INstride February 2016

02 16

ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL

Former Bloomington North standout took charge of his fitness the hard way

HEALTHY HAVENS

Wellness programs create healthy job spaces

YOU DANCE. YOU SWEAT. U-JAM. Bedford fitness instructor introduces high-energy dance workout

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www.myINstride.com

02 16 FEATURES

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DEPARTMENTS

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Editor’s Letter INS green sage

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10 ACHIEVE Community Spotlight Poverty & Healthy Options

COVER STORY

On the Comeback Trail

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Former Bloomington North standout took charge of his fitness the hard way

Fresh Picks Dragonfruit

19 Calendar

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You Dance. You Sweat. U-Jam. Bedford fitness instructor introduces high-energy dance workout

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Cold Call How to recognize hypothermia and handle a worst-case scenario

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Spotted Photos of fitness in action

Making Healthy Havens

Wellness programs create healthy job spaces

n Connect with our 740-plus members who share similar interests. n Let our calendar cure your boredom with wellness and fitness listings

in the area. Add your own event. n Find delicious new dishes and share your favorites. n Track your fitness progress with a personal weight tracker. n Nominate your fitness inspiration and read how others stay motivated.

February 2016 • INstride 3

stride Editorial director: Bob Zaltsberg Production & copy editor: Brooke McCluskey Photo director: David Snodgress Senior writers: Carol Johnson Contributing staff: Lauren Slavin, Derrek Tipton, Kathryn S. Gardiner, Brooke McCluskey, Garet Cobb, Rich Janzaruk, Jeremy Hogan and Chris Howell Graphic designer: Stewart Moon Publisher: E. Mayer Maloney Jr. CONTENT: 812-331-4289 bmccluskey@hoosiertimes.com Advertising director: Laurie Ragle Marketing manager: Shaylan Owen ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION: 812-331-4310 INstride is a monthly fitness, wellness and nutrition magazine serving south-central Indiana with offices in Bedford, Mooresville, Martinsville and Bloomington. It is distributed to more than 90,000 readers and can be found at various locations throughout south-central Indiana. The free publication is also inserted in the Bedford Times-Mail, Martinsville Reporter-Times and Bloomington Herald-Times the second Monday of every month; and the Mooresville/Decatur Times, the second Thursday of every month. ©2016 Schurz Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Coming up in March n Stretching is an important parts of fitness. We’ll tell

you why and help you be more flexible. n We’ll introduce you to a Fitness Inspiration who

overcame some health issues to become a personal trainer. n The word mindfulness has been working its way into

more conversations these days, so why not explore how it fits into wellness?

ON THE COVER Tyrone Morris works out in the pool at the Monroe County YMCA and has lost about 200 pounds of weight. Photograph

by David Snodgress for INstride.

4 INstride • February 2016

EDITOR’S LETTER

Take Some Extra Steps For those of you who have the option of moving around while you’re at work, a story in today’s edition has advice for you: Just do it. (Sorry, Nike.)

Some workplaces have extensive programs to help employees with fitness. But individual employees can do a lot for themselves without a program if they make it a point to get up and move around. Five short walks of 200 steps could add 1,000 steps of activity, about half a mile.

Taking a break for the brain can also help stimulate better thinking. Those are some thoughts, shared in a story by reporter Derrek Tipton, that should be easy to put into practice.

Tyrone Morris had to do a little more than add some steps to get himself back into the shape he wanted to be in. A former basketball player at Bloomington High School North, he’s now 45 and holds onto a Monroe County YMCA photo card with the picture on it from when he joined. He’s gained a lot since that photo was taken, and he’s lost a lot—200 pounds.

He talked with writer Lauren Slavin about his efforts to get in better shape.

We have a lot more in this month’s magazine, but I want to spend the rest of my space talking about a key member of the INstride team that’s moving on. Stewart Moon has designed every INstride magazine since it was launched six years ago. He’s brought the stories to life with creative layouts and informative informational graphics. He’s been a full contributor in content discussions, and he used his many skills to overcome some problems caused by his deadline-challenged editor. Now, he’s going off to operate his own graphic design business.

Keep stridin’, Stewart. Here’s to your good health.

Bob Zaltsberg, Editor

February 2016 • INstride 5

›››››››››››››››››› ››››You Sweat. ››››››U-Jam.

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

U-Jam Instructor Susan Sokeland leads a class at Priority Fitness in Bedford.

Bedford fitness instructor introduces high-energy dance workout

6 INstride • February 2016

By Carol Johnson

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n a cold January night when most people were curled up at home, 28 people filled an exercise room ready to punch, shake and jump to the pulsing beat of hip hop.

The name of the class is U-Jam Fitness, but it could very well be called Sunday Night Dance Party.

If not for instructor Susan Sokeland up front leading the class and cueing steps, the class could pass for a flash mob.

U-Jam is short for United We Jam, a dance workout created five years ago in California by Suzy and Matt Marks.

Sokeland, an exercise instructor at Priority Fitness, introduced the workout, new to Indiana, recently at the Bedford gym.

Sokeland said she was looking for something new when she found U-Jam Fitness online. She wanted to

›You Dance.

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

Jill Vance moves with the music during the U-Jam class at Priority Fitness in Bedford.

February 2016 • INstride 7

›››››››››››››››››› “Zumba is more dancey. I like U-Jam because it is fast-paced and you work a lot of muscles that you don’t use on an everyday basis.”DENISE SPROLE try a class, but the closest one she could find was in Jeffersonville. She decided to take the class and was hooked, pursuing her certification so she could bring the class to Lawrence County. She is currently working on her American Council on Exercise certification.

A Zumba instructor since 2013, she is now offering U-Jam to people who love high-energy class workouts and want an alternative to Zumba.

“I teach Zumba step and I just love it, but there are a lot of instructors out there teaching Zumba,” she said.

Fans of Zumba’s Latin dance moves and music will find plenty to love with U-Jam, said Sokeland.

“The music is fabulous,” she said. “There’s Korean pop, some Latin pop. It uses urban beats from around the world.”

Participant Denise Sproles, 47, of Oolitic, who also takes Zumba, said, for her, U-Jam is easier to learn than Zumba.

“Zumba is more dancey,” she said. “I like U-Jam because it is fast-paced and you work a lot of muscles that you don’t use on an everyday basis.”

Sproles said she joined the gym in September after a

health check-up revealed she had high cholesterol and needed to start exercising.

She takes two classes a week and has lost inches from her tall frame.

Pam Oldham, 47, Oolitic, said she enjoys the class because “everyone is friendly.”

Jill Vance, 35, of Bedford, said the class serves as her cross-training workout. Vance runs about 30 miles a week, usually by herself, so the class is a chance to be social while working out.

“I’ve been coming to Zumba for two years,” she said.

“I like the U-Jam music better and the moves are easier for me. Zumba is more Latin … the music and moves in U-Jam feel more natural.”

All three agreed Sokeland is part of why they enjoy the class.

“She is such a good motivator,” said Sproles.

“Susan is awesome,” said Donna Le Clair, 54, of Bedford. “I was lost the first time, but I kept going. I can’t do all the steps, but I do what I can.”

Sokeland said that’s key to the class and how she teaches.

“It’s amazing to me that I have people my kids’ age

Amy Cieslik enjoys moving to the hip hop music during the U-Jam class.

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

8 INstride • February 2016

› The Sunday evening U-Jam class at Priority Fitness draws a large crowd.

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

in my classes and people my age,” she said. “It’s very easy to follow. At some point in each song I’ll move slowly until people get it, then speed it up. There is high impact in some places, but you can choose low impact moves if you want a workout that’s more moderate.”

The songs are pre-choreographed, but that’s not to say each class is the same.

“I can change it up as much as I want. I can choose from eight or nine warm-ups and cardios so you’re never going to get bored with it,” she said.

Sokeland is currently the only licensed U-Jam instructor in Indiana north of Jeffersonville. Instructors use social media to offer support and advice, which she said is unlike anything else she has experienced.

The creators of U-Jam envision people coming together to improve their health and well being.

Sokeland said her goal is for participants to feel that sense of unity.

“I have never felt this level of support with any other exercise program that I have received a certification in. It is a family group that strives for all fitness and skill levels to be able to dance and be unified by being and working together,” she said. n

Denise Sproles participates in a U-Jam class.

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

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February 2016 • INstride 9

ACHIEVE COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

By Nancy E. Richman

Poverty & Healthy Options Editor’s note: Nancy E. Richman is the executive director for the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, a United Way partner agency. VIM partners with ACHIEVE, a local organization that strives to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

When is the healthy choice NOT the easy choice?

When one is living in poverty. When does health insurance NOT make healthcare an easy choice?

When one is living in poverty.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, healthcare delivery across the country is undergoing a transformation. This is particularly true at the local Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (VIM). VIM is a free clinic providing for medically underserved residents of Owen and Monroe counties living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

For the many people ineligible for insurance, VIM provides free primary and acute medical care, dental, mental health and medications. At the same time, the VIM clinic is working harder to keep patients healthy by addressing the social and economic factors exacerbating their illness rather than simply offering doctors’ appointments to manage their various ailments. As one might expect, this is a challenging task in the medically underserved population for which the VIM clinic provides care.

Research has convincingly demonstrated that factors such as inadequate housing, poor nutrition, lack of transportation and health illiteracy are responsible for the majority of the disease burden in people of low socio-economic status. Policymakers and researchers have also demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of addressing these types of factors when treating disease.

In an innovative partnership VIM, Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital and Shalom Community Center are working together to serve the people falling through the cracks of healthcare reform.

For example, until recently, there has been little specific attention paid in Bloomington and the 10 INstride • February 2016

COURTESY PHOTO

Ed Hinds, IU Health/VIM pharmacist, and a Crawford Apartments resident celebrate his return to bike riding.

surrounding area to the unique issues involved in providing medical care to people experiencing homelessness. However, for the past several months medical professionals from the partnership agencies have provided on-site health support services to Shalom guests, and to the residents of Crawford Apartments who are medically at-risk and formerly chronically homeless.

A nurse practitioner and pharmacist visit Crawford weekly to identify chronic disease risk factors and untreated medical conditions, coordinate medical care with primary care clinicians, schedule and attend doctor’s appointments, arrange prescription delivery and provide ongoing follow-up. In addition, considerable hours are spent by the three partnership agencies in providing health education, case management, and assistance navigating the insurance and medical systems to Crawford residents and Shalom guests.

With the advent of healthcare reform, increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness—and otherwise living in poverty—are now insured. Even with insurance, however, there are still many barriers to accessing primary care services. These include navigating the complexities of the medical system, understanding and affording Healthy IN Plan power account payments, remembering appointments scheduled several weeks or months into the future and finding transportation to appointments.

Perhaps most importantly, homeless and other individuals living in poverty may have feelings of intimidation. When visiting medical providers, they may experience subtle or overt behavior directed at them, whether real or perceived, because they are unkempt, wearing dirty clothes, smelling of tobacco or alcohol, or have missing teeth.

Increased insurance coverage does not ensure that the medical system has an adequate network of providers and staff willing and able to meet the complex health care needs of people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty. During short visits, primary care clinicians may be overwhelmed in trying to address the multi-layered needs of extremely complex patients whose medical needs are compounded by social-economic needs. Even with the increase in practice-based care managers, specific training on the unique issues facing homeless people and those living in poverty is often lacking.

Every day in America, doctors and other clinicians prescribe medication to patients who have no food at home or live in unsafe housing. Every day medical providers diagnose and treat illnesses for people unable to be engaged partners in their care because their pressing basic resource needs—lack of transportation, lack of social supports, lack of money for fruits and vegetables, lack of copays for medicine—challenge their ability to follow their treatment plan.

Clinicians know that for many patients, much more than medical intervention is needed to ensure a

VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE

Volunteers in Medicine helps medically underserved citizens in Monroe and Owen Counties do the following things, at no cost. n Learn to manage chronic conditions. n Live a healthier lifestyle by reducing risk

factors. n Understand and organize medications. n Access quality primary and preventive

healthcare. n Empower themselves through health

education.

positive outcome. But they typically don’t have the time or resources to address these social and economic issues.

To help patients experiencing homelessness or otherwise living in poverty, VIM has expanded its Health Support Services program. In addition to the numerous uninsured patients seeking medical care at VIM, local clinicians refer their insured patients living in poverty to the VIM clinic. For these insured patients, VIM staff address the non-medical factors that exacerbate illness, including coordinating essential social services, providing health education, lifestyle coaching, care management and medication consultation.

Without VIM’s health support services that extend the continuum of medical services, inpatient and emergency department visits would, no doubt, increase. While health support services are typically very time-consuming and resource-intensive, ultimately these services save the lives and improve the health of our neighbors. They also reduce overall health care costs for all of us. n

February 2016 • INstride 11

ON THE Co Tyrone Morris talks with Richard Hardy as he does a cardio workout on an Arc Trainer. Morris follows an exercise routine at the YMCA and has lost about 200 pounds of weight.

12 INstride • February 2016

omeback Trail Former Bloomington North standout took charge of his fitness the hard way

By Lauren Slavin

T

yrone Morris hasn’t updated the photo on his Monroe County YMCA membership card since he joined the health club several years ago.

The 45-year-old is still more than 6 feet tall, and in person looks every inch the forward he played on Bloomington High School North’s basketball team.

The identification card is a reminder of what he’s gained since starting his daily workouts at the Y’s Southeast branch: strength, endurance and confidence in his physical abilities.

It’s also a reminder of what he lost—about 200 pounds.

“I use it for motivation,” Morris said of his membership ID. “Sometimes I can’t believe I did it.”

Morris wasn’t always overweight. An athlete with an athlete’s build, Morris played football and basketball at COURTESY PHOTO At his top weight, Tyrone Bloomington High School North, and Morris was 450 pounds. after graduating in 1989 went on to play college ball at the University of South Dakota.

After college, Morris moved back to Bloomington with hopes of continuing his basketball career. He spent his days working out and training to try out for overseas semi-pro basketball teams like the Manchester Giants, and his nights doing manual labor at a factory.

DAVID SNODGRESS | INSTRIDE

February 2016 • INstride 13

DAVID SNODGRESS | INSTRIDE

Tyrone Morris started his renewed commitment to an exercise regime with an arthritis aquatics class at the Monroe County YMCA.

Morris’ life changed drastically after he injured his back on the job in 1997. Over the next 16 years, he would need 15 back surgeries to treat herniated discs and degenerated nerve disease. Sports used to be a constant in Morris’ life. Now, the first thing he thought about when he woke up in the morning and the last thing he thought about before falling asleep at night was his pain.

“As an athlete, you always think you can walk through fire,” Morris said. “It’s going to be hard for the rest of my life.”

For more than a decade, Morris’ only exercise came from physical therapy. He was often confined to bed rest, and thought little of maintaining a nutritious diet.

At his heaviest, Morris weighed 450 pounds, so much that a day of vacation fun with his son quickly turned into a life-threatening situation.

Morris and his 9-year-old son were cruising on the Atlantic Ocean on personal watercrafts when a wave

14 INstride • February 2016

knocked the elder Morris from ride. The watercraft rolled and Morris lost his lifejacket. He was able to right the machine, but couldn’t lift himself back on top to ride back to shore. A boat eventually pulled alongside to help Morris and his son get to safety.

“I told myself there is no way I’m going to put myself in a position where I can’t help myself or my son,” he said.

Soon after, he set a goal to lose 200 pounds “the hard way”—without surgery or medication. He joined the Monroe County YMCA, where he remembered working out as a young man. His first class was a group arthritis aquatics class at the Southeast branch. Morris was, without a doubt, the youngest person in the pool, and maybe the heaviest.

“I think everyone in there was probably 65 or older,” he said. “They thought I was crazy.”

Morris learned that running in the water was a great way to burn calories without hurting his back. He’s logged countless hours in the gym’s pool and on its elliptical and arc trainer machines. And he matched his calorie intake to calories burned during his daily workouts.

Exercise has also helped Morris manage his chronic pain. At his heaviest, Morris needed to walk with a cane, and often ended up in the emergency room after a flare up of pain. In the past year, he’s only needed to seek emergency medical care once, and walks with a cane sparingly.

“It’s getting better,” he said.

The last time Morris weighed himself, he was an even 250 pounds. YMCA employees have said Morris should get a new membership card to match his new look. But the ID is a powerful reminder of his hard work, Morris said, and he knows there is still work to be done.

“Every time I see that picture, it lets me know where I was and where I don’t want to go back to,” he said. n

FRESH PICKS

By Brooke McCluskey

Dragonfruit Smoothie Half a dragonfruit Half a banana, fresh or frozen Half a beet Half a lime, squeezed 1 cup coconut water or almond milk 1 small handful of mixed greens 1 handful of ice cubes Peel dragonfruit and beet. Chop ingredients and add to a blender and blend on high 60 seconds or until smooth.

RECIPE FROM EATINGWELL.COM

Tame the Dragonfruit

Simple Dragonfruit Salsa 1 dragonfruit, diced 2 tablespoons chives, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon juice Fresh cilantro, if desired Salt and pepper, if desired Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix lightly. Serve immediately. Can be eaten like a traditional salsa, with tortilla chips, and also makes a bright, fresh topping for fish or scallops.

RECIPE FROM FOODNETWORK.COM

Sweeten up your Valentine’s Day the healthy way with a bright pink dragonfruit, also known as pitaya. This cactus fruit—indeed, it blossoms on cacti—absorbs moisture from the plant to create dense, sweet flesh inside a brilliant magenta skin. Indigenous to Central America and grown in Thailand and Vietnam, dragonfruit is packed with antioxidants and 10 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C. It’s also good for your bones and blood. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations considers dragonfruit a food of high nutritional value due to its significant calcium and iron content. The skin is inedible, so place a dragonfruit on a cutting board, slice it lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh. Chopped dragonfruit can be substituted for strawberries, raspberries or kiwi in many dishes. It’s also a healthy addition to salsa and smoothies.

February 2016 • INstride 15

COLD 16 INstride • February 2016

By Kathryn S. Gardiner

T

he human machine is meant to be a cozy 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and it only takes the loss of a few degrees to cause its gears, joints and pumps a lot of trouble. Symptoms of hypothermia begin when the body’s core temperature drops to 95 Fahrenheit or cooler.

Exposure to even moderate temperatures—or cold water—can cause symptoms of hypothermia. February temperatures in Indiana can quickly take a person from chilly to hypothermic— and because confusion is a symptom, the realization can come too late.

Mild symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, slurred speech, confusion, lack of coordination and fatigue. Symptoms can quickly become extreme and include a weak pulse, shallow breathing, difficulty thinking, overwhelming drowsiness and progressive loss of consciousness.

CALL A person in the late stages of hypothermia often exhibits poor decision making, such as trying to remove warm clothing or resisting efforts to help. They may also show apathy or a lack of concern about their condition because their cognitive processing is impaired.

If you notice these symptoms in a companion, seek professional medical care. The Mayo Clinic recommends taking the following steps to assist the person until emergency help is available.

Although it might be tempting to encourage a hypothermic person to move around—or to rub their body in the hope of creating warmth—avoid vigorous movement. This can cause injury or trigger cardiac

How to recognize hypothermia and handle a worstcase scenario

arrest. Remove any wet clothing and gently cover them with dry blankets or layers of coats. Ensure they are separated from the cold ground and can rest on the warmest available surface.

A hypothermic person can benefit from your body heat, so you can also wrap yourself in blankets or coats right alongside them. This also brings the benefit of a psychological boost, because a hypothermic person may be feeling apathetic or hopeless.

Warm beverages are helpful, but alcoholic beverages are not. So if hot coffee or tea is nearby, encourage the person to take sips—but avoid beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks that could harm an already-overloaded body. The feeling of warmth that comes from

February 2016 • INstride 17

A person in the late stages of hypothermia often exhibits poor decision making, such as trying to remove warm clothing or resisting efforts to help. alcohol is caused by blood rushing to the skin, away from the core where a hypothermic person needs it.

To ensure you—and your companions—won’t have to tangle with hypothermia, take some precautionary steps.

First, always bundle up in layers of clothing that can be added or removed according to the environment.

Protect your head, neck and hands from heat loss with hats, scarves and mittens. Mittens are better than gloves in cold weather because they allow fingers to remain in contact and keep each other warm. Not only does this stave off hypothermia, it also prevents frostbite.

Avoid cotton. Cotton holds sweat and dampness, creating a chilled surface against your body. Wicking fabrics, commonly warn in the summer, are also useful in winter because they pull sweat away from your body before it can chill and lower your temperature.

Water can seep down into socks and shoes and create an unexpected chill. So stay dry. During winter excursions, avoid paths that lead to water and stay out of areas that are boggy or unfamiliar. And consider heading indoors if the wind picks up. Blowing rain and snow are common causes of hypothermia because they soak outerwear and dampen the clothing closest to a person’s skin.

Keep winter a wonderland by playing it smart with preparation—and by taking quick action when hypothermia creeps in. n

18 INstride • February 2016

Hypothermia Symptoms MILD SYMPTOMS: n Shivering n Fast breathing n Trouble speaking n Confusion n Lack of coordination n Fatigue n Increased heart rate n High blood pressure

EXTREME SYMPTOMS: n Weak pulse n Slow, shallow breathing n Difficultly thinking n Poor decision making n Overwhelming drowsiness n Apathy about the situation n Progressive loss of

consciousness SOURCE: THE MAYO CLINIC

CALENDAR

April 2016 H-T/YMCA Spring Run WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Monroe County YMCA Southside, 2125 S. Highland Ave., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The Spring Run includes a 5K, 10K, and Kids’ One Mile Fun Run. MORE INFO: monroecounty ymca.org

2

Bedford Lions Club Fitness Challenge 5K WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Englewood School, 3203 Washington Ave., Bedford, Ind. DESCRIPTION: 5K run and walk supporting the programs of the Bedford Lions Club.

MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

9

Hoosier Half Marathon and 5K WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center, 1000 E. 17th St., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: 11th running of the Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon and the Hoosier 5K. Indiana University and the City of Bloomington play host to a challenging race where participants will find 13.1 miles of relentless rolling hills, but be rewarded with amazing views of campus, downtown, and countless spring blooms.

MORE INFO: hoosierhalf.com

9

May

June

County Viaduct 14 Greene 5K Run Walk

4

Dewey Dash 5K WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHEN: 9 a.m.

WHERE: Morgan County Public

WHERE: Viaduct Observation

Library, 110 S. Jefferson St., Martinsville, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Fourth annual 5K run/walk is open to all ages and abilities, and the flat course is great for runners and walkers alike. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

Deck, Tulip Trestle County Rd 480E, Solsberry, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The start and finish will be of the second annual run/walk will be the Viaduct Observation Deck. This event is put on by the Tulip Trestle Community Restoration Inc. They plan on giving out overall and age group awards. They also will have t-shirts, goody bags, and snacks at the finish line.

MORE INFO: Race director Linda J. Cullison, ljcullison@gmail.com

Looking for more activities and events? Check out myINstride.com/calendar or add your own

February 2016 • INstride 19

Making Healthy

Havens Wellness programs create healthy job spaces

By Derrek Tipton

S

pending countless hours with eyes glued to a computer screen and balancing a hectic personal life, the average white collar worker may find it hard to keep up with healthy habits.

But some in the Bloomington community are striving to create a culture of health and wellness in the workplace.

Samantha Schaefer, manager of IU’s employee wellness program called Healthy IU, said it’s easy to get caught up in a busy world, but healthy activities that fits one’s needs are important to function at an optimal level.

“We all live in a busy world, and it’s to pause and take time to focus on our well-being,” Schaefer said.

“But I encourage people to consider sometimes the damage that goes on in our body that we don’t think about.”

In a 2014 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that surveyed 37,626 employees, obesity levels varied by occupation. For example, only 11.6 percent of those who are doctors, dentists and nurses were considered obese.

20 INstride • February 2016

By contrast, 38.6 percent of truckers were considered obese. Though a truck driving isn’t considered a white-collar job, the job is a sedentary one, meaning it requires a lot of sitting and little physical activity.

Many workplaces, like IU, institute wellness programs to motivate workers to take better control of their health and wellness. Employees have access to programs such as diabetes prevention and weight loss challenges. Other programs contain a mental and emotional relief component, like yoga and tai chi.

“We saw a big need with mental health,” Schaefer said. “A lot of people take stress home from work. But we need to strive to manage it well throughout the day.

We’re trying to give them tools to manage their stress and emotions at work.”

Alison Miller, health and wellness coordinator at the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, said just doing little things throughout the day at work can make improvements in one’s health.

“It doesn’t have to be going to the gym and working out for an hour,” Miller said. “It’s good just to get up around the building that you’re in. We just encourage to people to move throughout the day ... And we encourage people to take little brain breaks. Those steps can add up.”

And when workers have the opportunity to do these things socially, the culture can be more health-oriented in the workplace, Schaefer said.

“We want there to be camaraderie among employees,” Schaefer said. “That culture will start picking up the more we do these things. Changing culture takes a little bit of time.” n

February 2016 • INstride 21

SPOTTED

Create your own photo galleries at myINstride.com

JEREMY HOGAN | INSTRIDE

ABOVE: Roy Capio works out at the Iron Pit Gym. JEREMY HOGAN | INSTRIDE

Heather Bland works out at the Iron Pit Gym.

RIGHT: Nancy Osborn works out at the Iron Pit Gym.

JEREMY HOGAN | INSTRIDE

22 INstride • February 2016