program and sign ups to the employees without financial support, leadership or ownership. That was not a sustainable model. Opposite to that, I have seen programs that have a strong web presence, communication policy and plans. Consistent messages and programs are promoted well in advance throughout the locations and levels of organization, and supported by champions spreading the good word. Again, the more the investment and programs are communicated effectively, the better the returns.
Targeted Programs
Using passive forms of communication alone, such as educational handouts on fitness, health and wellness, does not achieve a positive return on investment. Behavioral health interventions will provide a much better result, establishing a winning plan for reducing those costly areas of concern and enabling the employee population of your company to flourish.
In my experience, using a health risk identification process and interest survey as a program launching point will ensure all data and health trends are collected from the beginning. This data is paramount in identifying and targeting the key areas of risk and interest in order to establish the most effective services and programs and maintain program accountability.
Evaluation
As a follow up to the risk identification process, it is suggested organizations develop a comparative feedback measurement to evaluate program success and establish accountability. The most successful programs are under constant scrutiny and evaluation. Evaluation can come in many forms: participation levels, participation feedback, pre and post test results and financial cost benefits just to name a few. This process motivates the organization to keep on top of the program and make adjustments as needed in a timely matter.
Charles Curtis is President of Curtis Personalized Health Management and owner and General Manager of 12 Weeks to Wellness: Premier services in providing fitness, health, wellness and coaching programs to individuals and organizations since 1985.
Visit us at any of the following locations!
https://www.facebook.com/CurtisPersonalizedHealthManagement
604-921-2348
info@curtishealth.com
Sources:
Change in Health Risks Associated with a Total Population Health Promotion Counseling Program in a Healthcare System
Wright D.W., Schultz A, Edington D.W. Journal of Health and Productivity 5(1):3-9, 2010.
For Immediate Release:
[Vancouver, British Columbia – Feb 1, 2019]
Curtis Health, a Vancouver-based workplace health and wellness provider, has been named one of Canada’s top wellness companies by CoreHealth Technologies, a wellness technology vendor.
“As a leader in individual and Corporate Health and Wellness since 1985, we have built a foundation of creative programming, unprecedented service and proven, effective health promotion and wellness solutions. These services include a full scope of individual and corporate fitness, health and wellness services, fitness facility management, space planning and operations,” says President, Charles Curtis.
Curtis Health, and its partner 12 Weeks to Wellness, provide shared wellness and health coaching services to a variety of industries and organizations including technology, gaming, government, utilities, manufacturing and transportation as well as Employee Assistance Providers and property development / business park fitness facility management. Curtis Health currently provides these corporate health and wellness services to over 12 companies and multiple properties, office towers business parks onsite, encompassing more than 28 fitness centers.
“We are very proud of our accomplishments and how effective we are in making a positive, notable difference in the well-being and health or our clients and their employees. We are committed to evolving our workplace wellness programs to meet the unique needs of each of our clients,” says Curtis.
Holiday season is upon us and along with joyous festive events comes the challenge in keeping a healthy YOU. Less time to meal prep, tempting goodies all over the office, social outings, alcohol and less time for exercise. This is not a good combination for staying healthy.
Below are some tips for managing the next 4 weeks and entering 2019 feeling fabulous!
If you need more individual assistance please contact me.
Let the festivities begin! You are ready!
Happy and Healthy Holidays!
Nancy Coles RHN
nancy@curtishealth.com
Curtis Health is pleased to present a luncheon book launch keynote featuring Deborah Connors.
This fun, practical and informational session with speaker, author and founder of the The Better Workplace Conference, will provide you with daily interactions to use with your team.
Not only with you walk with insight on how to transform your workplace culture, you will also receive a copy of Deborah’s new book “A Better Place to Work.”
September 20, 2018
11:30am – 1:00pm
Vancouver Public Library
Lunch is included
Register Now to reserve your spot.
Click here for more details.
Deborah Connors is a captivating speaker, storyteller and workplace coach. She teaches leaders to radically shift culture so that people can flourish.
Do we have a final verdict on the health benefits of coconut oil?
Recently, some companies have used coconut oil as the new superfood ingredient in their products as a selling point. But, how good is coconut oil for us?
Potential health hazards of coconut oil are that 92% of its chemical structure is classified as a saturated fat, even higher than butter, and could thus lead to elevated cholesterol levels.
Most of the health benefits attributed to coconut oil are associated with its high content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The primary MCFA in coconut oil is lauric acid which mimics healthy unsaturated fats, such as olive oil and fish oil, by boosting good HDL cholesterol.
Reducing dietary fat has been a goal when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease. However, this is changing and fat can no longer be viewed as the major culprit leading to cardiovascular disease.
Results of a meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010 showed that there is no significant evidence that dietary saturated fat increases risk of coronary heart disease. The analysis covered 21 studies involving 347,747 people.
A scientific report released in February 2015 by the American government’s influential Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee stated that “available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol and that “dietary advice should put the emphasis on optimizing types of dietary fat and not reducing total fat.”
Interestingly, the Committee also reported that low-fat diets, where fats are often substituted by refined carbohydrates, were associated with high elevated cholesterol levels.
The fact is that coconut oil is very energy dense but, unlike other oils, it does not provide any additional vitamins or polyphenol antioxidant compounds like the ones found in olive oil.
The final verdict for now is that there is not enough scientific evidence to promote the use of coconut oil over other oils. Consuming fats in moderation and limiting consumption of saturated fat to 10 percent of total calories is our safest bet while keeping an eye on upcoming research.
Bettina M.
Registered Dietitian, Certified Health & Wellness Coach
Although we designate this time of year for celebration, the holidays can also take their toll on physical and emotional health. Here are some tips to help you have a healthy and happy holiday season.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season from your friends at Curtis Health!
If set up incorrectly, your workstation can lead to general discomfort and even chronic injury. The best way to prevent injuries is to ensure your work station is ergonomically correct and promotes good posture.
Here are some easy ways to adjust your workstation accordingly: 
1. Be aware of your posture – Do you slouch? Round your shoulders? Be aware of how you sit. Engage your core muscles and sit up tall as if someone was pulling you up by a string.
2. Concentrate on the setup of your workstation – Typically, aches and pains from office work are caused by physical stress from prolonged and awkward positions, repetitive motions and overuse. When applied to your workstation, these helpful tips will help promote good posture and correct ergonomics:
3. Take Breaks – for every 20 minutes sitting, take 1 minute to stand up and stretch (even better if you can take a brisk walk).
Interested in learning more? Click the link below for your free copy of our how-to exercise guide for seated desk careers!
Want to win a $50 Kintec gift certificate? Help us celebrate Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month by letting us how your employer supports a healthy workplace. Click the link below to participate! 
All you have to do is leave a comment about where you work and what employee wellness initiatives are available to you (i.e. onsite fitness centre, free exercise classes, wellness workshops, etc.) between now and October 15th. We’ll choose one winner at random!
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Kintec is offering all Curtis clients (including friends and family) expert shoe fitting to best suit your needs at a 15% discount on regular price footwear.