HealthyU and Campus Recreation are sponsoring two snowshoe wellness walks, one Tuesday, January 29th, 12-1:15pm and another Thursday, February 14th, 3:45-5pm. Jeff Hunt, director of the New Balance Student Recreation Center, will lead a snowshoeing tour of the DeMeritt Forest Trail System. Meet at the Rec Center dressed for the winter weather.
If you are an employee and need snowshoes, you can check-out one of ten pairs at the Rec Center for free; just show your MaineCard at the Rec Center’s front desk. If you have snowshoes, please bring them as tour participation is limited to the number of available snowshoes.
Image Description: Snowshoeing Wellness Walk
Save money at the Marketplace in January when you eat foods marked with the DineSmart logo. These foods must have less than 600 calories, less than 7g saturated fat, and no trans fat. For more information about DineSmart requirements, visit University of Maine Dining’s website at umaine.edu/dining/nutrition/.
Image Description: Dine Smart and Save 20%
Employees now have access to 10 pairs of snowshoes to use on campus for free. Show your MaineCard at the New Balance Student Recreation Center to check-out a pair of snowshoes and have fun snowshoeing around campus. Snowshoes can only be checked-out for a limited time period and can only be checked-out by employees.
If you are interested in a longer or off-campus trip, check out MaineBound’s selection of snowshoes and other winter equipment for rent: http://umaine.edu/mainebound/.
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You could be the next HealthyU cooking star! Enter your favorite recipe containing dark chocolate. If your recipe is selected you and your recipe will be featured in our next HealthyU cooking video. The winner will receive a HealthyU apron and an assortment of dark chocolates from the Marketplace. Submit your recipe online at umaine.edu/wellness/valentines by January 15th. The selected recipe will be announced on January 16th.
Image Description: Valentine's Day Recipe Contest
Want to take the worry out of winter walking? Better balance can lead to improved activities of daily living, as well as reduced risk of injuries and falls. Train your body to interpret and use information about your position in space for improvements in coordination, performance and posture. Julie Avans from the Rec Center will guide you through a variety of static and dynamic balance exercises you can do at home or in the gym.
This is a free event for all UMaine employees of all fitness levels. Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers.
Wednesday, December 5th
12:15 – 1:15 pm
Campus Rec Center, Foster Room
Fun, Music, Exercise
Wednesday, December 12
Campus Rec Center, Foster Room
12:15 – 1:15 pm
Laughter guaranteed & hooping success is certain. This is a free event for all UMaine employees
of all fitness levels. So come join for fun and health. Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers.
Weighted hoops, handcrafted and made in
Maine, will be provided for use and also available
for purchase at $20 each.
Instruction provided by Kelly Tingley from
Hardcore Hoops
Dana Humphrey, Dean, College of Engineering, shares his success story and secrets on how he has found time to stay fit. Bonus: Beautiful photos!
Lisa and Denice share their first time Campus Rec experiences through the Summer Employee Fitness Challenge, sponsored by HealthyU and Campus Rec’s Employee Fit Club.
Avoiding the Flu: Staying Healthy at UMaine
There are several important steps that one can take to keep themselves healthy and safe from the flu this season at the University of Maine. HealthyU visited with Sande Curtis, FNP, from the Cutler Health Center and she provided us with some positive, proactive advice on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from becoming ill this winter. We asked some questions about flu prevention and Sande answered them for us.
Why is Getting Vaccinated Important? Sande stresses that although you might not be in the risk group for serious complications from the flu, others around you might be. Infants, the elderly and those with chronic illness are all highly susceptible to the flu, which is extremely contagious. These same groups also have a much harder time fighting off the illness. Getting vaccinated will not only prevent you from getting sick but will also provide another layer of protection for those around you.
Where can I Find the Vaccine? It is very easy to find the flu vaccine. For those with the University health insurance, you may make an appointment by calling Cutler Health Center at 581-4179. University employees and their spouses are encouraged to utilize Cutler’s services for their yearly flu shot. Your primary care provider and local pharmacies are also good places to seek a flu vaccination.
How can I Reduce My Risk? Getting vaccinated is the most important step to reduce your risk of contracting the flu. Sande also recommends practicing good hygiene, which includes covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer after coming into contact with a public surface.
What if there is an Outbreak of the Flu in My Community? Sande recommends that you stay home and do your best to avoid public places in which there are a lot of people. If you are unable to avoid large groups, she recommends that you practice “social distancing,” or staying a minimum of three feet away from others in order to avoid contamination.
What if I think I have the Flu? Should an outbreak of the flu occur in your community that you may have been exposed to, Sande recommends contacting your primary care physician as soon as possible to discuss the best treatment options for you. She also recommends rest, plenty of fluids, Tylenol or aspirin for body aches and staying home until your fever has been gone for more than twenty-four hours.
These important tips will help you stay happy, healthy and well during this year’s flu season.
Glenn Taylor, Director of Culinary Services at the University of Maine spent an afternoon with HealthyU cooking up a couple of warm, delicious, quick, and easy fall meals made from pumpkin. Let us know what you think. Yum!
You can also download the recipes. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the recipes.
Thai-Spiced Pumpkin Soup (PDF – 183 KB)
Pumpkin Chicken Curry (PDF – 184 KB)
