Principals' Fitness Challenge 6 Winner

Congratulations to principal Elizabeth Hostin and her staff from Martha Reid Elementary for winning the sixth challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 6 was entitled, Portion Distortion. Hostin and her staff have become proficient in reading food labels, sharing healthy home-cooked meals, and bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to school. Plus, increased exercise and group encouragement helped lead them to first place.

From the challenge: Restaurant portions are nearly twice the size they were a few decades ago. Some restaurants provide enough food for at least two meals at once. This is a problem because research suggests that people will eat more when more food is in front of them. Large portions have been blamed for the increase in obesity in the United States. The key to reaching or maintaining a healthy weight is portion control.

Portion distortion — Seek out quality over quantity. Taste and savor every bite!

1. When eating out, box up half of your meal before you begin eating
2. When eating at home, read your labels to see what a single portion should be and eat only that amount
3. When eating at home, use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate

Elizabeth Hostin and her staff also won Challenge #2. Congratulations Martha Reid Elementary.

Principals' Fitness Challenge 5 Winner

Congratulations to principal Dr. Tammy Rountree and her staff from Cora Spencer Elementary for winning the fifth challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

 

Challenge 5 was entitled, Fitness on the go. Dr. Rountree and her staff discovered creative ways to incorporate physical activity into their day, and every bit of effort really added up.

 

From the challenge: "Your day is filled with opportunities to get moving. Make every minute count. Every bit of physical activity makes a difference, even if it's just a matter of walking a little further while running an errand. When you need to talk to a co-worker, walk to their office or desk rather than e-mailing or calling them. Stand, don't sit! Standing up burns more calories than sitting. When walking to and from work – or at any time in your day – walk briskly."

 

Easy ideas to try:

1. Park in the furthest parking spot from your school (or from a business on the weekends)
2. Grab a partner and take a full lap around the outside of your school (or an equivalent distance on the weekend)
3. Park in the furthest parking spot from any business you go to (may substitute an extra lap around your school if you don't plan on running any errands after work)

What would you add? What are some easy ideas for fitness on the go?

Principals' Fitness Challenge 4 Winner

Congratulations to principal Chuck Roe and his staff from Janet Brockett Elementary for winning the fourth challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 4 was entitled, Eating smart for busy people.

Mr. Roe successfully motivated his 63 teachers to eat smarter by providing healthy snacks, offering ongoing encouragement, and fostering teamwork.

From the Challenge:
"Eating smart for busy people. Small changes can add up to long term weight loss.

1. Start everyday with a healthy breakfast — whole grains, fruit or protein — within 2 hours of waking up 
2. Eat a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack of fruit and/or protein
3. No fried food

Make the most of your snacks. If carefully chosen, snacks can fill in nutritional gaps and boost energy without causing weight gain worries.

Principals' Fitness Challenge 3 Winner

Congratulations to principal Christie Alfred and the staff from Worley Middle School for winning the third challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 3 was entitled, Move a little, lose a lot.

Alfred motivated her staff by appointing team leaders who encouraged teachers to participate in the challenge, sending friendly reminders to keep moving and deeming Wednesday “jeans day” — all in the spirit of fun, healthy competition.

Christie Alfred’s leadership abilities extend well beyond the Principals’ Fitness Challenge. She was recently promoted to Frontier High School/Ben Barber Career Tech Academy.

Make physical activity a regular part of your day. Choose activities that you enjoy and can do regularly.

Check out the challenges as they're posted and get some additional tips for healthy living.

Principals' Fitness Challenge 2 Winner

Congratulations to principal Elizabeth Hostin and her staff from Martha Reid Elementary for winning the second challenge in the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center's Principals' Fitness Challenge.

Challenge 2 was entitled, Rethink your drink . . . Reduce your soda intake

Hostin and the school's staff successfully completed Challenge Two by replacing their sodas with unsweetened tea and implementing an iced water hydration station donated by the schools' PTA. Encouragement also came from Mary Costa, Martha Reid Elementary School's health mentor (she just completed her first Ironman®), who motivated everyone to get moving.

From the challenge: "Regular soda adds empty calories. Some research also indicates that drinks with artificial sweeteners (i.e. diet soda) may increase cravings and lead to higher daily calorie intake.

Instead of sugary drinks and diet soda, try water every day and add a slice of lemon or lime, or even fresh mint to your water for a boost of flavor. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger and could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers. Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily will hydrate your body. Thirst is sometimes mistaken as hunger!"

Check out the challenges as they're posted and get some additional tips for healthy living.