Wellcoin - World's First Health Currency

Take a closer look at the four key performance metrics outlined below while assessing your program’s impact and performance. Use these as a jumping off point to gauge the types of results really desired in your office, both now and in the future. You might also want to revisit the wellness goals you initially established for your workplace. Goals are (and should be!) unique to your office’s culture and motivation.

1. Enrollment This one is fairly obvious: you can’t have a wellness program without participants! Make sure you have an easy way to track the number of sign-ups in your office. It’s normal for enrollment to spike during initial program rollout and then subside a fair bit, but try to keep awareness alive by promoting the program at least once per quarter, either through employee email, flyers, or announcements during company meetings. This will help capture natural employee turnover. You can also run special promotions, for example by offering a prize drawing for everyone who signs up by the end of the month. If enrollment is chronically low, check your internal marketing channels to make sure employees are aware of the program and understand its use.

Reward Your Employees For Living Healthy With Wellcoin Employee Connect - It’s Free!

2. Referrals and Word-of-Mouth Ideally you want a program that sells itself: one employee joins and loves it so much that he/she encourages five other employees to join, and then the cycle repeats itself. This kind of organic growth demonstrates that the program has real value for employees, so much so that they are willing to risk their own social capital to promote it to their colleagues and team. Consider organizing an employee ambassador program to let your most passionate employees spread the word on your behalf. Typically, every office has a subset of employees who enjoy this kind of social engagement, often as a way of keeping themselves accountable for their personal wellness goals. You can offer low-cost perks like free wellness-branded swag as a way to acknowledge and reward their efforts.

3. Engagement Measuring engagement among enrolled employees will vary, depending on the nature of your program. If you tend to hold wellness events, track participation to gauge the sorts of activities that are compelling to employees. However, poorly-held events could have other causal factors; for example, the event might have been held during a popular meeting time, or during busy season. While there will always been external factors at odds with planning, surveying employees is an easy way to get a sense of when their schedules might be most flexible. If your program has a software component, check out what stats are available to administrators. Wellcoin Employee Connect, for example, allows administrators to view the top-performing activities and rewards on its wellness platform. You might also be able to view how frequently employees are logging into their wellness portals.

Reward Your Employees For Living Healthy With Wellcoin Employee Connect - It’s Free!

2) Wear Sunscreen Educate your employees on the downside of unprotected sun exposure. The sun’s UV rays can, unfortunately, cause serious health damage like skin cancer. You can visit the American Cancer Society’s website to learn more, and find valuable information to share with employees. If possible, ask for budget approval to buy vats of sunscreen for employee use at outdoor events, and even at lunchtime.

Reward Your Employees For Living Healthy With Wellcoin Employee Connect - It’s Free! 

3) Take Vacation With kids out of school, summer is traditionally a time for family getaways. But in some offices, finding time to step away is always tough, regardless of the season. If this is true in your workplace, encourage your employees to use their allotted vacation days, perhaps by speaking directly to company managers. Brainstorm strategies like advance planning that will help employees feel comfortable and supported while requesting time off. After all, everyone needs a break – and surely a rested employee is a happier and more productive employee in the long-run.

4) Snack Healthy Summer can bring some of our favorite foods back into heavy rotation, for example, cheeseburgers and hotdogs on the grill, with cold ice cream to follow for dessert. While all foods should be enjoyed in moderation, remember that seasonal foods can also include fresh produce, like refreshing watermelon and savory zucchini. Share healthy recipes with your employees, like this list from the Food Network.

Reward Your Employees For Living Healthy With Wellcoin Employee Connect - It’s Free!

To assure broad employee participation, select a program that recognizes the many hundreds of healthy choices people make. Inclusive programs like this have the added benefit (especially vs. Fitbit-based programs) of making all employees feel good about themselves, not just the runners and walkers.

Learn More About The Leading Free Employee Wellness Program - Wellcoin Employee Connect

How important is the ROI on wellness program? Most benefits officers require high returns on their investment in wellness programs, wary as they are that such programs don’t directly produce the company’s products and services. That’s fine, but how in the world should we define ‘returns’ on wellness programs?

The average term of employment across all companies is at an all-time low and likely to shrink further due to automation, other tech innovations, changing family dynamics and increasing social mobility. Given this, it seems short-sighted to think about returns on wellness programs in the traditional way - which is in the form of reduced employee health care costs. This is because the best wellness programs cannot demonstrate returns on such costs unless the employee cohort has been covered by the program for 3-5 years (longer than most of your employees will remain employed by your company). Given these trends, a more useful way to measure returns on wellness programs might be more subjective - perhaps by assessing the impact on camaraderie, happiness at work and loyalty to the company - that truly engaging wellness programs can foster.

Learn More About The Leading Free Employee Wellness Program - Wellcoin Employee Connect

How do I manage employees’ privacy concerns? As the above trends take hold and online wellness programs become more prevalent, we must accept that in 2016 employers do focus their wellness programs on the objective of reducing their health care costs. These first-generation wellness programs emphasize the collection of employees’ personal, confidential health information (e.g. cholesterol levels), followed by risk reduction programs for those who qualify. Many employees have raised concerns about what their employer (or indeed other groups) might do with that HIPAA-protected information if they got their hands on it - even though stringent regulatory practices are supposedly in place and still penalties can be assessed for violating those practices.

So yes, you should offer rewards. But how many and what kinds of rewards? To make rewards work effectively, offer a spectrum of rewards including some that are easy to obtain (like discounts or small gift cards), and others that are more difficult to obtain (like tickets to a concert). Employees that are just now trying to establish healthy habits are motivated by useful, easy-to-obtain rewards. Employees that are already healthy won’t be motivated by easy-to-obtain rewards but will covet more valuable ones.

Learn More About The Leading Free Employee Wellness Program - Wellcoin Employee Connect

How can I efficiently manage an employee wellness program? Your wellness program will have to compete for budget against programs and business divisions that directly impact your company’s bottom line. It’s imperative therefore, that your wellness program is highly efficient - ideally, it runs by itself or comes darn close!

Many employee wellness programs focus on periodic, large-scale events like cholesterol screening days, run-walks for charity, and health fairs. Ask anyone who has planned or implemented an event like this, and they will assure you they are a time consuming undertaking. This should give us pause, since a healthy lifestyle results from dozens of small healthy decisions that we make every day - rather than attendance at episodic company-sponsored events.

Online wellness programs theoretically solve this problem by offering employees a continuous connection to their wellness program, but raise problems of their own, as I describe below.

How do I assure sustained employee participation in my wellness program? The way nearly all employee wellness providers have chosen to address this matter is not going to work. Their solution is solely technical: integrate with as many health devices and apps as possible, and create a platform to display all their data. There are several problems with this approach. First, despite the hype, most of your employees still don’t, and never will use these things. Among those who do at the moment, many will have given up on them in 6 months, and a remarkably small percentage of the remainder will take the time to synch their devices with an employer’s wellness platform since they get no benefit from doing so. They can see their data quite easily via the app, directly.

Learn More About The Leading Free Employee Wellness Program - Wellcoin Employee Connect

Wellness Platforms - A Promising New Direction Most of the newer online wellness programs can address the first two questions. Many are free or nearly free and some offer automated e-gift card distribution schemes that greatly reduce admin time spent distributing rewards.

The key is to find one that promotes sustained engagement. For example, at Wellcoin we created a wellness platform that allows employees to engage and support each other beyond friendly competitions or checking stats (though these features are also available). Employees are encouraged to share photos of their wellness journey (think Instagram feed of healthy activities), to try new healthy actions and to invite their friends and family outside of work to join them so they have support in all the areas of their daily lives. Next Tuesday - we will release Part 2 of this 2-part beginner's guide to building an employee wellness program that actually works. Stay tuned!

1) Pack your lunch.

You’ve heard it before, but bringing your main workplace meal eliminates the pressure to find and choose something healthy during your lunch hour, when lines are long and options are limited. If you are picturing a week-long menu of PB&J and turkey sandwiches, think again – there are so many easy, delicious recipes you can try. Check out this list from BuzzFeed for inspiration. Best of all, you’ll likely wind up saving yourself some cash, and some time to squeeze in a quick walk during your break.

Suggested Wellcoin earning activities: Healthy Lunch, Choose Omega-3s, Choose Oils over Fats, Buy Healthy Groceries, Choose Whole Grains, Use a Healthy Recipe

Join Wellcoin To Be Rewarded For Living Healthy. It’s Free! 

2) Take your meetings on the road.

Have an informal catch-up coming up with a colleague or direct report? Avoid the chaos of conference room scheduling and suggest a walking meeting instead, either inside or outside. You might find that the change in environment allows you both to brainstorm more freely. Bring your smartphone or tablet to jot down or voice-record any big ideas or takeaways.

Suggested Wellcoin earning activities: Walking, Count Steps, Choose to Walk or Bike

3) Stay hydrated.

Afternoon snacking can often be a pitfall for many employees. Boredom, exhaustion, and hunger are often cited as popular reasons for 3 PM munching, but there’s a good chance that dehydration is the real culprit. Make sure to drink water throughout the day to stave off faux hungers pangs and keep you more alert. Keep a reusable bottle by your desk and aim to refill it at least two or three times per day.

Suggested Wellcoin earning activities: Choose a Healthy Beverage, Something Healthy

Join Wellcoin To Be Rewarded For Living Healthy. It’s Free!

4) Join an office sports team or activity club.

We know what you’re thinking – you’ve already got plenty on your plate. But committing to staying active with your coworkers is a surefire way to squeeze in some physical activity throughout the work week. Most companies offer some range of informal activities for employees, for example a running club or an intermural dodgeball team. Ask around to see what’s out there, and if you’re out of luck, try organizing your own after-hours club with a few coworkers.

Suggested Wellcoin earning activities: Cardio, Running, Cycling, Join an Activity Center, and many more!

5) Say no to convenience.

Reimagine your daily routine to add more steps and calisthenics. Some easy hacks are parking far away from the main entrance, taking the stairs, or tracking down coworkers on foot instead of emailing. Keep your eyes open to activity, and seize the opportunity when time permits.

Suggested Wellcoin earning activities: Take the Stairs, Park Far Away, and many more!

1) Goal: Build community at the office

Solution: Try using a social platform to connect employees, similar to Facebook or Instagram. Employees who can share their healthy activities with others will find a new way to connect with colleagues, and be further incentivzed to stay on track.

Start Your Employee Wellness Program With Wellcoin Employee Connect

2) Goal: Attract and retain high-performing employees

Solution: Your strongest job candidates are likely considering offers from other employers, and comparing benefits and perks can be a significant factor in the decision-making process. Wellness programs provide a strong signal for potential hires that the company cares about their well-being, at work and beyond. Likewise, wellness programs demonstrate this investment to existing employees. Request stats on employee retention rates when exploring program options to see how participation fares over time.

3) Goal: Secure participation from a diverse employee base, with a wide-range of health statuses

Solution: Choose a program that reaches beyond diet and exercise to a more holistic take on wellbeing. Programs that engage participants on a range of healthy actions beyond diet and exercise will appeal to a wider spectrum of employees, including those who might have physical limitations or handicaps. 

Start Your Employee Wellness Program With Wellcoin Employee Connect

4) Goal: Integrate your existing wellness offerings

Solution: Look for a program with an easy-to-use centralized platform. If you are already offering wellness events and activities throughout the year, a proper program should help you market these events more efficiently and track participation.

5) Goal: Inject some fun and healthy competition into workplace wellness

Solution: Find a program that allows you to run competitions, like step challenges or healthy bake-offs. Allowing employees to compete internally can provide a much-needed dose of encouragement during trying times, like the crazed holiday season or a busy work season.

6) Goal: Reward employees for their positive efforts

Solution: Choose an incentives-based system that sets thresholds for success and provides rewards when achieved. Depending on your budget, reimbursements for expenses that encourage healthy living are often a great investment. For example, reimbursements for gym memberships or health insurance plans. Check out plans that have custom reward options that allow you to get crafty if you are on a tight budget. For example, you can use a premium office parking spot or lunch with the CEO as a highly sought after reward.

Start Your Employee Wellness Program With Wellcoin Employee Connect

7) Goal: Reduce employee health care costs

Solution: This goal can be the trickiest to measure, partly because of the sensitive data required, and partly because of the necessary time lag to track change. Most wellness programs face a natural tradeoff between protecting employee privacy and recording biometric data, so make sure to consider which is more in line with your company’s purpose and culture. Regardless of what program you choose, you’ll need employees to stay active over time to provide meaningful data. Look for a program that automates participation and engagement tracking to equip yourself with the data needed.

If the goals above are in line with your wellness wish list, be sure to check out Wellcoin Employee Connect, a free social wellness platform that can help you achieve all of this and more.  

Cultivating a wellness culture that works for all employees is a tall order. Actually, make that a venti. Within a large and diverse workplace, trying to engage folks with a wide range of age, interests, abilities, and health conditions is oh-so-challenging. You need a program that is as exciting and interesting to a fitness-crazed recent graduate as it is to a sleep-deprived new parent, or a team lead who recently underwent a hip replacement. 

Click to Learn More About Wellcoin Employee Connect

Enter Wellcoin Employee Connect, a digital platform based on the premise that each employee’s wellness baseline is different. Wellcoin creates an interactive community for a form of virtual currency that can be spent on rewards and discounts in the Marketplace. Wellcoin encourages a wide range of healthy choices throughout the day, big and small, to meet employees where they are. There are hundreds of eligible Wellcoin-earning activities available, ranging from drinking a glass of water or picking up a prescription to taking the stairs or attending a cycling class. Rather than focusing only on diet and exercise, Wellcoin takes a more holistic approach to wellness that is welcoming to everyone.

Click to Learn More About Wellcoin Employee Connect

With something for everyone, the magic of Wellcoin is created through the ongoing social connectivity it provides. Employees share their activities with colleagues by uploading photos or syncing their fitness trackers, and colleagues can in turn like and comment on their activities. The result is the wellness holy grail: engagement. Your employees want to see what their coworkers are doing to stay healthy - the meals they are cooking in the evening, their children’s sporting events they are attending on the weekends, and more. Like any social platform, activities - and the positive attitudes behind them - are contagious. So when one employee sees a colleague earn Wellcoins for checking his blood pressure or choosing lower-fat diary, he or she will be significantly more incentivized to do the same. This is how new, healthy habits are created, and sustained. 

Click to Learn More About Wellcoin Employee Connect

Of course, different employees and different managers will have different constraints, and that’s okay: 3pm yoga on Wednesdays doesn’t work for everyone, and it doesn’t have to. But here are six simple steps you can take in your office to get the conversation started:

Share wellness tips from the company’s management team. Conduct an informal survey among senior employees to ask them how they incorporate wellness into their busy lives. Share their advice (e.g. packing a healthy lunch or scheduling ambulatory meetings) in a company newsletter, on the intranet, or in other internal marketing materials. 

Encourage managers to include wellness in regular check-ins with employees. Managers who ask about an employee’s wellness will signal that the company cares about the employee’s whole self, and will serve as confirmation that wellness is a priority for everyone. Chat with HR administrators to find ways to incorporate health into existing company values and guiding principles. 

Provide a community of well-being that includes everyone in the office. Check out Wellcoin’s free Employee Connect service that offers a digital platform for community wellness at work. Employees log healthy activities with a wide range of accessibility, like drinking water or taking the stairs. Employees can share their activities to provide ideas and motivations for their colleagues.

Educate your management team on wellness. Add a basic overview on workplace wellness to standard management training. Arming managers with the right information will allow them to direct their teams to relevant company resources and experts. 

Use visual cues to encourage wellness integration. Managers and employees who wear Fitbits or keep a packed gym bag at the office demonstrate their commitment to heart-healthy lifestyles. Consider ways to make this balance easier, perhaps by adding a company shower stall or cubbies for workout gear. 

Solicit managerial participation at your company’s next wellness event or initiative. Pro-actively ask senior folks to attend events, and consider asking for their availability before scheduling events to make participation easier.

WT: To start off, thank you, Mike, for taking the time to sit with us today. Before we jump right in, can you take a minute to share with some of our readers who may not be familiar with ButcherBox - what exactly is it?

MS: Absolutely. ButcherBox is a monthly meat delivery service. We specialize in 100% Grass Fed Beef. Think of us as the neighborhood butcher for modern America.  

WT: Who’s behind ButcherBox?

MS: A team of experts - from the former Head of Operations of Omaha Steaks, to brand and experience junkies.

WT: It sounds like you guys have a great team over there. 

I’ve heard a bit about the story behind ButcherBox but I’d love to hear it from you. Would you mind sharing it? 

MS: Sure. I was buying a lot of 100% Grass Fed beef from farms, and thought to myself, hmmm.. I wonder if we can figure out a way to get this product delivered directly to people's doors.  With that question in mind, the quest to partner with the best people in the industry began.

(Readers: If you’re interested, you can watch their story below.) 

WT: Terrific! 

I’ve know there is a lot of debate between grass fed vs. grain fed. Can you shed some light on the benefits of 100% grass fed beef? 

MS: Definitely. 100% grass fed beef has less fat (omega 6′s), calories and cholesterol than grain fed beef. It has 2 - 5x the anti-inflammatory heart healthy Omega 3′s and 2-3x the amount of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) which research indicates might be protective against heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

WT: So you guys started with 100% grass fed beef. Do you offer other types of meat? 

MS: Yes we do. We offer 4 boxes: All Beef, Beef & Organic Chicken, Beef & All Natural Pork and Mixed. Each box comes with a curated selection of top cuts and enough meat for 15 - 20 meals, at about $7/meal. 

WT: Fantastic. That’s very affordable. 

Are you a beef, chicken, or pork kind of guy?

MS: Beef!  But make mine lean and 100% Grass Fed.

WT: I heard you’re a fantastic chef. What is your favorite way to prepare beef?

MS: We include a ton of recipes in each box, but my favorite way is short ribs. Simple ingredients - tomato paste, red wine and salt. Sear each side of the short rib, add the paste/wine, put on 325ish for 3-4 hours and enjoy!

WT: Sounds delicious! How can we get in on this and purchase a box of meat?

MS: You can visit our website at www.getbutcherbox.com; we are eager to welcome new customers to the grass fed revolution!

WT: Excellent. 

Just before we finish up here, would you please share with everyone what rewards will ButcherBox be offering in the Marketplace? 

MS: We are currently offering the Wellcoin community 2 rewards: $30 off your first box with us and $20 off your subscription. We’re big into healthy living - I’m a Cross-fitter - so any way that we can encourage that lifestyle is important to us. 

WT: Thanks for taking the time out today to chat with us. 

Employee Connect extends our mission to help people live healthier lives by targeting workplace wellness. Members can log positive activities and earn Wellcoins for their efforts, which they can redeem for rewards in the Wellcoin Marketplace. The Employee Connect platform additionally serves as a hub for employers to integrate any existing corporate wellness initiatives. 

“We are thrilled to launch this product. People spend a third of their lives in the workplace, so employers play a critical role in promoting healthy living,” says Dr. Glenn Laffel, the CEO and a former Cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Employee Connect allows employers to create a robust wellness program regardless of budget and resources.” 

Wellcoin, which was recently named “Best Health App” by Boston Magazine, has gained a lot of traction with consumers because of the wide range of healthy activities they can earn Wellcoins for. This variety assures that everyone can participate, regardless of their physical conditioning, age or underlying medical conditions. 

“I love this app,” says Employee Connect member Molly S. “The daily feed has brought our coworkers together through healthy living. Posts serve not only as motivation, but also as a resource for local activities and recipes.” 

The free version of Employee Connect includes: 

An unlimited number of employee accounts

An employer-branded landing page that helps companies organize and manager their wellness initiatives

An administrative portal to distribute rewards and analyze employee participation

Access to free rewards in the Wellcoin Marketplace

Premium features, including a first-of-its-kind automated gift card distribution platform, are also available.

We have all heard about relationships that falter due to “money issues” and the physical impact of worrying is well documented. Chronic worrying can cause physical illness and it can affect your life so much, it interferes with eating, activity, relationships, sleep and job performance. Sustained levels of anxiety are known to boost levels of the stress hormone cortisol in our system, which puts us at a greater risk for illness and depression. It can also cause us to seek the temporary relief of drugs, alcohol and overeating. 

Leading causes of financial “dis-ease” are unhealthy levels of debt, unstable income, limited savings and living beyond our means.

When you workout it’s unlikely you ignore whole muscle groups which, as you may know, can increase the possibility of injury. According to Vanguard’s annual report, How America Saves, the medium account balance for 401(k) savings is about $29,500 which represents an income of only $1,200 a year! Of course statistically, those balances grow with age and income, but no matter what your age, your financial health is an important part of your healthy living plan. This is not a “muscle group” you can ignore!

Here are some steps to becoming financially healthy. 

1) Find Your Starting Line Start with a financial weigh-in or check-up. Then, create your own plan for “Financial Fitness.”

How much does it cost to be you? Track your spending for one month so you can see where you are spending your money.

Divide your expenses into “Have To’s” and “Want To’s.” “Have To’s” are things like rent, utility bills and insurance premiums. “Want To’s” are things like eating out and entertainment. Make no mistake - my gym costs are a “have To.”

Evaluate your debt and determine what percent of your monthly income is going to pay debt and then cut the fat! Just like fine tuning what you eat so you can be healthy and feel better, you can adjust where and how you spend your money.

2) Make a Plan To Pay Down Your Debt If you have more than one credit card with a balance, and you pay amounts greater than the minimal required, consider paying all the extra dollars to the card with the highest interest rate or highest balance. This will help you pay off your debt faster and save you money in interest expense. Once that card is paid off, add 100% of those dollars to the second card and watch your credit card debt trim down!

Interesting Fact: It takes 68 months to pay off $5,000 of credit card debt with an interest rate of 10.99% for a total of $6,718.

3) Find Out If your Employer Matches Your 401(k) Contributions Are you giving away free money? If your employer matches the funds you put into your retirement plan, make sure you are at least putting in enough to scoop up all the free money. Some employers match dollar for dollar, up to 4%. 

4) Create an Emergency Fund Life happens and so do unplanned expenses. Emergencies like illness, job loss, car trouble or home repairs are just a few of those unexpected and expensive surprises. An emergency fund is a stash of cash you have set aside to cover these stressful and costly surprises. 

While saving money may not be easy, it is less painful than some things that can happen if you are not financially fit such as, being evicted or being unable to fix a broken car or to see a dentist about a toothache. A recent study from FINRA Investor Education Foundation National Financial Capability Study (2012) found the following: 

26% of people had unpaid medical bills

22% were overdrawn at the bank

10% took loans from their retirement account

13% had more than one late payment on their mortgage

56% of people in the U.S. do not have enough of an emergency fund to cover three months of reduced living expenses

Knowing you have the reserves to cover the unexpected can reduce your stress level and may help you keep you on the road to financial fitness. 

Change can be hard, but not changing can be even harder. 

Close to 90 photos were tagged #WCHoliday and submitted via Twitter in the contest by Wellcoin members. The photos showcased kids meeting Santa, foods placed artistically to create beautiful holiday masterpieces, piles of presents waiting to be opened, among other great shots. It is clear from these photos that our members know how to have a healthy, merry time. 

After extensive consideration and a few for-fun debates, we have selected the three photos we felt best displays the holiday spirit. The winning photographers will be each awarded the fantastic prize of a $100 Amazon.com gift card. 

Congratulations to the winners!

Wellcoin Member: St_Angela Photo Caption: Goldy, meet Frosty #WCHoliday

Wellcoin Member: sinfulnutrition Photo Caption: Meeting Santa with my little cousin! #WCHoliday

Wellcoin Member: Sacox720 Photo Caption: Salsa with an avocado Christmas tree! #WCHoliday

WT: Hi George. We’re so happy to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with you. You have such an inspiring weight loss transformation story and we’re excited for this chance to share it with our readers. To start, could you please tell us a little about yourself?

GM: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story.

Hi everyone! I’m George. I am 32 years old and I am originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana but currently live in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a father of 3 amazing children (2 boys and 1 girl), a husband (13 years strong), and a Retail and Sales Manager. I enjoy music, cooking and surfing the internet.

WT: When did your weight loss story begin? What happened that triggered you to make a change in your daily habits?

GM: Around July 2014 I went out with a long time friend of mine and his group of friends. The plan was to head to the Cleveland Indians game but meet up at the local sandwich shop before the game. When I met up with everyone at the shop, I noticed that I was the biggest person there. My friend, who was previously large like me, had visibly lost about 50 lbs. When I asked him how he did it, he said he did it by changing his diet and regularly working out with a personal trainer.

The rest of the evening was incredibly fun. The game was exciting and everyone had a chance to relax with a drink. By the end of the evening, however, I could not help but notice that I was a little depressed and not particularly happy for my friend’s great weight loss achievement. I wanted to desperately be happy for him but could only think about my situation. I was 296 lbs.

When I got home, I shared my feelings with my wife. We did not talk about it again until we were at the Goodwill Store a few days later. I saw a treadmill for $50 and I thought to myself, “I need to buy this. I need to make a change.”

I bought the treadmill but before doing so, I asked my wife if she would join me on my weight loss journey. I knew I would not make it without her.

From that day on, we started using the treadmill 20 minutes a day.

A week later, my oldest son asked me to take him to Cedar Point, a local amusement park and roller coaster hot spot. After riding a few roller coasters, we got in line for the Gatekeeper - one of the hottest rides of the season. Despite the line being 2 hours long, we patiently waited to board. When it was finally our turn and I saw down in my seat, the safety bar would not lock across my body. Two workers came by and tried to close it but that still did not work.

I was petrified. I could not believe that I had let my weight get so out of control. It not only affected myself but it now affected how I could spend time with my family. I knew that I needed to be a better man, a better father, and to take better care of myself. I vowed on that day to change my eating habits, my way of life, and the way I felt about myself.

WT: Wow. What a story. What are some of the tools that you used to help you in your journey?

GM: The first thing my wife and I did was download the “Lose It” app. For those of you who are not familiar with the app, it is an app that allows you to keep track of your meals and exercise. We also started Googling new recipes and finding foods that were lower in saturated fats and calories. We knew that our diet was a major problem. We replaced red meat with fish, turkey, chicken and shrimp. We started portion controlling, eating salads and soups, and listening to cues from our bodies that we were full.

The first 50 lbs. fell off easily. The remaining weight loss was harder but I kept at it. I started taking photos of my weight loss journey and posting them on my social media accounts. I received tremendous support, encouragement and motivation. I also purchased a Fitbit to keep track of my daily steps, floors climbed and calories burned.

WT: How long did it take you to lose all the weight?

GM: It took me 9 and a half months to lose 130 lbs. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and I do not know where I found the strength.

I did have a great support system, which helped me tremendously. Posting everything online also held me accountable because I knew others were watching my journey and cheering me on. I did not want to let anyone down.

WT: If you could share 3 tips with our readers that are interested in making a change similar to you, what would they be?

GM: The first thing I would say is to love yourself, regardless of what you weigh. Losing weight cannot make you happy. It can only improve your self image and health. Happiness is something that you can have at any size. Decide to make a positive lifestyle change because it can help improve your life and health not because you think it will make you happy.

The second tip is to make sure you have a good support system. Even the most self-motivated person will experience moments of weakness. Surrounding yourself with people who care about you and your goals will help get you through those moments of weakness.

The third tip is to set a realistic visual goal. When I started my weight loss journey, I went to the store and purchased a nice button up shirt that was 3x smaller than my then-normal size. I put the shirt in my closet and every time I went to get dressed, I would look at it, remind myself of what I wanted and made sure I was taking steps towards achieving that goal.

WT: How has Wellcoin helped you in your weight loss and healthy living journey?

GM: Wellcoin made my weight loss journey more fun. It made achieving my goals rewarding. I was going for a daily run already. Logging them not only helped me see the work I was doing, but it also gave me a feeling of accomplishment. It literally made me feel like I was being paid to lose weight and to continue living healthy!

Because I take pictures of my breakfast, lunch and dinner, I am much less likely to eat something unhealthy as I know my friends will see them. I feel like Wellcoin is a new best friend. You know, the healthy cool one that everyone loves!

WT: Wow. Thanks for the compliment. What are some of your favorite things about using Wellcoin?

GM: I love that it is a mobile app. Because I always have my phone on me, I can log my healthy activity and earn Wellcoins from anywhere. I do not have to worry about missing an opportunity. I also love that it is a great conversation starter. Whenever I mention that the app pays me to be healthy, everyone in the room wants to learn morel! They love the idea of being encouraged to live a healthier lifestyle.

WT: What are some of your favorite ways of earning Wellcoins?

GM: I love logging my meals. I always take pictures of my dinner so it is as if I do not need to do anything extra to earn my Wellcoins. I also love that my Fitbit automatically syncs my steps and sleep data with Wellcoin everyday. Even if I happen to be incredibly busy with work or family, I am still able to earn Wellcoins. I also love logging Buying Healthy Groceries and Spending Time with My Children at the park. With Wellcoin, I get to do the things that I normally do but with the added bonus of being rewarded. It is a win win situation.

WT: There are a lot of cool things in the Wellcoin Marketplace. What have you spent your Wellcoins on so far?

GM: I’ve spent my Wellcoins on lots of things so far! I bought a brand new pair of PUMA Running Shoes. I love them and wear them on my morning runs! I also bought some Wild Zora Meat Snacks. Healthy Jerky! They’re delicious.

WT: Wellcoin has a broad and balanced view of health. Allowing members to earn Wellcoins for all sorts of healthy behavior including volunteering, helping your child be healthy, seeing a health practitioner, etc...Has Wellcoin encouraged you to try new ways to live healthy?

GM: Once I started watching what I ate, I immediately started wondering if I was doing the same thing for my children. I realized that I was not doing enough to make sure that we were all, as a family, learning to live healthier. I now make a much greater effort to offer my kids fruit when it’s snack time. We also go to the park more. As a family, we love using Wellcoin. The kids get really into taking new photos to log.

WT: Now that you have lost all this weight, do you have any new healthy living goals in mind?

GM: I plan to keep up on my healthy lifestyle. I want to continue enjoying my brand new wardrobe! :) I have all new clothes. I went from a size 42 to a size 28 in jeans; a 3XL to a small in shirts.

Since I started making more of my own meals, I have become a bit of a chef. :) My next goal is to write a cook book so that I can share my new food ideas and choices with people who may also want to eat well and lose weight like I did. I really want to be able to help others. I think if I had the help and encouragement, I would have made this change much sooner.

WT: That’s really great. We will be the first in line to purchase your cook book.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. We love learning about our members’ healthy living journeys. Everyone has a different one and they are all so motivating. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

GM: Thank you so much for letting me share my story. Thank you for also creating Wellcoin. It has truly helped me in my weight loss journey. Losing weight was the hardest thing I have ever done. It is not something anyone should ever have to do alone. With apps like Wellcoin now, no one ever has to embark on that journey alone now. Thank you so much for that!

New to Wellcoin? Register for your free Wellcoin account here and join us today.

Do you have great lights on your house? Did you cook something amazing? Have a fantastic new outfit for New Year’s Eve? We want to see your style, smarts and creativity! Break out the camera and enter to win.

Contest Details

Contest Dates: 12:01am PST Dec 14, 2015 – 11:59pm PST Jan 3, 2016

How to Enter Your Photo in the Contest:

Add your entry photo when you log an activity on Wellcoin. Your photo must reflect the healthy activity for which it is submitted.

In the Comments section, include a caption and the hashtag: #WCHOLIDAY

Tweet the activity and photo from your personal Twitter account. Only tweeted photos with hashtag #WCHOLIDAY will qualify.

How Many Times Can I Enter the Contest?

Enter as many different photos as you like during the contest period.

Duplicate photos will be disqualified.

Winners:

Wellcoin will select 3 winning photos and feature them in a post on the Wellcoin Today blog. Each Wellcoin member with a winning photograph will receive a $100 Amazon gift card. Winners will be selected by January 6th 2016.

Judging Criteria:

Photos will be judged based on creativity, artistic expression, accompanying photo caption and of course, how well it captures winter holidays.

Terms & Conditions:

By submitting your photo and including the above hashtag, you agree that Wellcoin may use your photo in our social media and other public relations efforts.

Winners will be notified by email.

The $100 Amazon gift card is considered a prize for entering this photo contest. It cannot be exchanged for anything else in the Wellcoin Marketplace.

Wellcoin is not responsible if the gift card is lost or stolen.

Winners must be Wellcoin members.

You can only submit photographs that you have snapped. Photos submitted that do not belong to you will be disqualified.

Best of luck!

Happy Holidays and happy picture taking!

I live a pretty healthy life these days. I’m a yoga instructor who loves vegetables and exploring outside. But that wasn’t always the case. I know how hard it is to trade unhealthy habits (smoking, too much beer) in for better ones (meditation, green tea). It’s not always easy to be active and eat right every day. It’s an evolving process that takes constant attention. When you throw late work nights, busy weekends and family into the mix it can seem downright impossible to stay committed to personal health.

The great news is that it’s not impossible and when you’re earning Wellcoins towards rewards like new sneakers or healthy food, it can even be fun! Healthy living includes things like running around with your kid at the park, playing with your dog or donating to charity.

If you feel discouraged because you may never run a marathon or stand on your head in a yoga class, take a small step. Drink some water or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Know that you are doing YOUR best. Know that everyone’s best is different.

Small steps in the right direction lead to not only Wellcoin rewards, but to the ultimate reward of a full and happy life! I think a full and happy life also happens to include occasional nacho plates and lazy days on the couch binge watching TV (Game of Thrones, anyone?).

Each day is a new opportunity to take care of yourself. I’m here to encourage and support you as you take and maintain control of your health. As our Wellcoin community continues to grow we can share our victories and encourage each other, all while enjoying fantastic health rewards.

I’d love to hear your story! Connect with me on Wellcoin or follow me on Twitter. Say hi, reach out and let me know what rewards you’ve redeemed. Tell me what you love about Wellcoin and what we can do better. Let’s make our community awesome, healthy and fun!  

#ItPaysToLiveHealthy

Kat Bondi is the Content and Community Manager for Wellcoin. She’s a runner, yogi and lifelong musician. Find her on Wellcoin, or on Twitter @OMGKatAttack.

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Wellcoin is comprised of a small, but very dedicated team and we work hard every day for our growing community. It’s great to be recognized by BostInno! We strive every day to bring the best health and wellness rewards platform possible to the world.

Our sincere thanks to everyone at BostInno, Streetwise Media, all of the 50 on Fire nominees, winners and attendees at last night’s event.

Our biggest thanks of all goes out to our members! It is your commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle that keeps us going each and every day. We love to hear your feedback and are inspired by all your hard work!

We’re looking forward to the year ahead and continuing to grow our vibrant, healthy community!

#ItPaysToLiveHealthy

Kat Bondi is the content and community manager for Wellcoin. She’s a runner, yogi and lifelong musician. Find her on Wellcoin, or on Twitter @OMGKatAttack.

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Wellcoin Today recently got the chance to sit down with Joshua Tabin, the co-founder of Wild Zora, to chat about food, how Wild Zora got started, and what’s next for this meat & veggie bar maker that is taking the food industry by storm. 

WT: It’s so great to have the opportunity to sit down with you and chat about food - one of our favorite subjects - healthy living, and of course, Wild Zora. To kick us off, could you please our readers who are not already familiar with Wild Zora, what you guys are all about? 

JT: We make a dehydrated meat-based snack bar that contains a full serving of organic VEGGIES in every package.  We use only grass-fed or free-range beef, lamb, or turkey raised without hormones or antibiotics, and all our bars are free of gluten, grain, soy, nuts/peanuts/tree-nuts, and any added sugar or chemicals.  In short, our food is made only of FOOD — sounds silly, but it's totally true.  They also taste GREAT and are easy to eat, as they aren’t sticky like some other meat bars and meat sticks on the market.

WT: Who started Wild Zora?

JT: Zora thought-up the recipes, and I help with the business.

WT: How did you guys get started in the food business?

JT: Zora was looking for a high-protein, low-sugar snack for the familly… fruit and nut bars have too much sugar, and jerky is just too tough and too salty and oftentimes contains MSG or nitrates.  She got inspired by reading about the Paleo lifestyle, and started to dehydrate meat and veggies into bars… and Wild Zora was born!

WT: How did you guys come up with the name?

JT: Our first name concept was to borrow a nickname we use for our daughter:  “Binky” — so we called it “Wild Binky” — but then we found out that in America a “binky” is a pacifier, and that’s kinda gross, so then we thought of "Mama Zora” — but that didn’t seem to appeal equally to men and women of all ages… so then we thought to mix them together, and that was how we came-up with the name.

WT: Where are your bars made?

JT: In our own USDA-approved facility in Loveland, Colorado, where a federal inspector from the USDA is with us EVERY DAY to make sure we make them safely.

WT: Where do you source your ingredients?

JT: In general we try to use local foods, for example grass-fed beef from a rancher just outside our home town.  But if an ingredient isn’t able to be sourced locally, then we look for responsibly grown foods, for example our apricots are Turkish, but also organic and unsulfured.

WT: Are there any diets Wild Zora bars are good for?

JT: They’re great for anyone who doesn’t want to eat gluten, grain, soy, or added chemicals or sugar.  The Primal Diet, the Paleo Diet, Whole30, and many others fall under this category.  We also have specific products that appeal to many folks who have allergies to nuts or nightshades or milk.  In general, though, we’ve learned that people seem to feel better when they eat less grain, starch and sugar — this is called eating “Low Glycemic” foods, which is what our bars can help you accomplish.

WT: There are currently 5 Wild Zora bar flavors - Chill Beef bars with kale, apricot, cayenne pepper (our favorite); Parmesan Beef bars with kale, tomato, basil; BBQ Beef bars with kale, tomato, red bell Pepper; Masala Turkey bars with spinach, dates, cardamom; and Mediterranean Lamb bars with spinach, rosemary, turmeric. We love the diversity and the uniqueness of the flavors. How do you guys come up with the recipes?

JT: That’s Zora’s magic… and about 1000 tries per recipe!  ;)

WT: What is your favorite flavor? Your kids' favorite flavors?

JT: Personally, I like the Masala Turkey… the Tandori/Masala spice was inspired from my own sister’s recipe… with 12 different spices such as cinnamon and cardamom and fennelgreek — I love it.  The kids like the Parmesan Cheese Beef bars with tomato and basil… they call it, “The Pizza Flavor."

WT: Where can we purchase your bars?

JT: We’re in about 50 stores across the country… and of course directly from us at wildzora.com.

WT: Any tasty new flavors / products in the works that you can let us in on?

JT: Yes!  A new pork recipe is coming!

WT: Thanks again for taking the time out to chat with us today. Any thing else that you’d like to let us know?