Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 7pm. Julie Moffitt Ballet School presents The Nutcracker Ballet at the Egyptian Theater. $8-12
• Friday 7:30pm. It's a Wonderful Life! at The Ziegfeld Theater. 

• Saturday 2:00 and 7:30pm. It's a Wonderful Life! at The Ziegfeld Theater. 
• Saturday 4pm. WSU High School Honor Band at the Austad Auditorium. FREE
• Saturday 7pm. Julie Moffitt Ballet School presents The Nutcracker Ballet at the Egyptian Theater. $8-12

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Healthy Holiday Eating

With the holiday season here, you may be tempted to abandon your healthful eating habits. It is easy to forget to take care of yourself during this busy time of giving to others. But why spend January trying to get your cholesterol level or weight back down to its preseason level? Instead, some planning and following a few helpful tips can keep you on track through the holidays.

Goals to Remember

1. Continue watching your fat intake

1. Keep up your exercise program

These may also be the two hardest things to do during the holiday season. But with some of the tips below, you can have both an enjoyable and a healthy holiday season.

• Pre-plan for parties or special dinners. Know what to expect and have a plan for each situation. A party at your friend's house will be different from Christmas dinner at your in-laws. Decide what you are going to do at each and stick to it.
• Never go to a party hungry. If you hit the holiday buffet table on an empty stomach, you don't have a chance. Instead, have a low-fat snack before you go so that you are not famished. This way you can attend to the buffet table with your heart and waist in mind.
• Don't stand near the buffet table. Too often a friend will have found something you missed on your first go around and want you to try it.
• Limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage, unless you have been told by your doctor to avoid alcohol completely. Try sparkling cider or cranberry juice with sparkling water for a holiday treat. 
  
• Don't make food the focal point of all your activities. Plan a special hike with the family on a day when you are all together. Even just a walk around the block after dinner can help to burn off the extra calories as well as get you away from the food for a while.

With these strategies in mind, you can enjoy a 

healthy and happy holiday season!

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 11am-8pm. Weber County Holiday Festival at Golden Spike Event Center - Exhibit Hall. FREE
• Friday 7pm. Julie Moffitt Ballet School presents The Nutcracker Ballet at the Egyptian Theater. $8-12
• Friday 7:30pm. It's a Wonderful Life! at The Ziegfeld Theater. 
• Friday 7:30-9:30pm. Jazz Ensemble at the Allred Theater at Weber State.  $6-7

• Saturday 11am-8pm. Weber County Holiday Festival at Golden Spike Event Center - Exhibit Hall. FREE
• Saturday 7:30pm. It's a Wonderful Life! at The Ziegfeld Theater. 
• Saturday 7pm. Julie Moffitt Ballet School presents The Nutcracker Ballet at the Egyptian Theater. $8-12

• Sunday 5:30pm & 8pm. WSU Choirs & Symphony Holiday Concert at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. $7-30

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

The Flu 101

What is the flu?

Influenza, more commonly know as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The flu is different from a cold, and it usually comes on suddenly. Symptoms generally start 1 to 4 days after exposure, meaning that a person with the flu may pass on the virus before they know they are sick, as well as while they have symptoms. Some people may be asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms, but they can still infect others during this time.

People who have the flu often have some, or all, of the following symptoms: fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness), and vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. It can range from mild to severe illness, and sometimes lead to death.

Most people who get the flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people who get the flu may develop serious complications that can results in hospitalization, life threatening illness, or even death. Some complications can include pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections. In addition to these complications, the flu can make chronic conditions worse.

Anyone can get the flu, even healthy people, but there are some people who are at a greater risk. Those who are at the highest risk of contracting the flu, and suffering serious complications are; young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma, and older adults, namely those over 65.

How does the flu spread?

The flu is spread person to person, and most experts think that is spread by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of people up to six feet away. Less commonly, someone might get the flu from touching a surface that is contaminated with the flu virus and then touching their own mouth or nose.

To avoid getting the flu it is important to take some simple precautions.

• Hand-washing and other techniques: to avoid the flu, stay away from people who are sick and stay home from work or school if you are sick. It is important to wash your hands often with warm, soapy water, and if water is not available then use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to sick people should be washed thoroughly before sharing. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, and school, especially if someone is ill.

• Vaccination: an annual seasonal flu vaccination, either an injection or nasal spray, is the best way to reduce the chances of getting the seasonal flu and spreading it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread throughout the community. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to form in the body about two weeks after vaccination. For this reason it is recommended that people get their flu vaccination as early as it is available, or ideally by the beginning of October. A flu vaccine is needed annually for two reasons. The first is the body's immune response declines over time, so an annual vaccine is required for optimal protection. The second is the flu virus changes over time, so the vaccines are updated to protect against the changing flu viruses. Because of these changes, it is still possible to get the flu after getting a flu vaccine, but the severity and chance of complications are reduced.

Who should get vaccinated?

It is recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months who is able to get a flu vaccine should.  It is important for those at high risk to get the flu vaccine. If you have any questions about whether you or your family should get vaccinated, talk to your doctor.

Flu vaccines are available from many sources in the community. Doctor's offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, schools, college campuses, and the local health department are just some of the places where vaccines are available. Go HERE to locate areas in your neighborhood.

DON'T FORGET, GETTING YOUR ANNUAL FLU SHOT CAN EARN YOU .5 HOURS OF VACATION AND HELP PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM GETTING THE FLU THIS WINTER!

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 10am-8pm. Kottage Kupboard Candy Cane Lane Boutique at Golden Spike Event Center - Exhibit Hall. $1
• Friday 7:30pm. 101 Dalmations at The Ziegfeld Theater. $5-8

• Saturday 10am-5pm. Kottage Kupboard Candy Cane Lane Boutique at Golden Spike Event Center - Exhibit Hall. $1
• Saturday at 3pm & 7:30pm. 101 Dalmations at The Ziegfeld Theater. $5-8
• Saturday 7:00-10:30pm. Alpine Assassins AA5 at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $10

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Sixth and Final Week of OktoberFIT 2014 Challenge!

Download the sixth week's newsletter HERE.

Week five is in the books! Our top three are:

1. Sherri Sillitoe - Planning *Prize: 2 meals to IHOP and 2 passes to Roy Recreation Complex
2. Iris Hennon - Planning 
3. Hope Whitaker - Weber County Library

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!

For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

Week Five of OktoberFIT 2014!

Download the fifth week's newsletter HERE.

Week four is in the books! Our top three are:

1. Iris Hennon - Planning *Prize: 1 pass to Fast Kart and a gift certificate to Ogden Pizzeria.
2. Sherri Sillitoe - Planning 
3. Cheryl Potter - Weber County Library

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!

For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Friday 7:30pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Salt Lake City Moose at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5-7

• Saturday 9am. Freaky Fun Run at the Botanical Gardens, Ogden Parkway. $20. Earn 1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 
• Saturday 10am-5pm. Acorn Antique Show & Sale at the Golden Spike Event Center. $5
• Saturday 1pm. Weber State vs. Northern Arizona. $10-32
• Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Saturday 5:30-9:30pm. Halloween Party and Dinner at Earl's Lodge, Snowbasin Resort. FREE-$30
• Saturday 7:30pm. WSU Cultural Affairs presents Noam Pikelny and Aoife O'Donavan at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $15-20

• Sunday 12pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Casper Coyotes at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Week Four of OktoberFIT 2014!

Download the fourth week's newsletter HERE.

Week three is in the books! Our top three are:

1. Iris Hennon - Planning *Prize: 2 free meals at IHOP, & 2 passes to the Roy Recreation Complex.
2. Sherri Sillitoe - Planning 
3. Hope Whitaker - Weber County Library

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!

For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 12:00-8pm. Halloween Boutique at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Friday 6:30-8:30pm. Halloween Carnival at Eccles Dinosaur Park. $3-5
• Friday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Friday 8:00pm. Rocky Horror Picture Show at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $13.50

• Saturday 9am. Little Monster Dash Fun Run at Venture Academy. $15-20. Earn 1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 
• Saturday 10am-6pm. Halloween Boutique at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Saturday 1pm. Weber State vs. Portland State. $10-32
• Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Saturday 4-10pm. Witchstock Festival at Historic 25th Street. FREE- $20 
• Saturday 5:30pm. Maverik Monster Mash 5k/Kidsk. $10-25. Earn .5-1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 
• Saturday 6:30-8:30pm. Halloween Carnival at Eccles Dinosaur Park. $3-5
• Saturday 8pm. Rocky Horror Picture Show at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $13.50
• Saturday 8pm. Glow Run North Ogden Trail Race 5k. $25-35. Earn 1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

October Brown Bag Lunch

Wednesday October 22, is this month's Eat Earn & Learn! 

This month's presentation will focus on healthy celebrations. Bring your lunch and learn some ways to make this Holiday season a little healthier!

There will be one presentation at 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and another from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in room #312 of the Weber Center.  (Attending one of these session earns you vacation time with the County's Wellness Program).

Please download the Eat Earn & Learn flyer HERE and share it with your coworkers.

Come Eat, Earn & Learn!

Week 3 of OktoberFIT 2014!

Download the third week's newsletter HERE.

Week two is in the books! Our top three are:

1. Iris Hennon - Planning *Prize: The World is Not a Stressful Place, & 2-relaxation exercise downloads.
2. Tracy Barker - Weber County Corrections 
3. Kathryn Pudlock - Weber County Library

A special thanks to Dr. Michael Olpin for this week's prize!

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!

For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 9:00am-12pm. Logan Coach & DiamondH Trailers 3 Can Run at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Friday 6:30-8:30pm. Halloween Carnival at Eccles Dinosaur Park. $3-5
• Friday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Friday 7:30pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Casper Coyotes at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5-7

• Saturday 8am-10am. Logan Coach & DiamondH Trailers 3 Can Run at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Saturday 6pm. Junction City Roller Dolls October Bout at Golden Spike Event Center - Exhibit Hall. $8-12. $2 off at door for clothing and household good donations.
• Saturday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Saturday 7:30pm. Miss Weber County Scholarship Pageant at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $10
• Saturday 7:30pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Casper Coyotes at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5-7

• Sunday 12:00pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Casper Coyotes at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Get Immunized and Earn a Half Hour of Vacation!

If you're not insured by Weber County you can get the flu shot at Weber-Morgan Health Department. The flu shot costs $30 for adults, $15 for children, and $42 for those over 65. Most insurance plans will pay for the flu shot at no cost to you.

Week Two of OktoberFIT 2014

Download the second week's newsletter HERE.

Week one is in the books! Our top three are:

1. Hope Whitaker- Weber County Library *Prize-Trekking Poles and metal water bottle from Recreation Outlet. (Pick up your prize at 2380 Washington BLVD #340)
2. Lisa Stringham- IT
3. Sherri Sillitoe- Planning Division 4181

A special thanks to Recreation Outlet of Ogden for this week’s prizes!

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!

For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 8am-3pm. 11th Annual Outdoor Gear Sale and Swap at Weber State University. FREE
• Friday 11:30-3:30pm. Emergency Care & Rescue Program Open House at Weber State University. FREE
• Friday 5:00pm. PRCA Wilderness Circuit Queen Contest at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Friday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15

• Saturday 9am. The Great Pumpkin Chase; 5k course. $20-25. Earn 1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 
• Saturday 9am-5pm. Utah Gun Collectors Fall Show & Sale at Golden Spike Event Center. $5
• Saturday 10am. 7th Annual George E. Wahlen Veterans Home Run and Chili Cook off. 5k course and 1 mile walk. $30. Earn .5-1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of year summary!
• Saturday 1pm. Weber State University vs. Cal Poly Homecoming Game at Weber State University. $10-32.
• Saturday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Saturday 7:30pm. Carrie Lee Miles Presents "Gatherings: An Evening of Dance" at Peery's Egyptian Theater. $16.50

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Week One of OktoberFIT 2014!

Today starts the Fall Wellness Challenge! 

Have you and your co-workers signed up? 

Download the first week's newsletter HERE.

Remember for this challenge you need to log in to your Vitality Wins account everyday. By doing this you'll get the maximum number of points. But if you miss a day, don't worry! You can still log in and update your account to show what you've done, you just won't get as many points. To maximize your point potential, log in each day to show what you've accomplished!


For any questions regarding the OktoberFIT 2014 Wellness Challenge, please contact Jason Davidson, Health Promotion intern, at internhe@co.weber.ut.us.

This Weekend in Weber County!

Time for this weekend's roundup of educational, free, athletic, or just plain fun(!) events happening in Weber County!

• Friday 6:30pm. NBHA Open Barrel Race at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Friday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Friday 7:30pm. Ogden  Mustangs vs. Colorado Jr. Eagles at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5-7

• Saturday 8am. 1st Annual Police Wives of Utah RUN WALK CRAWL; 5k course and 10k course. $25-30. Earn 1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary! 
• Saturday 9am-12pm. NBHA Open Barrel Race at Golden Spike Event Center. FREE
• Saturday 10am-2pm. Crawfish Crawl at Community United Methodist Church; Kids Run, 5k and 10k course. $10-35. Earn .5-1 hour of vacation for participating and submitting required documentation with your end-of-year summary!  
• Saturday 7:30pm. Shrek the Musical at The Ziegfeld Theater. $12-15
• Saturday 7:30pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Cheyenne Stampede at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5-7

• Sunday 12:30pm. Ogden Mustangs vs. Colorado Jr. Eagles at the Weber County Ice Sheet. $5

• Movie screenings and various workshops at the Weber County Libraries. FREE

Enjoy Weber County!

Register for this Fall's Challenge: OcktoberFIT 2014!

Time is running out to sign up! 

Don't let two vacation hours slip away!

On October 6th, the new Fall employee wellness challenge, OktoberFIT 2014, will begin! The challenge will benefit all in a variety of ways and is catered to individual needs. It is easy to participate and participants will be measured on an even playing field regardless of fitness level.

Follow these steps to join the challenge:

1. Go to www.vitalitywins.com and click "Join Now" at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Follow the prompts to set up your account. 
3. Save your account.
4. Next click on "add/join another team."
5. Then click on "join an existing team" and type OktoberFIT2014.
6. Finally click "ask to join."
7. Email internhe@co.weber.ut.us your Vitality Wins username and county department.

Benefits include:

• Daily access to accurate health information on topics such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, and emotional & social health
• Gain personal insights about the decisions you make regarding health
• Tips to improve your health
• Feel inspired and motivated as you compete against fellow Weber County employees
• Weekly newsletters addressing various health related topics
• Brown bag lunch presentaion on the effects music has on your health; Wednesday, October 29th at 12:15 and 1:15. Bonus points awarded to all who attend
• Bonus points for completing a health assessment
• Prizes award to top Participants
• Catered lunch will be served to all participants who complete the challenge; Wednesday, November 19th from 12 pm-2 pm*
• 2 hours of vacation to all who complete the challenge, as part of the Weber County Employee Wellness Program*

If you would like to participate sign up through the Vitality Wins website (instructions above). Email your Vitality Wins username and county department to internhe@co.weber.ut.us. This will allow your name to be identified to receive your well deserved prizes!

*Challenge Rules:

• Completing the challenge is defined as having a minimum of 1% of possible points listed in each weekly column for the 6 weeks.
• Weekly winners will be determined from end of week percentages taken on Sunday nights at 11;59 pm each week. For this reason make sure you update your Vitality Wins account before 11:59 pm Sunday night. 
• The overall winners will be determined from the game total percentage after 6 weeks. 
• The challenge will end Sunday November 26th at 11:59 pm. Any entries posted after these times will not be considered when awarding prizes but will still count toward completing the challenge.

Feel free to contact Fall Challenge coordinator, Jason Davidson, with any questions at (801) 399-7181 or internhe@co.weber.ut.us.