It is important to the CEWW Health Insurance Consortium to promote a healthy lifestyle for all our members. With that in mind, the Consortium teamed up with Empire to provide you with a wide range of Wellness Challenges to provide a platform to achieve a healthier you.
Whether you’re a well-seasoned athlete looking for a challenge or a rookie just looking for somewhere to start, we have a challenge fit for you! With each of our challenges, we also offer a modifier to be sure EVERYONE can participate. Our goal is for each participant to show consistent effort. Remember, always give it your best “shot”, you may even surprise yourself!
November Challenge – Elbow Plank
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Lie on the floor with forearms on the floor and legs fully extended.
- Raise your torso into the air until it makes a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles with your knees off the ground.
- Tighten your stomach and hold this position for as long as possible. Your arms should be at a 90 degree angle.
- The clock stops when any part of the body, except for your elbow/forearms and feet, touch the floor.
- Record your best time to the nearest 1 second for the month.
Happy Planksgiving!
- Modifier – In step 2, keep your knees on the ground and plank as long as you can.
Submit your total number of seconds/minutes here: November Submission Form
December Challenge – Healthy Meals Month
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Find a recipe(s) and make a healthy meal (well-balanced, low calorie, vegetarian, etc.)
- Eat at least a little bit of the meal you made and write a quick review if you would like to—1 to 2 sentences is plenty!
- Submit the recipe and your review via email at cewwhealth@cves.org. The recipes and their associated reviews will be compiled into an online CEWW Healthy Cookbook.
- A link to the cookbook will be shared during the month of January on our website, cewwhealth.org.
- If you are looking for music to play while creating your healthy meal, how about: Turnip for what?, Another one beats the crust, or Let’s give’em something to taco ‘bout!
Submit your healthy meal details here: December Submission Form
January Challenge – Step Count
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- The Step Count total will be taken from the daily totals of any three consecutive weekdays–no weekend days may be used!
- You can record your steps by using a pedometer app for your smart phone (or the Health app in your iPhone), Fitbit, smart watch, pedometer, etc.
- If you are using a pedometer, make sure that the pedometer is in a vertical position, sitting just above your hip bone and secured with the strap to the belt loop, belt, or waistband, to prevent it from falling off.
- If your pedometer, or monitoring device, does not have the capacity to record your steps for more than one day, log your steps at the end of each day and total at the end of three days. Log your total steps here: January Submission Form.
Submit your total number of steps: January Submission Form
Biggest Loser Weigh-In
The guidelines for this event are listed below:
- To begin, record your initial (starting) weight. We encourage everyone to “weigh-in” at least once each month.
- We will be utilizing the percentage of body weight loss in determining the weight loss for this challenge.
- The calculation is to take your actual weight (ending weight) and subtract it from your initial weight. Then divide that number by your initial (starting) weight. Take that number and multiply it by 100 and you get your weight loss percentage (there are calculators for this online). (IW-AW)/IW) * 100= weight loss percentage
- With discipline, drive, and determination—anything is possible. Let the journey begin!
Example:
So, if I started at 211 lbs., and I lose 5 lbs. between now and when I weigh myself for the last time in April, I would weigh 206.
That’s 211-206 (5 lbs.)
Take 5 lbs. and divide it by my starting weight (211). 5/211 = .023697
Multiply that by 100 and you get 2.37%
Submit your progress monthly here: Biggest Loser Submission Form
February Challenge – Yoga
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Relax – The Yoga Challenge is simple and will bring you Zen…
- Simply participate in two (2) yoga classes during the month of February.
- The classes need to be at least 20 minutes in length, and can be either in-person, on-line, or virtual.
- Record your participation
Pro Tip – Join Fitness on Demand for free by contacting the Health Insurance Consortium Office at CEWWHealth@CVES.ORG.
Submit your progress monthly here: February Submission Form
March Challenge – Free Throws
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Each shooter will shoot ten (10) balls from behind the free throw line.
- If a shooter has a perfect score after ten (10) shots, they are allowed an additional three balls.
- All thirteen (13) balls are worth one point.
- A shooter’s total score is determined by adding the total points he/she receives for all made baskets from behind the free throw line (15 feet). The highest possible score is 13. Record your best effort.
Modifier – Move closer to the basket than the free throw line, to ensure that you can get the ball up to the rim and take your shots from the shorter distance.
Submit your progress monthly here: March Submission Form
April Challenge – Push-ups
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Participants will have one minute to complete as many push-ups as you can.
- Participants will begin in the starting position with hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart, palms or fist on the floor with arms fully extended and body in a straight line from head to heel. Feet may not be more than 12” apart.
- From the starting point a member must lower their body to the ground until the upper arm is at least parallel to the floor (elbow bent at a 90-degree angle or less) before pushing back up to the starting point.
Participants may only rest in the up position. They may remove their hands or feet from the floor but only in the up/rest position. - When going back to the starting position your arms must be fully extended for the push up to count.
- If your knee(s) touch the ground at any point, that push-up does not count.
Modifier – Follow the same steps for completing the pushup with your knees on the floor for the duration.
Submit your progress monthly here: April Submission Form
May Challenge – 5K Run/Walk
The guidelines for this challenge are listed below:
- Participants will complete a 5K (walking or running) at some point during the 2021-2022 school year.
- Time (if you are recording your time) is to be recorded to the nearest 1 second.
- Start from a comfortable stationary 2-point stance position
- The front foot must be on or behind the starting line.
Pro Tip: Choose a virtual 5K. Track your distance and time.
Submit your progress monthly here: May Submission Form
June Challenge – Pick Your Favorite Challenge
The guidelines for this event are listed below:
- Follow the rule for your favorite challenge
- Congratulate yourself for participating and taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle.
Submit your progress monthly here: June Submission Form
June Biggest Loser Final Weigh-In
The guidelines for this event are listed below:
- To begin, find a copy of your beginning weigh-in record (initial/starting weight). Now, record your ending weight (at some point during the month of May).
- Since we are utilizing the percentage of body weight loss for this event, you will need both your starting and ending weight to complete the calculation.
- Complete the calculation by taking your actual weight (ending weight) and subtract it from your initial (beginning) weight.
- Then divide that number by your initial (starting) weight. Take that number and multiply it by 100 and you get your weight loss percentage (there are calculators for this online). (IW-AW)/IW) * 100= weight loss percentage
Example:
So, if I started at 211 lbs., and I lose 5 lbs. between now and when I weigh myself for the last time in April, I would weigh 206.
That’s 211-206 (5 lbs.)
Take 5 lbs. and divide it by my starting weight (211). 5/211 = .023697
Multiply that by 100 and you get 2.37%
Submit your progress monthly here: January Biggest Loser Submission Form
Every person should consult their physician before starting any exercise program or changing their diet. Prize(s). The prize(s) that may be awarded to the eligible winner(s) are not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. If a winner cannot be contacted or is disqualified for any reason, the Company reserves the right to determine an alternate winner or not to award that winner’s prize, in its sole discretion. A full list of rules for the Challenge is available on the CEWWhealth.org
website.
Rules:
To participate you must be a current employee of a District that partners with the CEWW Health Insurance Consortium or a retiree of one of these districts.
A new challenge is conducted each month. See the Wellness section of the cewwhealth.org website.
Each challenge completed and entered will count as 1 “ticket” into the prize drawings for the month and also one entry into the grand prize drawing.
To be entered into the monthly drawing, results must be submitted via the cewwhealth.org website by the 2nd day of the following month. No late entries will be accepted. (Example: January Challenge submitted by February 2nd)
Monthly drawings will happen on the fifteenth of each month.
Winners will be notified via phone or email from the Benefits Office.
For the grand prize to be rewarded, a minimum of 1,500 challenges must be completed.
The prize(s) that may be awarded to the eligible winner(s) are not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. If a winner cannot be contacted or is disqualified for any reason, the CEWW Health Insurance Consortium reserves the right to determine an alternate winner or not to award that winner’s prize, in its sole discretion.
If one or a combination of prizes won are $600, or more then the organization must report the winnings to the IRS using a 1095.
Prizes may be changed based on the discretion of the CEWW Health Insurance Consortium and Empire Blue Cross.
This entity gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability regarding our prizes offered during the Wellness Challenge. Under no circumstances will the Consortium be held responsible or liable in any way for any claims, damages, injury, losses, expenses, costs, or liabilities whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly from your use of or inability to use our prizes.
Every person should consult their physician before starting any exercise program or changing their diet.
Prizes
OCTOBER:
- 5 FIT BITS
- 4 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLANET FITNESS
- 2 ADK YOGA CERTIFICATES
NOVEMBER:
- 5 FIT BITS
- 4 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLANET FITNESS
- 3 ADK YOGA CERTIFICATES
- 5 SONICARE TOOTHBRUSHES
DECEMBER:
- 7 MEAL SERVICE SUBSCRIPTIONS
- 2 CROSS COUNTRY SKI PACKAGES
- 5 WATER PIC ULTRAS
JANUARY:
- 2 FIT BITS
- 20 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLATTSBURGH YMCA (6 MONTHS)
- 2 SNOWSHOE SETS
- 5 MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG DAY PASSES/RENTALS
FEBRUARY:
- 2 FIT BITS
- 4 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLANET FITNESS
- 3 ADK YOGA CERTIFICATES
- 5 MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG DAY PASSES/RENTALS
MARCH:
- 6 FIT BITS
- 4 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLANET FITNESS
- 5 ADK YOGA CERTIFICATES
APRIL:
- 7 FIT BITS
- 4 GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO PLANET FITNESS
- 2 CRUISER BIKES
- 5 ADK YOGA CERTIFICATES
MAY:
- 3 FIT BITS
- 2 HIKING PACKAGES
- 1 FARMERS MARKET VOUCHER
JUNE:
- GRAND PRIZE NORDIC TRACK STUDIO CYCLE EXERCISE BIKE
- 2 BIKES