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​Meyer Tool Kicks Off Wellness Program

September 27, 2012
Research studies related to wellness indicate that Americans who take good care of themselves and make healthy lifestyle choices are healthier, happier, more productive, miss work less, and have lower healthcare costs. On August 14, 2012, Meyer Tool employees attended a wellness workshop focusing on fitness and nutrition to kick off a newly developed Wellness Program. Caryn Paolini & Paige Cunningham were the guest speakers for the event and shared some useful information on improving our overall wellness.

Caryn Paolini kicked off the discussion by talking about the benefits of fitness. Caryn is a school psychologist at Hoover Wood Elementary School who competes in national fitness competitions. Caryn spoke of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and offered advice on staying motivated as you try to incorporate positive lifestyle changes into your routine. She explained that her own diet and exercise program used for preparing for competitions is intense. She does not expect the same level of intensity from everyone, but shared that exercise can benefit your quality of life. While going to the gym may not be something everyone looks forward to, the energy you leave with can improve your mood that day and strengthen your body for the long term. An attendee asked “Is there a better time of day to work out?” Caryn stated that it’s doesn’t matter if you work out in the morning or the evening as long as you find time in your day to dedicate to fitness. She started her own blogwhere she details her journey and the lessons she has learned along the away. She has healthy recipes and exercises tips on her blog as well.

Paige Cunningham continued the discussion by focusing on nutrition. Paige is a senior at University of Illinois, studying for a degree in health and nutrition. She, too, had great tips to share with the group.
  1. Make healthy choices one at a time: Everything in moderation. If you get off track, start over at the next meal! Small changes add up over time.
  2. Manage Calories: Use a journal and stay within the average calories needed per day.
    1. An average women needs between 1,800-2,200 calories per day
    2. An average man needs between 2,200-2,800 calories per day
  3. “Eat Clean” and avoid processed food: Foods from the ground are the best choices and when choosing proteins go for lean choices such as fish, chicken, and turkey.
  4. Limit certain types of foods: Aim for less than 2,000 mg per day of sodium. Only 20-35% of caloric intake should come from fat. Avoid sugars especially in pop and juices. Stick to water!
  5. Read labels: When grocery shopping, stick to the perimeter of the store. That’s where the healthier options are. Take time to read labels and choose foods with less of the unhealthy ingredients.

​Both Caryn and Paige provided the Meyer Tool employees with useful information to get on track to a healthier lifestyle. Other initiatives Meyer Tool has taken towards wellness are using pedometers to track the numbers of steps employees take at work and offering healthier options for lunch by providing vending machines with healthier alternatives. Bulletin boards at Meyer Tool plan to promote wellness tips and upcoming runs and marathons to encourage employees to sign up together and set fitness and nutrition goals. At Meyer Tool we promoteReducing Employee Health Risk to help them Achieve the Highest Total Level of Wellness.
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Paige Cunningham & Caryn Paolini