Don't Let Holiday Pounds Linger

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2013) — If you had ready access to a weight loss program with a success rate approaching 70 percent during the most notorious weight-gaining month of the year, would you join?

Of course you would! Especially if it’s also convenient.

Last year, two out of every three University of Kentucky employees who participated in the Keep It Off! Holiday Challenge successfully avoided holiday weight gain. Though this annual challenge focuses on helping participants avoid weight gain during the holidays, some even lost weight during last year’s challenge.

The program was so successful that Health and Wellness will offer the program again this year to help motivate UK employees to meet their goals, but participants must register before Nov. 27.

Following this holiday season, warm memories aren’t the only thing that will linger on into the new year. For many of us, it’s also the hard-to-lose extra pounds we gain after all the holiday meals and rich desserts. Wouldn’t it be nice to avoid those extra pounds in the first place?

UK employees have already started registering for the annual UK Health & Wellness Keep It Off! Holiday Challenge with that exact goal in mind. Register by Nov. 27 to participate in the challenge and receive the extra boost of motivation you need to meet this goal. Participants will receive weekly emails from the UK Health and Wellness team with nutrition and fitness tips to avoid holiday weight gain.

“Staying mindful during the holidays is one of the most effective strategies for making healthy choices,” says Karen McNees, UK Health and Wellness dietitian. “Our weekly emails provide a gentle nudge to help you stay focused on your goal and connect you with information and resources to help you be successful.”

McNees and UK Health and Wellness dietitians and fitness experts will be available to help with any of participants’ holiday eating and exercise needs.

Participants will receive not only the gift of taking their pre-holiday weight with them into the new year, but also a gift from Health & Wellness if they report maintaining their pre-holiday weight. Participants will be able to submit their start and end weight from Jan 2 – 8, 2014. For details and to register, please visit this page.