Choose You Blog

I’m looking forward to sometime  in the future when I can report having a week that went smoothly and uneventfully.  This wasn’t it.

My decision to participate in the Choose You program took a little shove suggestion  from my son.   This week my cat joined my support team— by peeing on some chocolate chips I was about to eat.….thus supporting my goal of less sugar and overall “moderation”.   (Aside from “Eating Right” I have other goals to come in future weeks.)

Like most people, for me sticking with any program is way harder than starting.  I wish I was blessed with an iron will and a little discipline.  Unfortunately, I’m not.

I am, however, really good at coming up with creative excuses.

For instance: Mother’s Day—-obviously was a piece of cake.

This weekend—a similar opportunity arose—when I was confronted by another major challenge—-a place that is the very opposite of “moderation”.

Alot has changed at the Disneyland Resort in California since my last visit there,  maybe 15 years ago.   Like a whole new park (California Adventure) for one thing.

But some things never change.

Disneyland is still the happiest place on earth— and far from the healthiest.

So I’ll just say I’m feeling relatively good about myself compared to past trips.  To balance out half a churro probably I should also mention the funnel cake ….. I walked at least five miles through the Magic Kingdom and the California Adventure to find  what my daughter claims is the healthiest food you can possibly find for dinner at Disneyland—a vegetable roll and edamame.

Considering the risk/benefit ratios, I think I escaped from an entire day with major fun and minor damage.

Today is Choose You Day, a key part of the Choose You movement! Choose You Day is a work-place based opportunity for employers to encourage their employees to choose their health. For a donation of $5, employees can take 30 minutes of “me” time and are encouraged to make that time  all about their health. Some employers are choosing to do wellness programs in conjunction with Choose You day.

The American Cancer Society set a realistic goal of having 10 companies  participate in Choose You Day in our first year of the program and we are thrilled to report that we have three times that many! Several of our sponsors like Walgreens, the Coca Cola company and Neutrogena are doing Choose You Day activities today. And we hear reports that Amie Adams, one of our Choose You bloggers, and her colleagues in her three-person office are going to take some time today to exercise!

The American Cancer Society’s national headquarters held its Choose You Day on May 4th to celebrate the launch of the Choose You movement. My colleagues planned amazing events! Check them out:

 There was some salsa dancing…

…a cooking demo…

YUM!!!!

…and an exercise class (love the lady doing squats in the skirt – now that’s commitment!)!

Who said being healthy — and being healthy at work — can’t be fun? I was so bummed to miss these activities (I was in Times Square launching the program with celebrity ambassador Ellen Pompeo — ah well, the sacrifices we sometimes have to make!).

If your company is interested in doing a Choose You Day, check out this info and downloadable kit. It doesn’t have to be on May 12 — any day is a great day to choose employee health!

More to come on our very first Choose You Day!

We know you’ve been hearing a lot about May 4 so far, but there’s another day you should mark on your calendar: May 12. We can’t tell you yet exactly what’s going to happen that day, but it will be a day when Americans across the country will finally have the one thing they’ve been missing in their quest to live healthier: time.

How often have you planned to take a walk around the block, go to a yoga class, or even just relax with a favorite magazine, only to cancel that plan because you don’t have time? Something always comes up – work emergencies, children’s activities, or another unplanned task – that takes priority over taking time for yourself. But May 12 is your day – the day you’ll finally have time to put yourself at the top of your list!

Don’t forget – the movement launches May 4! In the meantime, add this blog to your RSS feed or Google Reader, or check back here tomorrow to stay in the know.