The “Dump Your Plump” challenge is part of NMC's “Healthy Ü” employee wellness program that promotes worksite wellness through its focus on exercise, nutrition, team building and behavior modification.  As part of the program, individuals set weight loss goals from 0-24 pounds.  They earn points for their team for exercising at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week and reaching their weight loss/management goals.  They do this with the support of their team members and the team captain, who hosts confidential weigh-ins each week to track the team’s progress.  This year at NMC, the competition began earlier (January instead of April) and will last longer (12 weeks instead of 8), and is already off to a strong start.

With creative team names such as “Mission Slimpossible,” “Weapons of Mass Reduction,” and “Jiggle Belles,” some of the fun of this competition comes in brainstorming names for the teams.  One such team this year, “Adult Supervision Required” is made up of 8 members, 6 of which are from the hospital's Plant and Property Department. Leo Gaudreau, NMC's Plant Manager, is one of those team members.  About “Dump Your Plump,” he says, “I like that it's very supportive—they give you information that you can use.  The team aspect is fun because it helps motivate you.  It's better as a team, tracking each other's progress, because it helps push you forward.”

Throughout the challenge, prizes are given out to keep employees motivated, although for most, the result of better health habits is the best reward.  Adam Thompson, an NMC Maintenance Worker, has significantly reduced his intake of soda since the beginning of Dump Your Plump.  Prior to the program's start, he was drinking an average of 6, 20 ounce bottles of soda during his work day, with another 4 or 5 cans of soda at home each night.  Now, Adam is choosing lower calorie drinks, like Vitamin Water, and is only having ½ glass of soda with dinner.  Adam is also being more conscious about his activity level.  Instead of jumping in his truck each time he needs to change location on the hospital campus, Adam is opting to walk between buildings, even if he is hauling items with him.  In the first two weeks of the challenge, Adam has lost 6.2 pounds.  “The good thing with our group is that it's competitive with the guys,” says Adam.  “Everybody is checking in on each other and it's about bragging rights for the week.  I am enjoying it when I see results on the scale, and see weight loss each week.”

According to NMC Health Promotion Assistant Cindy Rutkowski, last year NMC employees lost a total of 640 pounds throughout the challenge.  “This is an equivalent of 2560 sticks of butter worth of weight,” says Rutkowski.  “NMC'ers are off to a great start this year.  It will be interesting to hear what success stories come out of this year's competition.” 

NMC's employee wellness program has won a “Gold Award” 6 consecutiveyears from the Governor's Council on Sports and Physical Fitness.  In addition to its own program, NMC works with other companies to improve morale and reduce health risks within their workforces.  For more information on worksite wellness programs, please call Pam Cross, NMC's Health Promotion Manager at 524-1227.

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