NOVEMBER 2018 Newsletter

Engage Wellness is the medically-based way to get and stay healthier

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

EngAge Wellness will be CLOSED for the Thanksgiving Holiday:

Thursday, November 22nd

Friday, November 23rd

We will be OPEN regular hours on Saturday, November 24th. Enjoy!

Please join us for our special Thanksgiving Chat Café. We’ll have turkey and all the trimmings

Friday, November 16th

11:00 am - Noon

Please add your name and what you will bring to the sign-up sheet located in the conversation area.

#GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. Held annually on the Tuesday after

Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the holiday giving season and inspires people to give back in

impactful ways. This year #GivingTuesday is celebrated on November 27th.

On November 27th, up to $50,000 in online donations at Give65.org will be matched dollar for dollar

thanks to the generous support of those that believe in our mission. Engage Wellness is eligible for up

to $5,000 of matching funds. Matching funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Please consider making a donation to Engage Wellness on Tuesday, November 27th.

Funds raised will be used to promote new memberships, enhance member retention, provide member

scholarships for those in need, updates/improvements to fitness equipment and facility (such as a water

filling station). A limited number of pre-paid Visa cards will be available in $25.00 denominations.

Additional details will be posted at Engage Wellness. Any questions can be directed to a staff member.

Your continued support and generosity is truly appreciated. Let’s go for the $5,000 match!

Thank you!

Give back and double your

donation on #GivingTuesday!

Congratulations to the following participants who have achieved

special attendance milestones at Engage Wellness (as of October 22,

2018).

A warm welcome to new participants that joined our Engage Wellness

family in the month of October: Diane S., Betty E., Val H., George H.,

Michael S., Charlie N., Jeaninne L., Dennis P., Sally F., Barbara B.,

Jacquie M., Mary C., Claudie S., Tom S.

Thank-you for choosing us to be part of your wellness journey!

REFER ONE, GET ONE!

Attention Participants! If you refer an individual that joins in the month of November, you will get one

month FREE!!! Congratulations to Peg L., Nikki Z., Sheila R., Bob R., who earned a free month of

participation by referring new members. Nice Job!

NOVEMBER SPECIAL OFFER!

New participants who enroll in November receive half off enrollment:

Individual enrollment $37.50 + tax instead of $75.00 + tax

Couple enrollment $50.00 + tax instead of $100.00 + tax

This is a perfect opportunity for you to refer family, friends, and neighbors.

Remember, participants receive one month free for referring a new individual

that joins!

Joel H. - 1,000 Tabe D. - 600 Don B. - 200 Lisa B. - 100

Chet M. - 1,000 Donna L. - 500 John B. - 200 Dale K. - 100

Dave R. - 900 Mary C. - 400 Becky S. - 200 Scott K. - 100

James W. - 800 Denise W. - 400 Sister Jeannine H. - 200 M.A. R. - 100

Lou Ann A. - 800 Linda L. - 300 Gloria D. - 200 Sharon V. - 100

Lynette P. - 800 Don O. - 300 Ed Swenson - 100

Joe Nebel - 600 Michael B. - 300 Don Winters - 100

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS!

We “Fall Back” on Sunday, November 4th

.

Remember to set your clocks BACK one hour, when you go to

bed on Saturday night. You get an extra hour of sleep!

ENGAGE WELLNESS SPEAKER SERIES

“OSTEOPOROSIS - EXERCISE FOR BONE HEALTH”

Presented by: Melissa Cole, MA, ACSM EP -C, Heartland Osteoporosis Prevention Study,

College of Allied Health Professionals

Wednesday, November 7th

12:30pm - 1:30pm

UNMC’s Engage Wellness Multi-Purpose Room

Please join us to learn about our bones, bone health, and exercise for bones.

Melissa is the Exercise Training Research Coordinator for the Heartland Osteoporosis Prevention

Study. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Education-Physical Education Major and

in 2006 with a Masters of Arts in Health, Physical Education and Recreation Major with an Exercise

Science Concentration from UNO. She is currently the Exercise Training Coordinator for the Heartland

Osteoporosis Prevention Study and works with the exercise arm of the study.

If you are interested in attending, please add your name to the sign-up list by the front desk. This is

open to the public, feel free to extend the invitation to family or friends that may be interested in

attending. They can call in their reservation to 402-552-7210. Hope to see you there!

NURSING STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

“STOP FALLS BEFORE THEY STOP YOU”

Learn about age-related body changes, environmental and age-related risk factors, disease processes

that increase risk for falls, complications related to falls, and tips for fall prevention.

Wednesday, November 14th

12:30pm - 1:00pm

UNMC’s Engage Wellness Multi-Purpose Room

“TOODALOO TO THE WINTER BLUES”

Pick up some tips on how to make the most our cold Nebraska winters.

Thursday, November 15th

12:30pm - 1:00pm

UNMC’s Engage Wellness Multi-Purpose Room

Please add your name to the sign-up list by the front desk. Thank you!

Q&A Session with Don Winters:

Q: How long have you been coming to Engage Wellness?

A: I will have been coming to Engage Wellness almost six of the most

eventful and very fruitful months when this article appears in the

newsletter. This has been an excellent opportunity to improve my

overall health.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

A: Largely, I focus on my exercise routine. I can be rather intense when doing my workout. I do gain a great amount pleasure and learning from talking and discussing with other members and staff about how they are progressing and what drives them to continue. All of us share a common objective of improving our health. That helps support each other in the attainment of that objective.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of Engage Wellness?

A: It is a combination of the members, the direct Wellness staff, the maintenance staff and the security

staff. Everyone is so interested and helpful. However, the main aspect would be the training and

Wellness Specialists staff. They have given me new and different insights on how to handle my

routines. This has lessened the boredom factor that I have always developed in the past.

Q: How has your motivation to exercise changed, since you started coming here?

A: One of the primary reasons for looking into Engage Wellness was to find way to relive the pain that I

have with my back. After my six-month adventure with chemotherapy in 2014, I found that I had lost

a significant amount of strength and endurance. I have been “fighting back” to regain both. Out of

some desperation, I went back to the neurosurgeon (again) complaining about my loss of strength

and endurance. After extensive x-rays, he indicated that I needed to get involved in an exercise

program. He believes that would be the best idea that he had to help me in regaining my strength

and endurance. Initially, the program that I was pursuing helped to a degree, but not enough for me.

I am no athlete but wanted to become better physically. Then, I received a flyer about Engage

Wellness. That has proven to be a turning point in my quest. In fact, as of October, my primary

physician was excited about all of my test results, the weight loss, my overall positive feeling of what

I have been doing and working on at Engage Wellness.

Q: What advice would you give other Engage participants, to help them achieve their fitness

goals?

A: Do not give up and “fight” for yourself with the medical professionals. When I was in chemotherapy,

my oncologist was with me through every up and down. In the beginning of the therapy, my

oncologist indicated that I would lose some strength and endurance due to the chemotherapy. But

once the Lymphoma was taken care of and I was in remission, then we can turn our attention to

“rebuilding”. In October, I completed my fourth year of remission (a milestone).

Q: How has exercise helped manage any chronic conditions?

A: The pain in my back is controlled without medication. However, sometimes, I do have to wear my

back brace if I am going to be on my feet for extended periods of time. I have overall sense of

accomplishment, satisfaction and fulfillment. Being the intense and focused individual that I am, I

now find that I am more relaxed which my wife and doctors enjoy, probably more than me.

Q&A Session with Don Winters Continued:

Q: Any tips for successful aging you would like to share?

A: Given my “somewhat” advancing age, I feel great and excited. Give exercise a “fighting” chance to

change or improve your life. Lastly, be your own health advocate. Medical professionals are with us to

help us, do not be afraid to enlist their help in improving your life.

A few facts about me:

Born and raised in Omaha. Over my working life, have lived and worked in Virginia, Washington DC,

California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Nebraska. My military service was in the Navy and worked on

some unique and interesting projects in the Navy and for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Married to the only

woman (I believe) who can and would put up with me. We have been blessed with one child, a son.

He is a successful Financial Planner. My son and daughter-in-law (who is the only woman who can

and would put up with my son) have given us a handsome grandson and, just recently, a beautiful

granddaughter. What fun this is! Career-wise prior to my retirement a few years ago, handled all

aspects (administration and design) of payroll and benefit plans for large corporations. Was a member

of the acquisition teams. Have done some benefit consulting work for other Nebraska-based

corporations and the University. I enjoy reading, dramas and I am a fabric artist doing restoration work

on quilts. Have a passion for the art of knitting. Do volunteer work for the Medical Center. Enjoying

life and my family much more since my retirement.

Engage Wellness has 2 recumbent bikes (#1 and #9). Recumbent bikes are extremely beneficial for improving cardiovascular health, as they work the large muscles of the legs, which increase heart rate and blood pressure. The recumbent bike is also beneficial for improving the strength, endurance, and flexibility in the muscles and joints of the legs. Having adequate strength and flexibility in the knee and hip joints can help debilitating symptoms of arthritis such as pain, stiffness, and inflammation. However, the motion of the machine does require excessive flexion (bending) of both the knees, and the hips, so sometimes getting started on the machine can be difficult if a person’s joints are extremely tight and stiff. It best to have one of the Wellness Specialists help you to determine if the bike is a good fit for you. If unable to do it at this time, there are definitely options to help improve the flexibility in the joints so you can build up to doing it.

DON’T FORGET TO EXERCISE!

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize.

And may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!

Visit us online!

www.unmc.edu/engage

Volume 7, Issue 11, November 2018

Engage Wellness Staff

Heather Shafer - M.S.

Wellness Specialist

402-552-7229

Sara Huebert - B.S.

Wellness Specialist

402-552-7229

Chris Kocol

Operations Assistant

402-552-7210

Tanner Dewey

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Jaelynn Griess

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Kristina Hedum

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Emily Williams

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Cierra Wynn

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Jenny Linden

Intern

Paula Nuguid

Intern

Engage Wellness Hours:

Monday thru Friday — 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays — 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR

Once again Engage Wellness is proud to partner with Home Instead Senior Care

to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. If you

are interested in being a Santa for a Senior, all you have to do is:

Select a bulb with a seniors name/item on it and write your name on the

tracking sheet located on the table across from the front desk

Purchase item(s) listed

Place the bulb and the unwrapped gift(s) together in the designated collection area by Wednesday,

November 28th

A Home Instead representative will pick up all items, wrap the gifts, and deliver them to each senior.

What a great way to make someone’s holiday a little brighter. Thank you for your generosity!

CALLING ALL COOKIE LOVERS

Anyone interested in showing off your baking talent is invited

to the Homemade Cookie Exchange. Bake your favorite

cookie or bar recipe. The exchange will be:

Friday, December 7th

12:15 (after Chat Café)

In the multi-purpose room

Please add your name to the sign-up sheet located on the

table across from the front desk, by Friday, November 16th.

Depending on the number of people who sign up, we will

exchange 6 - 12 cookies per person. Any questions can be

directed to Julie K. Yummy!!!